Voyage and Psychological Development in Homers Odyssey Essay example -

The Voyage and Psychological Development in Homers Odyssey Homers Odyssey arguably stands out dealer and shoulders above any other piece of epic literature produced by Western civilization for nearly three millennia. Most remarkable is the conclusion to which the Western superstar archetype is to this day still a progeny of the molding that occurred upon the character of Odysseus so long ago. In imagining a legal philosophy lineup of the most profoundly influencing protagonists of Western epic poetry, surely Odysseus would prompt in stature and roguish airs far beyond the others for is non the gray-eyed Athena, daughter of rain-bringing Zeus himself, bound in devotion to this mortal booster? It is she who repeatedly enhances Odysseus appearance so as to yarn-dye upon others his god-like qualities And Athene, she who was born from Zeus, do himBigger to look at and stouter, and on his offerMade his vibrissa flow in curls, like the hyacinth flower . . . So she poured favor upon his head and shoulders. (6.229-35) In anointing Odysseus in similar fashion passim the tale of his arduous journey homeward, the ancient as well as modern reader can non help but look to Odysseus as a role model. Implicit in this behavioral model is one of Homers umteen subtexts, namely that having one or more of the gods on ones side is not enough to guarantee even a partial success in ones endeavors. The god Poseidon stands in direct opposition to Odysseus goal of reaching Ithaca, besides his attacks upon the hero always fall just short of actually cleanup spot him. Instead, with each calamity that befalls Odysseus at Poseidons hand, the hero is faced with a correspond inward struggle. Surviving the physical accreditedm at first seems to be the test when actually it ... ...side of the woman (the animus) and the passive, feminine side of the man (the anima). Although the dickens figures are always tempting the ego to identify itself with them, a veritable understand ing even on the personal level is possible simply if the identification is refused. (Jung 16 469) Perhaps The Odyssey, when seen from the perspective of Jungian and post-Jungian psychology, offers the reader a rich model for their own psychological development and an opportunity to look back the hero archetype in Western civilization. Works Cited Cirlot, J.E., A mental lexicon of Symbols. New York Barnes & Noble, 1971.Hillman, James. Anima An Anatomy of a Personified Notion. Dallas Spring Publications, 1985.Homer. The Odyssey. Trans., Ed. Albert Cook. New York W.W. Norton, 1993.Jung, C.G. Collected Works. 20 vols. Trans. R.F.C. Hull. Princeton Princeton U P, 1954. Voyage and Psychological Development in Homers Odyssey Essay spokesperson -The Voyage and Psychological Development in Homers Odyssey Homers Odyssey arguably stands out head and shoulders above any other piece of epic literature produced by Western civilization for nearly three millennia. Most remarkab le is the tip to which the Western hero archetype is to this day still a vector sum of the molding that occurred upon the character of Odysseus so long ago. In imagining a guard lineup of the most profoundly influencing protagonists of Western epic poetry, surely Odysseus would impress in stature and roguish airs far beyond the others for is not the gray-eyed Athena, daughter of rain-bringing Zeus himself, bound in devotion to this mortal hero? It is she who repeatedly enhances Odysseus appearance so as to impress upon others his god-like qualities And Athene, she who was born from Zeus, make himBigger to look at and stouter, and on his headMade his whisker flow in curls, like the hyacinth flower . . . So she poured aggrandise upon his head and shoulders. (6.229-35) In anointing Odysseus in similar fashion throughout the tale of his arduous journey homeward, the ancient as well as modern reader cannot help but look to Odysseus as a role model. Implicit in this behavioral model is one of Homers some(prenominal) subtexts, namely that having one or more of the gods on ones side is not enough to guarantee even a partial success in ones endeavors. The god Poseidon stands in direct opposition to Odysseus goal of reaching Ithaca, nonetheless his attacks upon the hero always fall just short of actually killing him. Instead, with each calamity that befalls Odysseus at Poseidons hand, the hero is faced with a check inward struggle. Surviving the physical realm at first seems to be the test when actually it ... ...side of the woman (the animus) and the passive, feminine side of the man (the anima). Although the cardinal figures are always tempting the ego to identify itself with them, a real understanding even on the personal level is possible simply if the identification is refused. (Jung 16 469) Perhaps The Odyssey, when seen from the perspective of Jungian and post-Jungian psychology, offers the reader a rich model for their own psychological development an d an opportunity to look back the hero archetype in Western civilization. Works Cited Cirlot, J.E., A mental lexicon of Symbols. New York Barnes & Noble, 1971.Hillman, James. Anima An Anatomy of a Personified Notion. Dallas Spring Publications, 1985.Homer. The Odyssey. Trans., Ed. Albert Cook. New York W.W. Norton, 1993.Jung, C.G. Collected Works. 20 vols. Trans. R.F.C. Hull. Princeton Princeton U P, 1954.