Odyssey- Divine intervention

Homer’s The Odyssey is a thrilling classic epic about Odysseus and his 10 year return journey from the Trojan War that is aided by many gods and goddesses. Because of a grand mistake that Odysseus made at the beginning of the story that angered the god Poseidon, Odysseus is a hero in search of his home throughout the story. He is faced with adventures and tribulations that become his passageway and right to get home to his loving wife and son. Without the help of goddesses and gods such as Zeus, Hermes, Athena, Ino, and Circe Odysseus would never have reached home at all. These gods’ and goddesses’ divine intervention becomes a key element of the epic because without these characters’ help Odysseus would have been lost forever or even dead. The whole story is intertwined with elements such as the heavenly help Odysseus receives from the gods and goddesses of Olympus. Divine intervention is a prominent theme in The Odyssey because of the help provided to Odysseus through Athena’s, Zeus’s, and Circe’s actions.
To begin with divine intervention is a main theme of The Odyssey because of the help Athena provides throughout the story. Athena is the obvious main helper of Odysseus continually through the book. Witho

Without Athena’s help Odysseus would no doubt never have survived his journey home. Without her help he might not have even survived the Trojan War. Athena offers her help in three main ways: shape shifting, idea suggestion, and Athena also will temporarily supplement certain characters with certain important characteristics, such as courage, that that character would normally lack. Athena says to Telemachos, " ‘…find out about your father and why he is so long away. Perhaps some one may tell you, or you may hear some rumor that god will send, which is often the best way for people to get news’" (p.17). This is the comment from Athena that starts Telemachos’s journey to see Menelaos and Nestor in search of any information about his father, Odysseus. Athena does this throughout the story to all the characters. She simply suggests an idea to them that offers insight to what is already destined to happen. She also tells Telemachos to listen if anyone has been told anything by the gods because that is very likely to happen in this story especially with Athena working her magic. "What a vision they saw: something filthy and caked in sea-salt which fairly terrified them: away they scampered in all directions, to hide behind hillocks of sand. Only the young princess stood her ground; for Athena took all her fear away" (p.76). Athena here is taking away a characteristic from Nausicaa; she is taking away her fear. With Athena’s power to do this she can greatly effect the outcome of different situations. If Nausicaa had run away with the other girls Odysseus would have been left alone to fend for himself and he would have no way of getting to town or obtaining the help of the Phaiacians. "…then came young Athena towards him, in the shape of a young shepherd" (p.152). Athena here is taking the shape of a young shepherd to disguise herself from Odysseus. It is really pointless because she reveals herself to Odysseus anyway, but with the ability of shape shifting Athena is able to mingle with the mortals without causing a huge commotion. Athena does this throughout the book to Odysseus as and other characters like when he changes