The Thematic Theme Of Journey In Homer's The Odyssey

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Ursula Kile Guinn once said, "It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end." Nowhere is this idea more clearly evident than in Homer's, The Odyssey. The Odyssey reveals that a rigorous journey can be filled with situations that lead you to be a stronger person. Homer most efficiently uses vast setting, deeds of valor, and invocation on the muse to advance the thematic topic of journey. Modern readers finish the epic with a greater understanding of challenging journeys making someone stronger. The idea of journey is clearly evident when vast settings are being shown. This is proven when Odysseus' journey is being explained to the reader in the beginning of the epic. "Many cities of …show more content…

While on Circe's island, he is given the task of going to the underworld. “Son of Laertes and seed of Zeus, resourceful Odysseus, you shall no longer stay in my house when none of you wish to; but first there is another journey you must accomplish and reach the house of Hades and of revered Persephone, there to consult with the soul of Tiresias the Theban, the blind prophet, whose senses stay unshaken within him, to whom alone Persephone has granted intelligence even after death, but the rest of them are flittering shadows.”’ (10.488-495) By specifically using invocation of the muse, Homer shows that Odysseus rarely had time to rest. He had no breaks, traveling from island to island, then to the underworld. This specifically shows journey. Homers strategic use of invocation of the muse sows Odysseus getting stoner. Every event, every challenge happened right after another. Patience, stability, and strength needs to be held throughout in order to make it …show more content…

"Where are you going now, many unlucky friend, trekking over hills along in familiar caunty? And your men are all in Circe's palace… Have you come to set them free?" Odysseus is determined to set his comrades free. He is willing to risk him wellbeing to do a good deed for his men. The deliberate use of deeds of valor by Homer advances the thematic topic of journey. By specifically using deeds of valor, Homer puts the spotlight on a person coming back more heroic and stronger than they started. Although Odysseus was heroic before he got stranded, he did make many sacrifices and kept on pushing for 20 years. On the contrary, someone might not believe a long journey can be benefited

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