Relationship Between Gods And Humanity
analytical Essay
709 words
The relationship between the gods and humanity in The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey are the same. In each saga, the gods seem to live nearby and are always present. Both epic poems portray humans as simply at the mercy of the gods. The gods feel that it is their duty to intervene if they feel that man is traveling off course from his destiny. However, the gods are not all powerful. Each god has a certain domain and cannot control another gods’ domain. All the gods including Zeus, the father of the gods, want Odysseus to be able to return home in The Odyssey. However, Poseiden, just one god, prevents Odysseus from returning. It is only when Poseiden is absent from Mt. Olympus that the other gods are able to take control and assist Odysseus in returning home. Gilgamesh also has the same misconception that the gods are all powerful. After he and Enkidu kill the Bull of Heaven, the gods Anu, Enlil, Ea and Shamash convene and decide that one of the brothers must die for their evil deed. Shamash, Gilgamesh’s protector, pleads with the other gods to spare his life. The other gods disregard Shamash’s appeal and Enkidu dies. In each instance, one god is not able to impose his agenda against the wishes of the other gods. Enkidu’s death evokes a disturbing thought in Gilgamesh. He finally realizes that he is mortal. He then goes about trying to find the key to immortality. Gilgamesh first seeks out Utnapishtim, the only human to gain immortality. When Gilgamesh cannot pass the test of staying awake for seven days, Utnapishtim then gives him the plant "Old Men Are Young Again." Despite this second opportunity, Gilgamesh is not triumphant in his search for immortality because a serpent eats the plant and Gilgamesh’s opportunity is lost forever. He does not realize that Enlil, the father of the gods, had already determined his destiny. It is clear from the events of the story that Gilgamesh was not to obtain everlasting life and it is no coincidence that all of his efforts fail in one way or another. This is another example of man’s lack of control where the gods are concerned The Odyssey demonstrates how the gods favored certain men over others. When man had the gods "on his side," he was sure to complete whatever task was at hand.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the relationship between the gods and humanity in the epic of gilgamesh and the odyssey is the same.
- Explains that each god has a certain domain and cannot control another god’s domain. zeus, the father of the gods, want odysseus to be able to return home in the odyssey.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh has the same misconception that the gods are all powerful. after he and enkidu kill the bull of heaven, anu, enlil, ea and shamash convene and decide that one of the brothers must die for their evil deed.
- Analyzes how enkidu's death evokes a disturbing thought in gilgamesh. he seeks out utnapishtim, the only human to gain immortality.
- Explains how the gods favored certain men over others. odysseus, eumaios, philoitio, and telemakhos were able to kill all the suitors upon their return home.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh prayed to shamash for strength and safety when he and enkidu were to travel in the cedar forest.
- Analyzes how the gods favor both gilgamesh and odysseus because of their semi-godlike characteristics.
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- The Ancient Greeks and their Strong Belief in their Godsanalytical essayReligion was deeply intertwined in the culture of the Ancient Greeks. They prayed to their gods, hoping the gods would satisfy their needs and offer assistance in their endeavors. Occasionally the gods would appear to select mortals to give them counsel or assistance. However, if the desires or endeavours of a mortal displeased one or more of the gods, they would also interfere in their success. The Ancient Greeks are a very religious people who strongly believe in their gods to the extent that they believed that the gods would interfere in their day-to-day living. Due to their strong belief in their gods, the Ancient Greeks had a relationship with the gods that gave them utmost respect and reverence. Homer illustrates these ideals in his epic poem, The Odyssey.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that religion was deeply intertwined in the culture of the ancient greeks. they prayed to their gods, hoping they would satisfy their needs and offer assistance.
- Analyzes how the gods interfere with the mortals, establishing the conditions under which the story begins.
- Analyzes poseidon's grudge against odysseus for blinding poyphemus and how the gods use their authority to put their interests above the interests of the mortals.
- Concludes that having a good and faithful relationship with the gods can lead to benefits for the mortals.
- Analyzes how the mortals show respect and reverence to the gods through sacrifices, offerings, prayer, and disrespect resulting in disaster in the odyssey.
- Concludes that homer elucidates the significance of the gods coming into contact with the mortals and the importance of a strong relationship of respect and reverence.
1012 wordsRead More - Relationship between the Gods in 'The Odyssey'analytical essayIn the Odyssey there is a distinct relationship that is shared between the mortals and the Gods. In the link with Christian faith, the Gods in the Odyssey are physically present. The Gods help, lend assistance, support and mentor the mortals. They can be ‘compared to that of a guardian angel’ (FORP). In comparison, the gods have their favourites which my result in the negativity towards a mortal from a particular God. As so the mortals are at the mercy of Gods. Majority of the time the mortals benefit greatly from the Gods and can be seen to transform for the better.
