The Vices of Human Nature in Homer's The Odyssey
analytical Essay
575 words
The sum of all human traits is defined as human nature, meaning the excuse for our vices, and the flaws of mortal life. In Homer's The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus demonstrates these flaws throughout his journey, constantly struggling through the eternal fight for realization of life and death, and is weighed down by the never ending power struggle of nature versus mankind.
In The final chapters of Odysseus's quest, the reader believes that the main character has finally found himself. The problem with his happy ending is that he has forgotten one thing. Odysseus is not perfect he is human. Though he has learned much through his perils, the vices of Pride, vengeance, and dependency, all come back to haunt him during the slaughter in the hall, leaving the reader to wonder if he learned anything during his time away from home. What if the true lesson learned was that human nature will always prevail?
In book twenty-two, when Odysseus is preparing to slaughter the suitors, he exclaims, murdering bow in hand: "Look-your crucial test is finished, now at last! But look ...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the sum of all human traits is defined as human nature, meaning the excuse for our vices, and the flaws of mortal life. in homer's the odyssey, odysseus struggles through the eternal fight for realization of life and death.
- Analyzes how odysseus's happy ending forgets that he is not perfect, but human. his perils, vengeance, and dependency haunt him during the slaughter in the hall.
- Analyzes how odysseus is brimming with pride and vengeance, and seems to have forgotten his lessons.
- Analyzes how odysseus' dependence resurfaces when athena appears to him during his fight with the suitors.
- Analyzes how odysseus feels he has prevailed as the winner, righting the wrong. he is speaking of more than just the suitors.
Related
- comparative
- analytical
- opinion
- Odysseus Justified Punishment Analysiscomparative essayThe last reason why Odysseus did what he had to do was because he needed to seek his revenge. For example eye for an eye. Odysseus thought in his head that since the suitors did this to him, he shall do this to them. Which is not a bad reason for what he did because everybody should be entitled to seek their revenge. Although, there's a justified way to get revenge there is also an unjustified way to get revenge. Odysseus' way was on the border of justice and injustice.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that odysseus' actions were justified because the suitors dishonored him, justice was brutal, and finally people were entitled to seek revenge.
- Explains that odysseus' actions were justified because the suitors dishonored him. they were trying to get with penelope, which is his wife.
- Explains that odysseus is not wrong for his actions. homer's view on justice was killing all of the suitors.
- Explains that odysseus' last reason for doing what he had to do was to seek his revenge.
- Concludes that odysseus' actions were justified because the suitors dishonored him and he is entitled to seek revenge. the punishment was not too severe in ancient times, but very severe today.
435 wordsRead More - Literature Based Essayanalytical essayThe theory is that when people’s egos are in the way, it causes them to make mistakes and their mistakes make a person realize that their ego affects them, in The Odyssey, by Homer, this dilemma is present for Odysseus. In the beginning of The Odyssey, Odysseus has a huge ego problem. Odysseus was once a generous and successful man, his success and acts of generosity cause his ego to get in the way, and he makes mistakes as a consequence, his ego gets in the way and has failures. When Odysseus realizes his failures, he turns back to his self again. Although, Odysseus was a kind and successful man, his success lead to ego problems which lead to failure and his failures transforms him to the successful Odysseus again.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that when people's egos are in the way, it causes them to make mistakes. odysseus' success leads to failure and his failures transform him into a successful man.
- Analyzes how odysseus was once a kind and successful person, but his ego got in the way leading him to failure.
- Analyzes how odysseus is having a hard time tactically, which leads him to reduced ego. he is stranded at calypso's place crying his eyes out because he doesn't feel good enough.
- Analyzes how odysseus' low ego leads him to become the successful man he once was.
668 wordsRead More - Free Essays: The Vivid Imagery of Homer's Odysseyopinion essayThe Vivid Imagery of Homer's Odyssey In the epic the Odyssey by Homer (translated by Robert Fitzgerald) one of the most descriptive and best written passages in the entire epic is "The Slaying of the Suitors" (book 23 lines1-62). This is a good passage for many reasons, one of these is that it is a part of the story that has been built up and anticipated by all. Another is the vivid imagery used by Homer. There is one more reason, this being the tone of the passage. The tone of this passage is very important to it and adds very much to it.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that it is a part of the story that has its own story.
- Opines that the tone of this passage is very important to it.
- Opines that once the suitors are gone, odysseus is free to reclaim his post.
- Opines that troy took their house to plunder, twisted their maids to rob them.
- Opines that men say of you hereafter. your last hour has come. you die in blood.
