What I found so interesting throughout this epic, was the direct hand of the gods on not only on the external situations, but even on the words that are said.
For example, Amphinomus feels "sick with anguish" and "fraught with grave forebodings" about the supposed beggar that came to visit. However, "Athena had bound him fast to death" (page 381).
Despite his hesitation about the situation, Athena had already determined that he was going to die. There was no escaping his death. His demise was predetermined by the immortal Athena.
Similarly, Athena had a direct influence over even the words said. As the suitors are hurling insults at Odysseus/ the beggar, "Athena had no mind to let the brazen suitors hold back from their heart-rending insults- she meant to make the anguish cut still deeper into the core of Laertes' son Odysseus" (page 387). It brings into question what is known about human nature. Would the suitors have still said hurtful things to Odysseus to unknowingly inspire their own slaughter? Would the situation have worked out so neatly? I doubt it. There are no completely evil people, or completely good ones. It makes me wonder what the epic would have looked like without Athena's interference.
P.S. I commented on Matt Henson's post!
This is a very interesting thing to consider. If Athena would not have gotten involved, I think that Odysseus would still be sitting on the island of Calypso crying like a seven year old girl. She is the one who allowed this story to happen.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. The whole story seems to be unfolding based on Athena's decisions and manipulations of the human will.
ReplyDeleteI think it goes back to Fate. It wasn't Odysseus' destiny to die on Ogygia. I'd go so far as to say that Athena herself, though she didn't know it, was a puppet.
ReplyDeleteWhile this is an interesting point, does a god's involvement really extinguish man's free will? Man still has to decide his own actions even when the gods get involved in his situation. This story could have ended differently had Odysseus chosen to disobey the gods. It's just like the way God works in our lives. He is involved, and we can see His hand in many situations. However, we still have our own free will.
ReplyDeleteI think the story is all about Athena! At the end of the story, Odysseus holds his sword at the command of Athena (in the form of Mentor), and Athena makes peace between "both sides for all the years to come". The story is framed by the actions of Athena- Book One is titled, "Athena Inspires the Prince", she is constantly saving people, interfering in their success or failure, advocating for them, or influencing their paths. Even if the characters have free will, Athena still is the catalyst of the plot.
ReplyDelete