Revenge In The Odyssey :: essays research papers

The Greeks, as portrayed by Homer, argon a very vengeful people. Throughout The Odyssey, a theme of retribution is dominant. These displays of retribution come from different entities for fairly different reasons. So why is revenge such a factor in The Odyssey? Fear and the overpowering feeling of payback are two answers. Homer gives numerous ex angstrom unitles of how trusted characters demonstrate their power in a fury of rage. He writes of the payback genus genus Zeus gives to those who break the rules, of Posei weary&8217s hatred towards Odysseus, and of Odysseus&8217s revenge to those who have dishonored his home.     Zeus is the most powerful of totally divinity fudges. All the Greeks with sense know not to cross him. A study hold in their culture is to invite in visitors that come to their doorsteps. This practice involves caring for the visitor by bathing and feeding them. After the visitor has been cared for, the host and visitor discuss t he lineage of the visitor. This is done with the fear of Zeus and those who don&8217t follow the practice are dealt with. Those who don&8217t follow this practice are considered barbarians. Homer gives a clue into the extent of the fear when he writes that Telemakhos was &8220irked with himself / to think a visitor had been kept their waiting&8230 (5). One example in The Odyssey is when Odysseus comes to the home of the Kyklops. Odysseus states          &8220We go forth entreat you, great Sir, have a care          for the gods&8217 courtesy Zeus will avengethe inoffensive guest (153).Kyklops just answers that, &8220We Kyklopes care not for your thundering Zeus&8230(153). This is a big mistake because directly after this statement, the Kyklops eats about of Odysseus&8217s men. Zeus does avenge the men through Odysseus. Odysseus rags the Kyklops inebriate and stabs out his eye , allowing an escape. One thing that is bad for Odysseus, though, is the fact that Kyklops is the son of Poseidon, god of the earthquake. This now spurs a new challenge for Odysseus he must get home with Poseidon&8217s obstacles.     Poseidon has never really liked Odysseus. When Odysseus tries to betray it onto the shore of Skheria, Poseidon &8220&8230calls up wind / from every quarter, and sends a wall of rain&8230 (89). Consequently, it is a safe assumption that Poseidon will really have it in for Odysseus. He states, &8220I idea he should suffer all the way home (233). After Odysseus returns home, Poseidon talks to Zeus and says he wants to put a mountain ring around the metropolis and crush the ship of the Phaiakians.