In Homer’s epic poem, “The Odyssey,” the gods play a significant role in the story’s plot and character development. The gods act as both helpers and hinderers to the protagonist, Odysseus, as he tries to return home after the Trojan War.
The god Zeus, king of the gods, struggles to decide whether or not to help Odysseus, due to the interference of his wife, Hera. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, becomes Odysseus’s main helper throughout the story. She not only provides him with guidance and advice, but she also helps him disguise himself as a beggar to infiltrate his own palace and defeat the suitors who have taken over the home in his absence.
Poseidon, the god of the sea, becomes Odysseus’s main hinderer, as he holds a grudge against the protagonist for blinding his son Polyphemus, a cyclops. Poseidon creates obstacles for Odysseus at every turn, making his return home much more difficult than it would have been otherwise.
Overall, the gods’ involvement in the story highlights the Ancient Greek belief in divine intervention and the importance of respecting the gods. It also emphasizes the idea of divine justice and the consequences of defying the gods, as Odysseus’s punishment for blinding the cyclops is a major factor in his struggle to return home.
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