The Epic Poem The Odyssey

Odyssey Essay
Many people go on cruises, road trips, and fly on airplanes and I’m sure some can be considered very long journeys. These trips or journeys are nothing compared to what a man devoted his life to doing. A man named Odysseus travelled for years, even for a majority of his life to many different countries and foreign places. In each new place he was faced with many different obstacles to overcome that weren’t always easy or familiar to where he came from. Homer's Epic Poem the Odyssey teaches us many life lessons including the need for responsibility, avoiding temptations, and lastly the need for encouragement. The Odyssey models how we need to have responsibility or it will create problems. In this quote it represents what
the result of the men's lack of responsibility was.”All the hands aboard; come, clear the bench and no one taste of the Lotus, or you will lose your hope of home.” This quote is important because it proves how the lack of responsibility caused many of Odysseus’ men to be left behind. The decision they made caused them to lose their homeland forever and this carelessness is a problem that they cannot take back or re-due. Just like in life we need to think of what consequences can happen in the long run and not just what will make us pleased in the moment that we are in. The responsible men who didn’t eat of the flower went with Odysseus and continued the journey because they used their wits to decide what would be smartest for them in the future. Furthermore, Odysseus took a very responsible action that saved his men from making a wrong choice. “Going forward I carried wax along the line, and laid it thick on their ears.” Odysseus took responsibility and spared his own ears so the men wouldn’t be tempted by the girl singing. He thought of his men before himself because he knew they didn't have as wide of a mindset. He put his mind to the test and found a way to get the outcome he wanted and help his men. This portrays that it only takes one responsible person to make a difference to a lot of people. Obviously not having responsibility in life can get you into a lot of trouble.
In our world we give into many temptations everyday and this poem communicates how we should avoid it.
For instance the quote from Sailing to Troy models this. “Calypso, loveliest among goddesses, who held me in her smooth caves, to be her heart’s delight as circe of Aeaea, the enchantress desired me, and detained me in her hall. But in my heart I never gave consent.” Even though Odysseus was tempted to cheat on his wife he knew that it wasn’t right. This guilt was held in him for the rest of his life and he has had to live with the feeling of regret his whole life. In his heart he knew it was wrong but wanting Calypso overruled this. Although he still loves his wife the choice he made caused him to lose her forever. Additionally, to portray this, a quote conveys what happened in the Land of the Lotus Eaters. “...but those who ate this honeyed plant, The Lotus, never cared to report, nor to return: they longed to stay forever, browsing on the native bloom, forgetful of their homeland.” Many men were tempted to eat of the Lotus flower and whose who did got left behind. This definitely related to getting into drugs in our world. It portrays that once you take of taste that you are hooked forever whether you want to be or not. Also, you lose your previous self and everything you once knew, or “home”. Once you lose it you will not return. Those who weren’t tempted continued the journey with Odysseus. Likewise, if we stay away from the temptation of drugs or other unhealthy things then we will be able to continue the journey of life. Clearly we have many temptations in life we need to refrain from falling into or we will run into
consequences.
When in tough situations there is always a need for encouragement to keep others motivated. When outsmarting the Cyclops, Odysseus keeps his men's courage up while they escape the cave. “Now, by the gods, I drove my big hand spike deep in the embers, charring it again, and cheered my men along with battle talk to keep their courage up; no quitting now.” He encourages his men to keep going while they are escaping the cave of the powerful Cyclops. They were all filled with fear and he used his words to keep their confidence up when they couldn't feel it on their own. Being encouraging is a big part of teamwork and obviously a big part of Odysseus and his men working together. While working together their needs to be a voice to leads and helps the group. In addition, another quote exhibits Odysseus taking the role of being a voice when the men are unconfident. “Friends have we never been in danger before this. More fearsome, is it now, then when the Cyclops pinned us in his cave? What power he had. Did I not keep my nerve and use my wits to find a way out for us?” He uses encouraging words to keep his men confident when they are in doubt. He reminds them that they have done this before and they have accomplished things more challenging that what they are dealing with. Also, he lets them know that he has their back and says he will use his wits to solve this like he did before. Surely a voice of encouragement in tough situations really can help out a group of people and their mindset on a situation.
To close, The Odyssey can teach us many life lessons in a variety of ways. A few really stood out and these included the need for responsibility, avoiding temptation, and lastly the need for encouragement. Odysseus’ huge journey definitely differs from what our lives consist of but on the other hand although it is a very different journey it can relate to us and teach us many important things.