FREE ESSAY ON ODYSSEY

ODYSSEY

In book 23 of the Odyssey, reoccurring Homeric themes appear, character's roles change,
and a homecoming for an epic hero is finally accomplished. Book 23 may be the one book in
this poem that can be related the closest to the poem as a whole. In this book, we see
the relationship of a god/goddess and a human being as a reoccurring theme throughout
Homers works. This god/human relationship is shown throughout the poem mainly through the
actions of Athene, who is trying to assure that Odysseus receives the glorious homecoming
that he deserves. Book 23 concludes Odysseus's twenty-year homecoming journey by uniting
him with his beloved wife, Penelope. The homecoming that is looked forward to by so many
throughout the poem is finalized by the romantic reunion of Odysseus and Penelope This
reunion shows a cunning side of Penelope that is almost the same as her husband,
Odysseus, shows numerous times throughout the epic. This cunningness by Penelope exhibits
a different example of the role of women in the time of the Odyssey. 
The relationships between humans and gods are looked at numerous times in both the Iliad
and the Odyssey. Gods in these poems hurt some humans and help others. The relationship
with Odysseus and certain gods is what shapes this epic into what it is. The reason that
Odysseus is so misfortunate on his way home is because he angered Poseidon, the god of
the sea. Also, the reason that Odysseus eventually received his homecoming is because of
the admiration and love of the goddess, Athene. The relationship between Athene and
Odysseus is shown in book 23 
The goddess, Athene, and Odysseus are two characters that are very similar to one another
in their personalities. Both Athene and Odysseus use their intelligence to trick others
in thinking that they are somebody else. Odysseus' quick wit seems to be what Athene
appreciates most about him. Her appreciation is seen in line 287 of book 8 when she
"smiled on him, and stroked him with her hand" after he made up that long, detailed story
to try and trick her. This shows her appreciation for his great ability to deceive. She
enjoys how he uses his resourcefulness in making up this story. Athene, once again, helps
out Odysseus and Penelope in book 23 when she lengthens the nighttime, because both
Penelope and Odysseus are similar in that they are quick-witted and cunning. Athene's
help is described by the quote:
Now Dawn of the rosy fingers would have dawned on their weeping, had not the gray-eyed
goddess Athene planned it otherwise. She held the long night back at the outward edge,
she detained Dawn of the golden throne by the Ocean, and would not let her harness her
fast-footed horses who bring the daylight to people... (XXIII.241-246).
Athene does things to help Odysseus, because she wants him to fulfill his goal and
receive his homecoming. Athene has so much respect for Odysseus that she wants to do
anything to help him get to his homeland and regain his kingdom and household from the
wrath of the suitors. Athene helps Odysseus and his family a number of times throughout
the epic in order to do so. Athene even helps Odysseus' son, Telemachos, in the journey
that he has in the first four books of the epic. This journey prepares Telemachos for the
battle with the suitors. Athene and Odysseus both greatly appreciate one another.
Odysseus appreciates Athene for all the help that she gives to him. Athene appreciates
Odysseus for his resourcefulness and for being "far the best of all mortal men for
counsel and stories" (VIII.297-298). This shows that Athene likes that Odysseus is a
great leader as well as a great deceiver. Many times within the Odyssey, Odysseus either
physically disguises himself or tells artful lies in order to hide his true identity. For
example, he does this with Polephemos the Cyclops, with the suitors, and even with his
own wife. This is done in order to obtain the righteous homecoming in which he has been
striving for. He tricks the Cyclops in order to escape death, and he disguises himself in
the presence of the suitors to assure that he is not recognized, and therefore, can
organize his plan. He, again, disguises himself for Penelope, his wife, in order to make
sure that she has been loyal to him. These are all dishonest, yet justifiable, because
they are to assure that Odysseus does not suffer the same inglorious homecoming as
Agamemnon (XI: 405-434). Athene and Odysseus are described very similarly throughout the
epic. They are both described as deceiving. Athene relates the two of them when she says,
"for you and I both know sharp practice" (VIII.296-297). In these lines, she relates to
Odysseus that she thinks they are both good deceivers. The relationship between Athene
and Odysseus is important, because if not for the goddess, Poseidon may have fulfilled
his own goal and destroyed Odysseus.
