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

The Underworld as the Key to Living the Greek vitalityBeyond relaying a fantastic journey, featuring a glorified hero who embodies to matinee idol Greek ideals, Homer uses the epic books of The Odyssey to explore all the nuances of Greek culture. Each part of The Odyssey possesses a purpose beyond detailing popular mythology. Book 11s 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 reinforce 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 reveals and reinforces views on kleos, the role manpower and women antic in society, the proper hero, religion especially in conjunction with fate and the idea of death and rebirth.Homers carefully crafted views can be go through relative to Odysseus journey, starting on Circes island. Homer sets a sumptuo us scene, but Odysseus men are called by duty and the need to return to their homes. It is the men that spur on Odysseus. Like a responsible leader and hero, Odysseus responds immediately to his mens pleas and, with the help of Hermes foresight, he makes plans to leave Circes island. This shows not totally 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 favourably answers, adding that she will 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 relationship 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 present and which future belles-lettres will emulate, comment on and celebrate. Works CitedDimock, George. The Unity of The Odyssey. Amherst U of Mass. Press, 1989.Foley, John Miles. Homers Traditional Art. PA Penn State UP, 1999.Griffin, Jasper. Homer on Life and Death. Oxford Clarendon Press, 1980.Homer. The Odyssey. Ed. Robert Fagels. New York Penguin Books, 1996.