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The Role Of The Gods In The Odyssey

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The Role Of The Gods In The Odyssey
In The Odyssey, although the gods are often much less grand or magnificent they still play an important role in the story. They function more as spiritual guides and supporters for their human subjects, sometimes assuming mortal disguises in order to do so. There are three gods that are more human friendly in the story; Zeus, Hermes, and Athena, and one who is not so friendly; Poseidon. Zeus is sympathetic to the mortals, he lets the other gods help the humans. An example of Zeus helping Odysseus would be, when Odysseus was with the nymphs, Zeus says to his son, “Hermes, you’ve been our messenger before./ Go tell that ringleted nymph it is my will/ To let that patient man Odysseus go home” (V. 30-33). Furthermore, Hermes also has a very neutral
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