Penelope, like Odysseus and Athene, also has the ability to deceive. She shows this in
book 23 as well as in her confrontations with the suitors. She lies to her suitors to
delay having to choose one to be her husband. Like Odysseus, her lying is for a
worthwhile reason. She lies to the suitors because she still believes that her real
husband, Odysseus, is still alive. In book 23, Penelope turns the tides on Odysseus,
assuring him trustworthy by using her own trickery. Where we usually see Odysseus lying
to people to assure their loyalty, Penelope shows that she is truly Odysseus' equal by
using this form of trickery on him. Odysseus parallels the trickery that Penelope uses on
him when he tricks his father, Laertes, in book 24. Like Penelope, when she first sees
Odysseus in book 23, Odysseus is at a crossroads when he first sees his father in book
24. He is contemplating whether to hug and kiss his father and tell him of his journey,
or to "question him [Laertes] first about everything and make trial of him"
(XXIV.236-238). The choice that Penelope has to make is described quite similarly when it
says, "She spoke, and came down from the chamber, her heart pondering much, whether to
keep away and question her dear husband, or to go up an kiss his head, taking his hands"
(XXIII.85-87). Both Penelope and Odysseus take the route to assure loyalty. They need to
assure this loyalty because they both have people around them that are looking to deceive
they. If they are deceived, they each have much to lose. The parallelism that Odysseus
and Penelope have in books 23 and 24, show how much these two are alike. In book 23,
Penelope lies to a person who is closer to her than anybody in the world, because she has
doubts. Odysseus has the same doubts about his own father's loyalty to him. 
Penelope's' trickery on Odysseus brings upon a new example of the role of women in the
years following the Trojan War. The Odyssey, as a poem, is the product of a society and
time where the males played the dominant role in society. Women in Ancient Greece
occupied a subservient position. Women were valued in society, but they only participated
in the affairs of the society when the men who ran their lives approved it. Immortal
woman like Athene, Circe, and Calypso were treated with more equality and respect by a
man than any other mortal woman, but due to the love and respect that Odysseus has for
Penelope, he rightfully treats her as his equal. Loyalty is the prime character trait
that Odysseus looks for in any of his companions. If a person in disloyal to Odysseus,
he/she will lose their life. An example of this is seen in book 22 when the disloyal
Melanthios as well as the serving women are gruesomely murdered for betraying Odysseus.
On the other hand, Odysseus will treat the people that are loyal to him with kindness and
respect. Penelope is a prime example of loyalty and fidelity. She refuses to marry for
years because she is waiting for the return of the husband that she loves so dearly. By
tricking Odysseus in book 23, she earns a higher level of respect and admiration by him.
This respect and admiration is much like that which Athene has for Odysseus for much of
the same reasons. 
The goal that Odysseus has throughout the epic is to get home to his beloved wife and
son. Book 23 is the conclusion of his journey home. Odysseus has returned to his kingdom,
joined with his son, and taken back his home. The last thing that he must accomplish to
finalize his homecoming is to reunite with his one true love, Penelope. In accomplishing
this in book 23, this is the end of the journey that has become known as the Odyssey.
Book 24 seems to be Homers way of showing the likeliness of Odysseus and Penelope. Book
24 also relates why the families of the suitors don't seek vengeance on Odysseus. Book 24
is an important book due to the way it concludes the story of Odysseus, but Odysseus's
journey home ends when he and Penelope reunite.
Book 23 of the Odyssey serves as a conclusion to the journey that Odysseus has been on
for ten long years. Odysseus wraps up his ten-year journey home with an extra-long night
of passion with his wife. This chapter also reiterates the importance of man's
relationship with the gods and goddesses. In addition, we see Penelope use Odysseus-like
trickery in order to assure her husband was whom he said. This trickery relates so
closely with that of Odysseus in the last book that readers can see Odysseus and his wife
as equals. With her trickery and cunningness, she goes against the standard way that
modern women of that day are looked at. Book 23 includes many themes and ideas that are
repeated throughout the poem. With these themes and ideas present, book 23 serves as a
tying together of the epic as a whole.