Human Will, Divine Intervention and Fate in The Odyssey

On The Odyssey #2

The Odyssey contains numerous factors that play significant roles in the book: human will, divine intervention, and fate. Changes often occur within these factors throughout the book, leading to unexpected or unbelievable results. What happens when these factors change, and which of these factors is the most important?

In Book 10 of The Odyssey, Odysseus has escaped from the Laestrygonians. With the help of Aeolus’s leather bag containing all winds except the west one, Odysseus is sailing home. However, when the men catch sight of the coast of Ithaca, Odysseus’ homeland, they begin muttering about the leather bag. They think there must be gold or some valuables inside it, so they open it. The winds flow out, and the ships are driven back to where they were before.

Here, human will, in the form of greed, is the root cause of the failure of the journey. The warriors want more money and gold. Human will motivates the men to open the leather bag. Unfortunately, they don’t foresee the catastrophic consequences that result and lead to a huge setback. Without human will, the setback would not have happened, and without it, Odysseus would have remained on Calypso’s Island forever.

Divine intervention can be observed throughout The Odyssey. Zeus’ fury, Athena’s guidance, and Poseidon’s wrath are all crucial forces in the book. Clearly, without Poseidon’s wrath, Odysseus would have returned home much more easily. However, without Athena, Telemachus probably would never have left his house, and Odysseus would have remained forever on Calypso’s Island. Divine intervention can be either beneficial or detrimental—Odysseus first suffers due to the actions of the gods, then he is aided by them, despite the apparent paradox.

Fate, regardless of anyone’s attempts to intervene, remains unchanged. It can only be made more feasible by people or gods; it cannot be altered. Even Zeus cannot change fate. This is the core theme of the book. For instance, throughout the book, although Athena favors Odysseus and does her best to help him return home, she never assists Odysseus when he is in distress. She understands that she cannot alter fate, so she strives to expedite Odysseus’ journey home. Odysseus’ fate is to endure numerous challenges and survive, ultimately returning home gloriously.

In fact, these three factors that dramatically affect the book all share a common purpose: they serve to praise and extol Odysseus’ valor and cunning. Undoubtedly, these factors test Odysseus’ mind to the brink of death, but the closer he comes to death, the more he is celebrated by Homer and the reader. All three factors combine to make Odysseus more heroic and majestic, leaving a powerful impression on the reader.

In conclusion, human will, divine intervention, and fate in The Odyssey significantly influence the book, and none of the three can be disregarded. They collectively establish and commend the heroism and bravery of Odysseus, crafting his journey into an epic, inspiring, and cautionary tale.