- Opines that the image is clearer to the reader than the last.
- Opines that he seems happy to finally see to it that the
- Analyzes the imagery used by homer to create a vivid picture in the mind of the reader.
- Analyzes the effect that the passage is meant to have on the story as a whole.
- Narrates how they turned and scanned the walls in the long room for arms, but not a shield, not an ashen spear.
1202 wordsRead More - Odysseus is an Epic Heroanalytical essayFirst of all, Odysseus is brave and courageous, giving him the initiative to fulfill his goals. One example is when Odysseus confronts Skylla. Odysseus purposely “made [his] way along to the foredeck—thinking to see her first from there” (Homer 217). If he was scared, he would have hidden underneath the deck. But instead, Odysseus goes out to face the beast. Odysseus knows that Skylla is immortal and cannot die, yet he is brave enough to confront her. Next, Odysseus fights the suitors, who are courting Penelope in his palace. The suitors greatly outnumber Odysseus, but Odysseus still chooses to fight even though the odds are against him and he is able to win. He stands up against those who do wrong. Having the courage to fight, Odysseus defeats the suitors and fulfills his goal of regaining his palace. If Odysseus was a coward and did not fight, then the suitors would have eventually won Penelope, resulting in Odysseus losing his palace and his wife. Many people have bravery and courage, but not many use it, as Odysseus does, to achieve their purpose.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that people are heroes in different ways for different reasons, such as american soldiers, corrie ten boom, abraham lincoln, and odysseus.
- Analyzes how odysseus is brave and courageous, giving him the initiative to fulfill his goals. he fights the suitors, who are courting penelope in his palace.
- Analyzes how odysseus has great self-control, which allows him to deeply contemplate his decisions.
- Analyzes how odysseus is a master strategist, which allows him to carefully plot and strategize each component of his plan to defeat the enemy.
- Explains that odysseus possesses many character traits that make him a true epic hero.
850 wordsRead More - Character Traits Of Odysseus In Homer's Odysseyanalytical essayMany times throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus reveals many character traits, good and bad. On his journey back home to Ithaca, Odysseus uses these traits to his advantage, or to send you a bad vibe. However, I believe that the good outweighs the bad, and that Odysseus is an admirable person. Throughout his journey, Odysseus shows many instances of cleverness, strength, and bravery.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that odysseus reveals many character traits, good and bad, on his journey home to ithaca, or to send you a bad vibe.
- Analyzes how odysseus shows cleverness when he encounters the cyclops polyphemus.
- Analyzes how odysseus shows a great deal of strength. he sneaks into his kingdom without being noticed by the suitors and defeats them all with his son telemachus.
- Analyzes how odysseus shows bravery by traveling into the underworld and meeting the prophet tiresias.
- Concludes that odysseus has done many great things and is an admirable person. though he's done some bad things, the good outweighs the bad.
443 wordsRead More - What Makes Odysseus An Epic Heroanalytical essayOdysseus is a mixture of the self-made, self-assured man and the manifestation of the principles and morals of his culture. He is popular by the gods and esteemed by the mortals. Despite the exasperation of Poseidon, nothing keeps Odysseus from his homecoming. He is certain that he exhibits integrity, even when the audience is not convinced. He is also full of contradictions, a much more complex character than one would expect to find in the cliché epic hero.Odysseus's many achievements repeatedly reveal his gallant nature. Though gore and violence often aid in his success, a kind, noble, and gentle side occasionally peeks through his boisterous
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how odysseus is a mixture of self-assured man and the manifestation of the principles and morals of his culture.
106 wordsRead More - Righteous Killanalytical essayEvery story has a hero who demonstrates moral fiber, physical strength, and mental prowess to the fullest. This hero is often viewed as a perfect soul, incapable of making mistakes or committing an injustice toward another. Because the reader develops a strong sense of admiration for their hero, it is shocking when the storyteller reminds his audience that their champion is only human, and, like every human being, has a tragic character flaw. In the Odyssey, Odysseus’ flaw is commonly thought of as his unrelenting slaughter of the suitors in his house. When he finally returns home to Ithaca after years of hardship to find the wicked suitors in his household, he strings his bow and executes every one of them, despite their plea for mercy and their offer to repay everything they take and more. Although many view Odysseus’ rage as a departure from heroism, his actions are justified because the intruders in his household violate xenia, a custom that the Ancient Greeks hold in high esteem.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how every story has a hero who demonstrates moral fiber, physical strength, and mental prowess to the fullest. it is shocking when the storyteller reminds his audience that their champion is only human.
