Greek Gods In The Odyssey

Altering writing forever, the ancient Greek orator, Homer, transformed the Odyssey, a great oral story, into an epic poem still studied to this day. This poem follows godlike Odysseus’ journey as he returns from his conquests and ultimate victory at the ten-year war for Troy. Along the way, he encounters many trials and tribulations, however the Greek gods assist him on multiple occasions to help him home. Why do the gods do this? Two specific instances characterize the reasoning behind their strange actions. First in book five Hermes travels across the ocean to save Odysseus from Kalypso’s island and then later in book ten he saves Odysseus from Cerci’s island as well. Using these two examples, one may discern the god’s strange reasoning.
After Kalypso falls in love with Odysseus, she promises him immortality where she states, “and I had hopes for him also that I could make him immortal and all his days be endless” (V. 135-6). In addition to this, she holds him captive and forces him to sleep with her while unsuccessfully brainwashing him to forget his home as Homer writes in book one, “she detains the grieving, unhappy man, and ever with soft and flattering words she works to charm him to forger Ithaka” (55-7). Surprisingly, Kalypso’s just a fair person who fell into blind love as she states to Odysseus, “I have no spirit of iron inside my heart. Rather, it is compassionate” (190-1). As a result, the gods do not think they would not need to intervene because she’s not a direct threat to his welfare. This leaves more room for Odysseus to escape on his own through his endeavors. This may seem like a situation where the gods need to intervene, however, they wait the seven years because Odysseus is resourceful (V. 203) and he is also “patient-hearted” (I. 129). Thinking clearly, the gods decide not to help Odysseus because they trust in his own abilities to escape but once seven years pass and despair has finally beaten Odysseus down to the point of “long[ing] to die” which epitomizes the final straws of a man’s sanity (59). At this point, Hermes, finally, at Zeus’ bidding, travels across
In Kalypso’s case, she hands him the tools he needs to build his own raft to sail home (V. 234) and she provides food for the journey (265-7). As a result, now Odysseus has the ability to craft his own ship and then sail home with the sailing skills that he has already attained from previous experience (269-274). On the other hand, Circe provides directions and instructions for the ceremony during the next part of Odysseus’ journey that enables him to sail off on his own with his men safely returned. Now all Odysseus needs at that point is his own ability to sail. Plus, on both occasions they feast right before setting sail so that they are full of great food but also as a morale booster so that Odysseus and his men do not lose hope right away. Unsurprisingly, both goddesses must intervene as well so Odysseus may safely travel to his next destination otherwise his own abilities will fail