Athena's Role In The Odyssey Essay

Many people like to think that they create their own fate, however some of their destinies might actually be swayed by an external means. Whether it is from parents, coaches, teachers, or even governments, an intervention from an outside force in any circumstance almost always influences and changes the events that were about to take place beforehand. An example of this takes place all throughout the epic, The Odyssey. Throughout Homer’s The Odyssey the gods play a critical role in influencing the lives of the characters, including Athena, Poseidon, and Zeus. As one of the most involved gods in The Odyssey, Athena plays an essential role. Athena acts as the key protector of the protagonists in the story. She is constantly assisting both Odysseus and Telemachus on numerous occasions of the epic. She advises Telemachus in his journey towards adulthood and acts as Odysseus’ lighthouse, guiding him back home. For example, once Athena spoke to men who had a conflict with Odysseus so massive that it led them to turn to violent measures, but “…at her voice the weapons slipped from the hands and
Instead of helping the protagonist of the story, Poseidon fulfills the role of a major antagonistic force. Poseidon has a held a grudge against Odysseus ever since he he blinded his son. Poseidon’s anger towards Odysseus “…has kept the man wandering about…he does not…let him go home to his native land” (5). This hatred grown from Poseidon provides the perfect counterbalance to Athena’s attitude towards Odysseus and the actions performed by both of the gods continually knocks Odysseus’ life around as if in a pinball machine. This greatly thickens the plot of The Odyssey and adds many more twists and turns to it. Another god, other than Athena and Poseidon, also contributes to the shaping of each character’s life in the