In this essay, the author
- Compares the relationship between the mortals and the gods in the odyssey to that of a guardian angel.
- Analyzes how the gods in the odyssey are physically present, but the mortals don't respect them. homer portrays them as a mortal, which allows them to connect with the gods.
- Analyzes how the gods shape the lives of the women and men within the odyssey. athena, the fighters queen, and the earth-shaker god poseidon are undesirable relationships.
- Analyzes how the two characters, telemachus, and goddess athena, the fighters queen, are clear indications on how gods can benefit and transform one for the better.
- Explains that the gods in the odyssey are similar to men and women and have significant relationships between them. being physically present allows the mortals to connect and form relationships.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the epic of gilgamesh depicts the short lived friendship between the king of uruk and enkidu. they planned a trip to the forest to defeat the monster known as humbaba.
- Narrates how ishtar, the goddess of sex, love and warfare, wanted to marry gilgameshe, but she didn't want to. she sent down the "bull of heaven" to kill him.
- Explains that the gods were not pleased with enkidu's death because of the bull killing and cedar trees being cut. the death of his friend is unreal to gilgamesh.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh decides to go on a journey for everlasting life when he hears of utanapishtim.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh learned some lessons from utanapishtim on his quest to find unreachable eternal life.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh ends his journey to see utanapishtim on a bad note. he faces the fear of death and decides to go back to uruk.
- Explains that gilgamesh's journey to search for eternal life is due to the death of enkidu, with whom he was close. he went through phases along his journey.
780 wordsRead More - In The Odyssey, the hierarchical relationship between both gods and humans is a key aspect in the overarching unity that is the epic. These can both be in contrast with each other and it can been seen that there are similarities between the types of people we meet in The Odyssey as well as the gods we meet also. Homer uses this theme and system of hierarchy to effectively display aspects of his worlds though The Odyssey. The main features that help prove this point are: that society within The Odyssey is hierarchical, the upper class and the servants (with equivalent gods) are focussed on, (Hierarchy of Greek Gods, 2015) and finally, the gods parallel their respective opposites on earth. These features help to show Homers world of The Odyssey.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how homer uses this theme and system of hierarchy to effectively display aspects of his worlds through the odyssey.
- Analyzes how society in the odyssey is based on hierarchical structure, and how it focuses on the upper class or the kings.
- Analyzes how homer shows the world of the gods parallels that of mortals. poseidon allowed zeus to sink a ship in retaliation for the phaeacians helping odysseus return to ithaca.
- Illustrates how zeus cheats on his wife hera with a mortal woman, and how clytemnestra was tempted by her own greed and selfishness and stayed with aegisthus.
- Analyzes how the odyssey provides the reader with an illustration of homer's world, such as the treatment of slaves, and how mortals and the gods exhibit similar attributes and failings.
- Analyzes homer's world as portrayed in the odyssey is based on a hierarchical structure of gods and mortals.
1175 wordsRead More - Essay On Gilgamesh Religionanalytical essayThe relationships between deities and humanity change for each culture. The Akkadians in the story Gilgamesh saw the gods as independent forces, all working towards their own personal gain. People worshipped the gods separately, depending on the momentary needs. When Gilgamesh was
In this essay, the author
- Explains that every religion produces unanswerable questions, partly because no proof exists to solidly support any particular religion. different cultures have different values and ways of life.
- Analyzes how the relationships between deities and humanity change for each culture. the akkadians in gilgamesh saw the gods as independent forces, all working towards their own personal gain.
- Analyzes how the greek gods were more immersed in the lives of mortals than gilgamesh. in the iliad, chryses prays to apollo and apollo sends down a plague upon agamemnon's armies.
- Analyzes how the hebrew culture views the idea of a deity differently — there is only one god instead of meddling, and he is more likely to guide believers than to control them directly.
- Explains that the distinctive relationships between deity and humanity give insight into the cultures to which each religion belongs.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how gilgamesh's fear of death leads him to go on a quest in search of immortality. enkidu ponders off to slay an innocent servant, referred to as humbaba.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh sobs and rages after enkidu's death to teach him compassion upon the death of the innocent who he killed.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh continues on his quest in search of immortality, with the death of his recent friend enkidu his fear begins to get the best of him.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh is an arrogant and selfish demigod created to rule over the people of uric but fears death.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh transformed into something greater over time. he experienced friendship and faced many obstacles.
