Odyssey Analysis

Adventure calls in Odysseus when Calypso lets him to leave her island and start his trip home. Calypso is Odysseus' temptress in the most blatant of ways as she makes it clear that Odysseus is the object of her desire. Calypso also directly stimulates Odysseus and rekindles his optimism for finding his way home. Initially, Odysseus refuses his call to adventure when he believes that Calypso is merely attempting to trick him into thinking he is free. Odysseus was so cunning that in an attempt to avoid Calypso's perceived entrapment, Odysseus fools himself into nearly missing his chance at escape. Odysseus then begins to construct a ship which acts as his threshold to freedom. Like a door, Odysseus' ship acts as a threshold by granting him access to an area that was, before, unreachable. Odysseus finds himself in the belly of the whale as he begins his sea voyage and hunkers down in his ship. The ship clearly represents the belly of the whale because a ship, like a whale, is large and is found in the sea. Athena acts as Odysseus' supernatural aid, not only by intervening on his behalf with the other gods but also by protecting him from the storm sent by Poseidon. Odysseus' road of trials is represented by the events spanning from Poseidon's storm to his forced retelling of his many adventures to the Phaeacian royal court. Each obstacle Odysseus faces further delays the continuation of his journey to Ithaca. Odysseus has his meeting with the goddess during his encounter with Ion. She spurs him on by delivering to him a shroud that would protect him from Poseidon's storm. Without this protection he would not have been able to reach the Phaeacians. The apotheosis of Odysseus occurs once he has finished telling his story to the Phaeacians. This is his apotheosis because until his full story is told the Phaeacians do not fully hail him as a hero. The boon that Odysseus carries with him on his "magic flight" back home is his story. The experiences of his many adventures are a burden that he carries with him in the form of an epic tale. Odysseus is reconciled to his son when his son stands up for himself and his mother by calling the council of leaders together in Ithaca.