The Underworld as the Key to Living the Greek Life Essay -- Odyssey

The Underworld as the Key to Living the classic Lifebeyond relaying a fantastic journey, featuring a glorified hero who embodies to perfection Greek ideals, homing pigeon uses the epic books of The Odyssey to explore all the nuances of Greek culture. Each divide of The Odyssey possesses a purpose beyond detailing popular mythology. Book football teams Underworld becomes the culmination of all the values and ideals that Homer touches on in prior books. Homer uses the underworld as a catchall to pay back societal protocol and religion among other things. Specifically, by focusing on the reason for Odysseus journey, the journey itself, the scenery of the Underworld and its occupants, Homer perils and reinforces views on kleos, the role men and women play in society, the proper hero, religion especially in conjunction with fate and the idea of death and rebirth.Homers carefully crafted views can be experienced relative to Odysseus journey, starting on Circes island. Homer sets a sumptuous scene, unless Odysseus men are called by duty and the need to return to their homes. It is the men that spur on Odysseus. corresponding a responsible leader and hero, Odysseus responds immediately to his mens pleas and, with the patron of Hermes foresight, he makes plans to leave Circes island. This shows not only Odysseus responsible behavior, but also the gods anticipation of Odysseus actions. Bit by bit, in scenarios like this, the gods reveal their knowledge of fate, which their actions support. Odysseus requests that Circe make good a promise to which she favorably answers, adding that she get out help him (10532). Beyond the fact that a promise holds Circe to freeing Odysseus, her heritage as a goddess allows her to know that eventually he must... ...ot use The Odyssey as an editorial rather, his oral epic artfully entwines the desolate landscape of the Underworld, the flitting shades, and Odysseus interactions with deeper visions of a well-structured society. As a bard, Homer keenly felt the importance of the host-guest race with his aristoi hosts. He achieves his purpose while spinning tales that would be entertaining to his audiences. What Homer leaves behind is a legacy that engages in discourse with the past and defend and which future literature will emulate, comment on and celebrate. Works CitedDimock, George. The consonance of The Odyssey. Amherst U of Mass. Press, 1989.Foley, John Miles. Homers Traditional Art. PA Penn verbalise UP, 1999.Griffin, Jasper. Homer on Life and Death. Oxford Clarendon Press, 1980.Homer. The Odyssey. Ed. Robert Fagels. New York Penguin Books, 1996.