Odysseus 'Free Will In Homer's Odyssey'

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James Fair Mr. Curran English IV 4/10/24 Fate and the will of the gods hold more sway over Odysseus than free will because even when Odysseus thinks he is making a decision, Athena forces him to make that decision. Odysseus was talking to Amphinomus, and he tried to save him. May spirits guide you home, so you do not meet him when he comes. When he confronts the suitors in this hall, there will be blood." Line 147 - "The 'Standard'" Pg. 413). See also Odysseus knows he will die if he stays, so he tries to get him to leave. However, Athena wanted him to stay and die. "Athena had condemned him to be defeated by Telemachus with his strong spear." Line 156 - "Secondary" Pg. 414 -. Odysseus tried to save Amphinomus, but Athena wanted all the suitors to die, so she forced Amphinomus to stay in the hall. …show more content…
Instead, Athena could change his decisions and stop his actions without him knowing it. Athena also forces Odysseus to do things he otherwise wouldn't have done. When Odysseus first entered his home, Athena forced him to go to the suitors. "Athena stood beside Odysseus and prompted him to go among the suitors, begging for scraps to find out which were bad or good– although she had no thought of saving any out of the massacre which was to come." Line 360 -. Pg 398) Athena wants Odysseus to be enraged when he is fighting the suitors, so he will kill all of them. Athena doesn't want to save any of them, even if Odysseus thinks that they are a good person. Athena took advantage of Odysseus's pride and