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Odysseus' Obstacles

            Throughout this epic the main character Odysseus experiences a myriad of obstacles during his many adventures. These obstacles have a definite impact on his return to Ithaca. These obstacles are not all created by the divinities, but are also created by his and his men's choices. They create many perilous situations and much suffering between Odysseus and his men. Each obstacle leads to another and this creates the many long years of Odysseus" wandering. But what are these obstacles for. There seems to be no divinity that has some unsettled rage with Odysseus, other than Poseidon after Odysseus injured Polymetheus and Zeus, who seems to be still angry from the Trojan War. So the reasons for these obstacles seem to lie in some other reason.
             Temptation and choices, these have created many of the obstacles that Odysseus and his mean experience. Temptation led to more choices that helped to continue the flow of obstacles the adventurers had to face. They stay at Circe's island for a full year because of the temptation of the luxuries of her palace. Even though it is just a year, in return this leaves Odysseus" family and his palace vulnerable for even longer to the suitors. Also he loses valuable time at the palace of Calypso. Time is something that is very precious and Odysseus loses it often. This all happened because of the bad choices that were made.
             Why must he experience all of these obstacles, is he to be tested or for some reason not wanted to come back to Ithaca. I believe it may be to test his love for his wife for him to have the strong will and desire to get back home. This may not always be noticed because of his choices on Circe's island and also Calypso's island. When he arrives at Circe's island, after he is given the herb from the god Hermes, Odysseus" love is tested. Him and his men are given an assortment of pleasures, goods, and Odysseus" gets to lie down in the goddesses" bed.


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