Analysis of The Political Motivations in The Odyssey

In the vast universe of Greek mythology, perhaps one of the best-known and revered works is the epic poem The Odyssey, attributed Homer. This legendary work examines many aspects of human nature, notably the distinction between moral and political behavior. The main character in the story, Odysseus, endures many trials that unmask his specific character traits, and reveal to readers the essence of his motivations. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus' actions are largely motivated by political factors as seen in his interactions with his men, his enemies, and godly guides along his journey.

Odysseus receives an abundance of support from a variety of gods he encounters during difficult challenges that he faces. The interchanges that occur between god and man shed light onto the protagonist’s true intentions and beliefs. While Odysseus prepares to confront the sorceress Kirkê, he is met by the messenger god Hermês who instructs him, “let your cutting blade appear, / let instant death upon it shine, / and she will cower and yield her bed”. Odysseus follows these commands, and when Kirkê backs away in terror, he goes to bed with her, rather than practicing sexual fidelity with his own wife back on Ithaka (Homer 176). In another meeting with Athena on Ithaka, Odysseus attempts to conceal his identity, for Athena is disguised as an ordinary shepherd boy and Odysseus does not wish to face the furious suitors when he returns home. Odysseus constructs a lie, claiming that he is from the island of Krete, escaping trial for staging a coup within the government and killing a member of the royal family (Homer 238). Athena corrects him, however, remarking: “Here in your own country would you not give your stratagems a rest or stop spellbinding for an instant?”. This demonstrates Odysseus' purely political and self-centered ideology in his unfaltering willingness to lie and deceive without regard to potential ethical consequences.

The threats Odysseus faces in The Odyssey often manifest as a monstrous enemy or villain for him to face amid his voyage. One of the most challenging adversaries Odysseus came into conflict with was the Kyklops Polyphêmos. When Odysseus and his crew arrive on the Kyklops’ island, they find shelter in the home of Polyphêmos and consume many of his provisions. After stealing his food, they sit inside his cave, awaiting the Kyklops’ return from the fields. When he comes back to his home, Polyphêmos finds the travellers expecting hospitality, saying: “Here we stand, / beholden for your help, or any gifts / you give - as custom is to honor strangers”. This selfish demand from Odysseus not only takes place after he has blatantly burgled his unobliging host and highlights the hero’s ignorance for respect of others and their property. Furthermore, succeeding his escape from Polyphêmos’ lair involving blinding his host, Odysseus goads the Kyklops as they are rowing away from the island (Homer 159). He threatens, “If I could take your life I would would and take your time away, and hurl you down to hell!”. In response, his crew spoke “in low voices, protesting: ‘Godsake, Captain! / Why bait the beast again? Let him alone’”, fearing the boulders the Kyklops was throwing at them in response would kill them. Odysseus ignores his own crew’s pleas for safety and indulges his ego by again insulting the monster (Homer 160). This instance of completely losing himself in narcissism and pride further illustrates Odysseus' political impetuses overpowering his ethical consciousness in his decision-making processes.

Many of the interactions readers observe involving Odysseus are between him and his men. Over the course of the epic, these relations prove to be telling of Odysseus' character. One such instance was that of Odysseus' decision not to tell his men of the potential hazards of Skylla and Kharybdis. While still on Kirkê’s island, she warns him of these perils, and that he must choose to pass by one of them. Kirkê advises Odysseus to turn his ship towards Skylla, for she will only take six of his crew while Kharybdis would destroy the entire ship (Homer 212). He follows her instructions, however, when the ship is passing through the strait, Odysseus intentionally does not warn his men of their pending doom, he told them “nothing, as they could do nothing”. This demonstrates Odysseus' willful retention of critical information from others associated with him, certainly an unethical act.

Some readers may argue that Odysseus' choices in the course of his adventure are made through ethical motives as opposed to political motives. One such assertion cites Odysseus' decision to bury Elpênor, a fallen crewmate, after he dies on the island of Kirkê (Homer 209). Admittedly, this evidence clearly exhibits an ethical gesture made by Odysseus. Another claim supporting Odysseus' ethical inclination argues that when he decided to use flattery to subdue Kalypso, his morality was being revealed behind a veil of self-interest. However, this gesture is merely meant to appear moral, but actually is rooted in selfishness; Odysseus knows that by lying to Kalypso about how he feels about her, she will release him without inciting conflict. Although some support exists that Odysseus was motivated by a personal set of morals, this argument is remarkably misguided; the evidence openly points to Odysseus' self-centered thought processes.

In the epic poem The Odyssey, the protagonist Odysseus is motivated by political factors in many situations to make critical decisions for himself and his crew. These instances are displayed during his interactions between himself and his crew, his enemies, and godly guides that assist him along his journey. Perhaps if Odysseus' actions in The Odyssey were derived from ethical origins rather than being politically spawned, the great hero would have returned in a shorter period of time, or perhaps he would not have returned at all if he relied solely upon his emotions to lead the way. Viewing this argument as a whole, Odysseus' mere heroism can be put into question: is one truly a hero if the decisions he makes are only to protect himself from the dangers of the world, only keeping one’s own self-interest in mind?