Divine Intervention In The Odyssey

The Greeks relay the their beliefs through the stories they tell, such as the Odyssey. The Odyssey exemplifies how the Greeks believe that divine intervention is needed in order to solve conflict. Demonstrated in the excerpt of the Odyssey, the Greeks highlight the irrationalism of men, and the only way to overcome that is through the interference of the gods.

In their anger the townspeople denied reason and instead, were about to betrayed their country to uphold their honor, if not for the interference of the gods. Previous to the mob going to Odysseus’ palace two wise men spoke to the mob warning them not to attack. One of them being Halitherses who stated “So now, let that be, and agree with what I’m going to tell you--we should not move out, in case some men here run into trouble they’ve brought on themselves.” This meaning that they should withhold their attack and that should the continue on and battle, any consequence that arrive would be faulted to themselves. However, the men only wished to follow their rage and defend their honor, and proceeded anyways. Moreover, they naively overlooked the wise words that were spoken to them which would have had devastating effects to the Itaca, had not Athena stopped them just before the time of action. She was able to get them to put an end to the future

For example, even in the almost certain chance of death for his minescule army he still told his son; “Soon enough you’ll learn not to disgrace you ancestral family--for in earlier times we’ve been preeminent for strength and courage everywhere on earth.” Which meant that although you a going to die on the battlefield you must not disgrace the family name by being a coward. He also did not falter in battling back against the great mob because of his huge amount of self pride. Odysseus’ pride was so important to him that it blurred all of his right