The Great Significance of Willpower and Destiny in The Odyssey and Aeneid

In both Homer's Odyssey and Virgil's Aeneid, destiny and free will are both significant. Destiny is unchangeable; it may seem like a coincidence, but it is something no person controls for oneself. However, within the framework of destiny, individuals do have choices. Free will is defined whenever characters make decisions, or when you can do something as long as you have the resources, skills, and abilities to do so. Each destiny and free will have some connections between each other and can also be affected by each other.

Destiny and Free Will in The Odyssey

In the Odyssey, a prominent example of destiny and free will is when Polyphemus curses Odysseus as they flee. “Hear me, Poseidon who circles the earth, dark-haired. If truly I am your son, and you acknowledge yourself as my father, grant that Odysseus, sacker of cities, son of Laertes, who makes his home in Ithaca, may never reach that home; but if it is decided that he shall see his own people, and come home to his strong-founded house and to his own country, let him come late, in bad case, with the loss of all his companions, in someone else’s ship, and find troubles in his household.” So he spoke in prayer, and the dark-haired god heard him. Polyphemus entreats his father Poseidon and destiny to assist him in cursing Odysseus. This interaction shows that destiny and free will are interconnected. It is Odysseus’s choice to blind the Cyclops and to reveal his name, which leads to his destined suffering at sea by Poseidon. His arrogance and pride set the subsequent course of events. However, within this destiny, he exercises his free will to decide how to overcome the challenges during his journey home.

For instance, he spends a year with Circe, enjoying a luxurious life. On one hand, it is a waste of time; he could have returned home a year earlier and possibly avoided upcoming problems. On the other hand, the time spent on the island allows him to relax and find happiness, though he also loses a companion, Elpenor, who dies accidentally. Odysseus has the freedom to decide how long to stay and when to leave, making choices that influence the journey's process without altering the ultimate destiny of reaching home.

Destiny and Free Will in The Aeneid

In the Aeneid, Juno, the protector of Carthage, frequently reminds us that destiny may determine that the Trojans will found a city in Italy, but it doesn't specify how they will achieve this. She understands that one day Aeneas will defeat Carthage and conquer Rome, and she knows there is no way to rewrite destiny, even someone else's. If it is fated that something will happen, there is still some flexibility in how it unfolds. Juno decides to make the most of that flexibility, interfering with the Trojans' lives until they can finally establish their city. "Give up what I began? Am I defeated? Am I impotent to keep the king of Teucrians from Italy? The Fates forbid me, am I to suppose?" Juno declares in the first episode when she sees Aeneas and his men happily sailing toward Italy. To me, it seems Juno views destiny and free will as two concepts that aren’t entirely opposed, which is why she tries her best to disrupt the journey while being certain that they will eventually arrive home as destiny dictates.

Another example in the Aeneid is Dido, who is destined to fall in love with Aeneas. Dido cannot refuse this love, but she can choose how to handle it, either by attempting to keep him with her or by accepting his departure. Ultimately, she chooses to end her life in flames, but it is always her destiny to meet a tragic end due to heartbreak. Perhaps, if she hadn’t met Aeneas, she might still have died mourning her husband’s death or the destruction of her land. The story can be rewritten, but the ending, the destiny of death, remains unchanged.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when destiny is inevitable and free will is unpredictable, one cannot change the destination, but can adjust their feelings when facing it. Ulysses and his men try their best to overcome every challenge, while Aeneas remains calm when he must leave Dido to fulfill his duty. Many factors create different paths to the end of the journey, but it is the end that awaits and remains unchangeable.

References

1. Homer. (1996). The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics.
2. Virgil. (2006). The Aeneid. Translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics.
3. Jones, P. (2019). Homer's Odyssey: A Companion to the Translation of Richmond Lattimore. Oxford University Press.
4. Johnson, W. R. (2012). Darkness Visible: A Study of Virgil's Aeneid. University of Chicago Press.