- Explains how the ancient greeks believe in numerous concepts that the honorable man must live by, one of which is xenia.
- Analyzes the importance that the ancient greeks place on xenia in their history. the events of homer's iliad are the direct result of xenia being violated.
- Explains that xenia is a foundation of ancient greek culture and is responsible for the entire story of odysseus.
- Explains that odysseus is fighting valiantly at troy, but a parasitic horde of suitors is disgracing his home.
- Analyzes how the suitors disrespect odysseus with treacherous acts, such as leaching off of the resources of his house and making passes at penelope. they are in the same situation as paris when he takes helen to troy.
- Analyzes how odysseus finds the wicked suitors freeloading in his household. they beg for mercy and offer to make restitution of wine and meat, and add a tithe of twenty oxen.
- Explains that odysseus' actions are justified by zeus, the patron god of xenia, and the greeks believe that he avenges any wrongdoing regarding the guest-host relationship.
- Analyzes how odysseus displays a different type of heroism than previously seen when he kills the corrupt suitors.
1459 wordsRead More - The Folly Of Human Nature In Homer's Odysseyanalytical essayThe Ancient Greeks sought to define how humans should view their lives and how to create an existence dedicated to the basis of the “ideal” nature. This existence would be lived so as to create an “honorable” death upon their life’s end. Within their plays, both dramas and comedies, they sought to show the most extreme characteristics of human nature, those of the wise and worthy of Greek kleos along with the weak and greedy of mind, and how they were each entitled to a death but of varying significance. The Odyssey, their greatest surviving drama, stands as the epitome of defining both the flawed and ideal human and how each individual should approach death and its rewards and cautions through their journeys. Death is shown to be the consequence
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the ancient greeks sought to define how humans should view their lives and how to create an existence dedicated to the basis of the "ideal" nature. the odyssey, their greatest surviving drama, stands as the epitome of defining both the flawed and ideal human.
- Analyzes how odysseus' crew represented the folly of human nature present in uncontrolled recklessness.
- Analyzes how the lack of caution among odysseus's sailors leads to their loss of individualism as they attain a death of sorts, unable to live as men and incapable of attaining kleos.
- Analyzes how odysseus, who is presented as the ideal human, shows signs of greed and lack of wisdom in his personal quest for glory.
- Analyzes how odysseus gains new wisdom on the human folly of death and its relationship to glory. achilles, a man bestowed with immense kleos, reasons that he would give it all away simply to be alive.
- Analyzes how the odyssey presents the question of what is a meaningful and honorable death.
1021 wordsRead More - The Civilized Society In Homer's The Odysseyanalytical essayIn Homer’s “The Odyssey” Odysseus faces the allusive and extremely dangerous cyclops. These mythical creatures are known not only for their enormity and brute strength but also for being menaces to any society. Their lack of agricultural development, sense of community, means of transportation, and even the most basic element of society, law, are among the most threatening qualities to the very foundations of civilized society itself.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how odysseus faces the allusive and dangerous cyclops in homer's "the odyssey." they are known for their enormity and brute strength, but also for being menaces to any society.
- Analyzes how the cyclops' "neither plant nor plough" and "trust in providence" are a threat to their small, reclusive, and untamed society.
- Explains that cyclops are incapable of providing themselves with proper sustenance and live very secluded lives. without social aspects of one’s life one cannot be expected to be capable of emotional intelligence or a defined set of morals.
- Explains that cyclops lack the intellectual capacity and the desire to create means going from city to city, or sailing over the sea to one another’s country, which hinders their ability to conduct business with any other country.
- Explains that cyclops have no laws nor assemblies of the people, but live in caves on the tops of high mountains. without well defined and enforced laws no community will last.
- Opines that their lack of basic needs of society, such as agricultural development, sense of community, transportation, and law, will end their civilizations.
495 wordsRead More - The Cultural Aspects In Homer's The Odysseyanalytical essayWhile I was reading books three and four, I did not have any thoughts about the cultural aspects mentioned in The Odyssey, however the many responses and opinions said during the discussion had enlightened me to the point of acceptable comprehension. During the discussion, Niko and Ben had answered the question regarding the importance of time and place by explaining the Greeks war based culture and that each male was expected to be born a warrior and to die as one. Thus meaning that Telemachus had many expectations cast upon him due to the fact that not only was his father a well-known warrior, he was also a king who was respected and idolized in his home town of Achaea. By having such a large shadow over him, it further stresses the coming
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the interactive oral introduced new thoughts about the cultural and contextual considerations in the book that helped them comprehend books three and four.
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