Odysseus Pursuit Of Honor In Homer's Odyssey

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DAVID BLAIR ONE OR THE OTHER In the Odyssey, we see a man being broken and rebuilt. Throughout his journey, Odysseus goes through difficult situations, deceiving people on the way. I would agree with Gorgias that “The man who deceives shows more justice than he who does not.” It is only through his hard work, wise spirit, and deception that Odysseus finally makes it home. The main theme of the Odyssey is deception and revelation, as the characters use their cunning abilities of disguise. Athena disguises herself, though Telemachus knows it’s her. The same principle applies to Odysseus when he hides his identity. Odysseus’ sense of justice operates on a sense of deception and revelation. In Book IX of the Odyssey,…show more content…
The princess Nausicaa and her handmaidens are naked, playing ball as their clothes dry on the ground. Odysseus wakes in the forest and encounters them. Naked himself, he humbly, yet winningly, pleads for their assistance, never revealing his identity. The princess leaves him alone so he can wash the dirt from his body. Here, Athena makes him over literally. In book VI it says, “And then, once he had bathed all over, rubbed in oil and donned the clothes the virgin princess gave him, Zeus’s daughter Athena made him talker to all eyes, his build more massive now, and down from his brow she ran his curls like thick hyacinth clusters full of blooms. As a master craftsman washes gold over beaten silver- a man the god of fire and Queen Athena trained in every fine technique and finishes off his latest effort, handsome work, so she lavished splendor over his head and shoulders now. (Book VI, ll. 251-260) When Nausicaa sees him again, she begins to admire him. As a result, she gives Odysseus directions to the palace and advice on how to approach the queen of the Phaeacians when he meets her. The deception involved in this scene, Odysseus’ divine makeover and smooth conversation makes him more attractive. To ensure his success, he has to use deception because he doesn’t know if the islanders are friends or foes. He has had bad luck with islands. It’s important for him to…show more content…
Odysseus and his men travel to Aeaea, home of the beautiful witch goddess Circe. She drugs this band of men and turns them into pigs. When Odysseus tries to go rescue his men, Hermes approaches him and tells him to eat an herb called moly to protect him. He seduces Circe and forces her to change his men back into their human forms. He soon becomes Circe’s lover and he and his men live with her in luxury for a whole year. Because of his deceptive seduction, Odysseus can learn where he needs to go next on his journey home; he and his men are able to leave Circe’s island

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