Oddyssey Essay, Research Paper

JR Audije

English 2nd Period

In “The Odyssey”, Athene helped Odysseus numerous ways physically and

mentally by aiding him, Telemachus, and Penelope.

In book I, Athene urged Telemachus to give up boyhood, act like a man, present

his case to search for his father to the assembly, and take stronger steps to search for his

father. After Telemachus presented his case to the assembly and no action was taken on

his request for a ship to enable him to search for his father, Telemachus prayed to Athene

for help. In response to his prayer, Athene appeared as Mentor and borrowed a ship and

crew for Telemachus. Athene also helped Telemachus by appearing to him in a dream,

urging him to return to Ithaca and warning him about the ambush of the suitors.

Athene helped Penelope numerous way also. Athene helped her by comforting her

so she would not go into a nervous break down over all her stress, the suitors and

Odysseus returning or not. Athene gave Penelope hope of Odysseus returning. Athene

even made Penelope appear more beautiful than she really was, because Penelope was

actually really ragged. Athene also helped Penelope by giving her a dream of gulls,

representing the suitors, and an eagle, representing Odysseus, killing the gulls.

Athene helped Odysseus numerous ways as well. She helped by persuading the

gods to free Odysseus from Calypso. Athene even helped Odysseus by telling Naussicaa

to do her laundry at the beach and telling her to help the man she meets.

So when Odysseus came to shore he was ugly and he scared the other women on the

beach away, except Nausicaa. Nausicaa washed Odysseus up, gave him clothes, and told

him how to act when they return to her place. As they were going to Naussicaa’s place

Athene made Odysseus invisible so the guards would not see him and Athene made

Odysseus look better by making him look taller, stronger, and giving him more hair on

his head. Athene also helped Odysseus by counseling him on how to handle the suitors,

and she disguises him as an old begger so no one will recognize him immediatly. Athene

later restores Odysseus to his own form when he reveals himself to his son and together

after twenty years they plan a vengeance on Penelopes wooers. As Odysseus was fighting

the suitors, Athene made Odysseus appear to look stronger to strike fear in the suitors.

Athene also made the Odysseus’ enemies miss with their attacks and Athene gave

Odysseus precise aim.

Athene last and final help was when she interrupted the relatives of the suitors

from attacking in revenge of the suitors deaths. Athene spoke stating ,”men of Ithaca,

cease this dreadful war, and settle the matter at once without further bloodshed.” Then

Zeus sent a lighting bolt that struck in front of Athene, so Athene said to Odysseus,

“Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, stop this battle, or Zeus will be angry with you.” Then

Odysseus gladly agreed, and in the voice and form of Mentor she made a covenant of

peace between the two parties.