control over his surroundings? At what moments does he seem in command of his own fate and that of his companions? What message may we inter from Homer's treatmen of Odysseus' relationship with the gods? What do we learn about the poet's views on human nature and its interaction with forces beyond its control?
2006-11-04 06:48:07 · 3 answers · asked by flight29downfan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Sounds like a homework to me again. Was this asked by your professor? You should be doing your own reading but here is a helpful link that can get you started on:
http://www.stoa.org/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Stoa:text:2003.01.0002:chapter=5
Enjoy reading. If I were there and I really listened, I would probably get it on my own. Goodluck!
2006-11-04 07:06:12 · answer #1 · answered by ~Charmed Flor~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Odysseus is one of my favorites. He's like a real person (I mean a person of today), trapped in this mythological nightmare, where he just wants to get back to his wife and family.
He has control when he asks his shipmates to tie him up and bind him as they sail through the waters where the mermaids are. While the sailors are below with cotton in their ears, he is NOT in control when he hears the voices of the mermaids. He wants so desperately to get free and be with them. It's ironic.
He has control when he lands on the island with Circe. Or so he thinks. He loves to be the master of his domain, but oh! so seldom is he! She has him wrapped around her little finger the entire time he's there, even though he thinks he's in charge.
When he finally gets home, he must fight 100 suitors! to win back his wife. This is crazy insane, and funny too. He's worked so hard to get back to her, and yet he cannot just walk in and say, "Honey, I'm home!" No control.
Since Odysseus is the most control hungry (and even got most everything he wanted by his skillful use of words in the first book The Iliad), I am sure that homer is saying, "See, if even Odysseus cannot control the forces that are thrown at him at random. How do you suppose that you could?"
There are so many examples one could use from the book. The Cyclops. The pigs. The sea monster. Have fun!
2006-11-04 19:01:44 · answer #2 · answered by halarious 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it a long and hard adventure for him ... he cannt control any surroudings but the god ... all from him is compitances ... so we can get the messages from homer's...powerfull god and suffering and endurence for human being
i agree with halarious's view about him ,, yah he is a standard morden man of our family ... all he did is for his wife and coming home
2006-11-04 15:08:00 · answer #3 · answered by odysseyhellas 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