Odyssey and Troy: Compare and Contrast

Table of Contents

Introduction
Overview of the Odyssey
Contrasts in the Odyssey and Troy
Similar themes in the Odyssey and Troy
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Odyssey is an epic poem on the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus as written by Homer. Odysseus was the son of Laertes and Anticleia and he married Penelope the daughter of Icarus, who was the cousin to Helen of Sparta. They had a son named Telemachus. Odysseus fought in Troy for a decade at the time that he was king of the Island of Ithaca. The poem centers on Odysseus journey home following the fall of Troy, which takes him twenty years; ten years in the Trojan War, and ten years to reach Ithaca after the war. In his absence, unruly suitors stormed the palace competing for Penelopes hand in marriage as they had assumed Odysseus was dead. (Joe,1999, p.1).

Overview of the Odyssey

After the war, the gods have held Odysseus captive, especially the beautiful nymph Calypso who is possessed by her love for him and is not willing to let him return to his wife and son as much as he wanted to. However, Athena, Odysseus strongest supporter of the gods helps Telemachus trace his father. Athena is disguised as a friend of Telemachus grandfather. In Telemachus absence, the suitors back home plan an ambush to have him killed as he reaches the port; apparently, he is the only opposition to dominion over the palace. Odysseus after a grueling experience with the other gods like Poseidon, god of the sea, who sends a storm to wreck his ship, finally lands at Scheria where the king and queen warmly receive him. He narrates his ordeal to the interested Phaeacians who later give him safe passage to his homeland Ithaca. Odysseus is disguised as a beggar by his ally god Athena.

They meet with his son Telemachus with whom they plan how to repossess Ithaca and avenge the suitors. Odysseus is received coldly at the palace by all especially the suitors though Penelope has a soft spot for the beggar he is. He has a scar from childhood and his old nurse immediately recognizes him though he threatens to harm her if she discloses his identity. An archery contest, a feat which Odysseus alone has ever been able to accomplish is organized for the suitors by Penelope. The suitors all fail and when Odysseus is given a chance, he fires the arrow through the twelve axes with little effort and later kills all the suitors aided by his son and a few faithful servants. He is later reunited with his family after dealing with vengeful family members of the dead suitors (SparkNotes, 2002, p. 1)

Contrasts in the Odyssey and Troy

Troy is a movie with talented actors, breathtaking scenery, and costumes leaving one with no doubts of it being a hit. Troy was produced in 2004. It is an epic movie concerning the Trojan war which is partly based on Homers Iliad and other Epic cycle sources though it often diverts from the myth, perhaps to look more realistic to the modern audience. How does it diverge from the myth? (Hollywoodjesus.com, 2004, par 3). First, in the myth, the gods and goddesses; Zeus, Athena, Apollo, Hera, Aphrodite, and Poseidon had a major role to play in the Trojan War but their active intervention in the film is not exemplified, as much as the characters belief in the gods is evident. However, Thetis-Achilless mother is seen in the movie as she influenced Achilles to fight in the war where she said he would die young but have his name living for thousands of years.

Secondly, the Trojan War in the movie seems to have gone for a year whereas, in the Odyssey, we know it was fought for ten years as discussed above. Third, the history between Achilles and King Agamemnon in the movie is different from that in the book. Achilles reluctance to fight for Agamemnon is more than his moral stand- he detests the king for stealing Briseis from him, though the movie portrays it as Achilles hatred for the kings greed and lack of honor. Fourth, Agamemnon is killed in the movie by Briseis which does not happen in the book. Similarly, Menelaus is killed by Hector in the movie whereas, in the book, Menelaus returns home with Helen (BookRags, 2006, p.1).

Similar themes in the Odyssey and Troy

Some important themes are replicated in the movie, however. Vengeance to start with is evidenced when the sea god Poseidon hinders Odysseus return home through a storm after he-Odysseus blinded the gods son Cyclops Polyphemus. Odysseus avenged the suitors and some of his servants for the transgressions against his family. In Troy, Paris smuggles Helen-Menelaus wife back to Troy with him. His brother Agamemnon uses this as the basis for his attack on Troy; something he had been contemplating all along, however. Achilles gets enraged after the death of his cousin and faces Hector in person; he eventually kills him out of rage after a verbal and physical fight.

There is loyalty in the Odyssey and the movie Troy. Telemachus supports his father in fighting his transgressors. In Troy, the Greeks however greedy their king was, felt obliged to stay together and defend the land (Themes in the odyssey par 3-5).

Conclusion

The content in the Odyssey may look medieval accounting for what has been portrayed in Troy; however, the latter has formed a basis for what we have today like evident vengeance in politics.