The Odyssey: the Finality of Fate

Lindsey Henning

Professor Kakazu

English 301

January 14th, 2015

The Finality of Fate

In a feat of unparalleled strength and godlike cunning, Odysseus, masquerading as a lowly beggar, effortlessly strings his own bow and launches an arrow through a series of twelve axes. In doing so, Odysseus reveals his true identity, asserting his superiority over the opportunistic suitors, and winning over the affections of his wife—the beautiful, albeit wary, Penelope. However, are Odysseus’ ill-fated journey and seemingly heroic qualities his own doing, or are they simply the product of fate? Where does Odysseus’ destiny fall on the spectrum of self-determination and the will of the gods? Throughout the epic of The Odyssey, little goes unseen by the watchful eyes of the gods. While it is apparent that Odysseus’ actions do incur much of the wrath of Poseidon, it is also true that there is little scope to his locus of control. The following paragraphs are intended to reconcile these seemingly antithetical concepts as demonstrated by the nebulous nature of fate by explaining that fate, though beyond reproach by mortals and gods alike, can be influenced in its process rather than its outcome.

In Book five, one can see an example of the gods toying with the fate of Odysseus. As the gods gather on Mount Olympus, Athena, who has taken pity on Odysseus, pleads to Zeus on Odysseus’ behalf to free him from Calypso. Zeus, assuaging Athena says, “ Announce to the nymph with the lovely braids our fixed decree:/ Odysseus journeys home—the exile must return” (5.34-35). However, Zeus qualifies his decree: “But not on a convoy of mortal men./ No, on a lashed, makeshift raft and wrung with pains/…. So his destiny ordains” (5.36-37,45). Here, Odysseus seems more like a pawn in the god’s game of chess than the hero of his own narrative.

Upon hearing of Odysseus departure from Ogygia, Poseidon, hell-bent on making Odysseus suffer, causes Odysseus to nearly lose his life at sea: “ With...