The Role of The Gods in The Lives of Men Essay - 1098 Words

The role of the gods in the lives of men is very apparent in many works of literature. The gods play a significant, if not dominate role in each and every one of these works. The gods use their powers for many diverse and essential actions. In the numerous works, readers can see the gods determining the events in the lives of men time after time. In The Odyssey, the Greek Goddess, Athena, uses her power to influence many aspects of the lives of both Odysseus and his son, Telemachus. Athena has an extraordinarily close relationship with Odysseus. She is Odysseus’s guardian. Athena directs Odysseus and Telemachus both physically and mentally throughout their many life changing adventures. In the beginning of the Odyssey, Odysseus is being†¦show more content†¦Athena disguises Odysseus often throughout the story to keep him from being harmed and recognized. When Odysseus finally returns to Ithaka, Athena masks his appearance and makes him appear as an old beggar. This allows Odysseus to spy on the suitors that have overrun his home without being detected. When Odysseus appears as himself, it is too late for the suitors to escape. Odysseus, with Telemachus fighting beside him, kills all of the suitors. If Odysseus and Telemachus did not have Athena’s help throughout their journeys, the outcome of their liv es would have been completely different. Without Athena’s help, Odysseus would have never returned home alive, and Telemachus would have been killed by the suitors. Athena’s role in the lives of these men was to protect, lead, and mentor them. This led to her not only having a role in their lives, but also saving their lives. In Gilgamesh, the role of the gods in the lives of men is both direct and indirect. Gilgamesh is the unruly king of who is â€Å"†¦arrogant, oppressive, and brutal (Lawall 11).† The people of Uruk complain to the gods about their king’s behavior and the gods in turn create a foil of Gilgamesh, Enkidu. They do this indirectly to Gilgamesh instead of directly punishing him in hopes that Enkidu will be able to transform Gilgamesh into a noble and loved king. Gilgamesh and Enkidu eventually become friends and decide that they are going to kill theShow MoreRelatedWomen s Belief Of Human Bodies1360 Words   |  6 Pagesancient Greek’s belief of human bodies. Even though men and women were physically different and Greek societies were male-dominant, women had an important part to play in religion. Ancient Greek religious practices varied between men and women. Overall, ancient Greek religion was based on a give-and-take mindset in which the Greeks believed that th ey would receive protection from Gods and Goddesses if they worship and sacrifice for them. The roles of men and women in religious practices were vastly differentRead MoreJohn Milton s Paradise Lost1588 Words   |  7 Pagesat fault for Satan’s fall? 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