Themes of the Odyssey :: essays research papers

Throughout the Odyssey there are many themes that Homer uses to portray different people and events. To chance upon a few, there are the themes of Betrayal and Revenge,Greed and Glutony, Hospitality, Role of the Gods and Wealth (the amount of money one had determined the status he held in the greek society, and this explains Odysseuss experience for plunder). To start with the most common one, the situation of the gods, one can see many such eachusions thrown all over the odyssey. The epic poem starts in Mt.Olympus where the gods are discussing what will happen to Odysseus , Master mariner and warrior of Ithaka. As it so happens he is on the island of Kalypso, one of the lesser gods. Also, as Odysseus travels, one learns about the role of the gods in not only his travels but other peoples ones too. Agisthos, the man who stole Agamemnons wife and killed him, was sent a message from Zeus by Hermes, giving him the cultivation of what will happen if he kills him. Also, Menelaus, the red haired king of war, had to wrestle with a sea-god in order to gain acceptance and sail all the sort back to his homeland of Sparta, and find news about the rest of his companions. He would not find out about his brothers demise until he got home.The next dickens themes are interelated, Betrayal and Revenge, with Greed and Glutony.THe gods punish those who show greed and glutony, but that does not mean that they cannot be punished as well. A prime ensample of this is when Posiedon is out feasting among the sun-burnt races that were deemed to be his own. While he was feasting, Odysseus escaped the island of Kalypso, something that Poseidon did not like and was to late to stop from happening. While he was being gluttanos and eating all that food, Odysseus had escaped. Another example would be the murder of Agamemnon. Agisthos was greedy and wanted money and status, as well as Agamemnons wife and Agamemnons wife betrayed Agamemnon when she went off with him and even to a greater extent so when they both killed him. However, the theme of Betrayal is often closely followed by the theme of Revenge. Agamemnons son, Orestes, would go back and avenge his fathers death, killing Agisthos and his mother even though later on in greek mythology he knew he would be punished for killing her.