Poseidon in the Odyssey

Poseidon in The Odyssey

The Odyssey, by Homer, is the archetype of all heroic stories. In this epic poem, many of the Greek gods are involved in Odysseus' journey, but not all affect him (Odysseus) in a positive way. Durring his voyage, Poseidon, the sea god, seeks revenge on Odysseus and makes sure his quest to get back home is very difficult.

In book one, it is introduced that Poseidon has rage agaist Odysseus. The presenter, or muse, would sing, "Yet all of the god pitied Lord Odysseus, all but Poseidon, raging cold and rough agaist the brave king till he came ashore at last on his own land..." (Homer, 29). Here, it is explained that many of the gods are goin to try to help Odysseus on his way, and have symphathy for him. Poseidon, on the other hand, is going to do anything in his power to stop Odysseus from going to Ithaca.

In the passage of Calyso, the sea nymph (Book 5), it is again revealed that Poseidon wishes to make Odysseus suffer on the road to his homeland. After Calypso "permits" Odysseus to leave her island, he begins to construct a raft to sail away in. The narroration says, "... Odysseus builds a raft and sets sail, but the sea god Poseidon is by no means ready to allow an easy passage over his watery domain. He raises a storm and destroys the raft." (Holt, 654) By destroying Odysseus' raft, it causes him to almost drown (however, with the godess Athena's help, he survives). In this scence, it is seen once more that Poseidon has gone out of his way to make the hero, Odysseus, miserable.

The protaganist (Odysseus faces the monster son of the sea god in the story of the Cyclops (from book 9). Durring this passage, Odysseus comes to combat and blinds the man-beast, this is an action that enrages his father. Odysseus, however is very proud of the success of his plan. "Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put into shane and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye! Laretes' son, whose home is on Ithaca!". Here, Odysseus has given away his identity and is gloating and being cocky about his victory over the powerful god's son. The cyclops Polyphemus then prays to his father: " O, hear me lord, blue girdler of the islands, if I am thine indeed ans thou art father; grant that Odysseus, raider of citites, never see his home: Laertes' son, I mean, who kept his home on Ithaca. Should destiny intend that he shall see his roof again amoung his family in his fatherland, for be that day, and dark the years between. Let him loose all companions and return under strange sail to bitter days at home..." (Homer, 524) The cyclops asks his father to avenge him. He asks to not let Odysseus see Ithaca again. Poseidon takes this all into condsideration to make Odysseus suffer on his journey more.

In the end, good defeats evil and Odysseus prevails and returns home to Ithaca with is wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus. Poseidon made the quest back home from war very difficult for Odysseus with his antics and storms, but not impossible. The sea god took his rage out on this hero and did not pity him like other gods. All of the gods in the Odyssey feel a certain way about Odysseus, and it just so happened that Poseidon, ruler of the sea, was not on his side.