1035 wordsRead More - Odysseus As A Hero In Homer's The Odysseyanalytical essayPoseidon, the god of the sea, is angered by the death of his son, the Cyclops. When Odysseus and his crew stopped off at the Cyclopes island on their way home from war, the cyclops, Polyphemus, begins terrorizing Odysseus’ men. Odysseus blinded him and boasted about the event. He sends storms against Odysseus and tries to wreak his ship in Book 5. While shipwrecked at sea, on a raft – which was aided by Athena – Poseidon sends another storm, washing Odysseus up on shore. Eventually, Odysseus is on another ship gifted to him by the Phaeacians, Poseidon turns the ship to stone and sinks while pulling into the harbor at Scheria. The idea that “a bad storm” can affect a well-trained
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how odysseus is portrayed as a hero in homer's the odyssey, but he relied on the help of the gods and goddess.
- Analyzes how poseidon, the god of the sea, is angered by the death of his son the cyclops.
- Analyzes how athena, the goddess of wisdom, protects odysseus from revealing to the phaeacians that he fought in the trojan wars.
- Analyzes how athena helps to conceal odysseus' identity when he finally lands in ithaca. she transforms him into an old man so no one can recognize him.
- Analyzes how hermes was a messenger of zeus and athena to keep odysseus from danger. he is being held captive on ogygia with the nymph calypso, who has fallen in love with him.
- Analyzes how odysseus, the protagonist of homer's the odyssey, is not worthy of the title hero because the gods and goddesses intervene in his journey.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that mythology has appeared to be one key method of understanding life's confusions and battles. heroes experience what may be called a struggle or journey, which lays down their plot line.
- Analyzes how gilgamesh the king is a myth beholding various heroic traits shared in multiple other stories and myths for that fact.
- Analyzes how the fairytale of cinderella is a fantasy carrying multiple heroic traits.
- Explains that heroism is a term indentified by various characteristics and literary devices. in myths, heroes may not possess any of those traits.
855 wordsRead More - The Contradictory Nature of Greek Gods and Godessesanalytical essayMany Greek gods were seen as both benefactors and tormentors, typically it depends on which god or goddess you are researching about. The seemingly contradictory behavior of the gods, acting as both benefactors and tormentors of man, can readily be explained when viewed in light of the prime directive for man, to worship the gods and not “overstep,” and the ensuing “Deus ex Mahina” which served to coerce man to fulfill his destiny as evidenced by the myths: “Pandora,” “Arachne, and “Odysseus.” Humankind and it’s range of vision over the gods beauty and power portrayed them to be benefactors but unseemingly it depicted their affliction towards humans.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the greek gods were seen as both benefactors and tormentors of man, based on the prime directive for man to worship them and the ensuing "deus ex mahina"
- Explains that a benefactor is someone who benefits or helps someone in real life. prometheus stole fire from the great gods and gave it to mankind.
- Explains that tormentors are foreseen to be evil and not bring any good to mankind. apollo brought music, prophecy, and enlightenment to the humans.
- Explains that the prime directive of man in greek mythology is to flat out worship the gods.
- Explains that deus ex machina is a plot device where an unsolvable problem is resolved by the manipulative and unexpected interruption of some new event, character, ability or object.
- Explains that in greek mythology, greek gods are benefactors or tormentors of mankind. the titan prometheus had originally been assigned with the task of creating man.
- Narrates how arachne challenged athena, the goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason. she boasted that she was better than her.
- Analyzes how odysseus tricked the enemy into bringing a wooden horse within the walls of troy. the greeks had been laying siege to troy for nine long years, but suddenly it looked like their entire army had departed.
- Analyzes the myths which prove the contradictory behavior of the gods, acting as both benefactors and tormentors of man.
1265 wordsRead More - God And Human Interaction In Greek Mythologyanalytical essayGod and Human Interaction in Greek Mythology The gods and humans in greek mythology interact in a variety of ways. The Gods can either show themselves as God’s or transform into anything they choose. Although the God’s and humans interact very closely, the amount of power between them is undeniable. Even though the God’s never kill any humans, they can cause a lot of harm to them.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the gods and humans interact in greek mythology. although the gods never kill humans, they can cause a lot of harm to them.
- Analyzes how odysseus forgot to worship the god's before he made his journey home after defeating the trojans, leading to unfortunate events caused by the greek god, poseidon.
- Analyzes how athena transforms herself into mentor, who was an old friend of odysseus, and provides information to telemachus.
262 wordsRead More