The Theme of Vengeance in Homer's Odyssey

The Theme of Vengeance in Homer's Odyssey

Homers epic poem The Odyssey a tale of Odysseus journey home. This is a story of a warrior named Odysseus and his 20 year expedition to his home Ithaca. A dominant theme in The Odyssey is vengeance; It is exemplified through Poseidon and his son, Polyphemus and through Odysseus and his son Telemachus battle with the suitors.

To clarify, Poseidon takes revenge on Odysseus for blinding his son Polyphemus. Odysseus gets him self in to this mess by not listening to his men when they told him to take some supplies from Polyphemus cave and to leave but he wants to stay. Also by telling Polyphemus his true identity while he is running away on there ship. Them Polyphemus know who blinds him and then he prays to his father Poseidon for vengeance on Odysseus.

Furthermore Odysseus takes vengeance on the suitors. Odysseus take vengeance on the suitors for talking over his house and for trying to marry his wife. Odysseus takes vengeance on the suitors by dressing up like an old beggar. Then he goes into his house where his wife is holding a contest to see who will marry her which is to string Odysseus bow and to shot it through the whole in the axes. Odysseus then goes to where the contest is and string the bow easily and shots Antinous. The suitors have no idea what is happening. Then Odysseus reveals his self to the suitors. They try to run but the doors are locked the Odysseus and his son kill the rest of the suitors.

In summary a major theme in The Odyssey is vengeance. This theme is exemplified through Poseidon talking vengeance on Odysseus for blinding his son Polyphemus. Also through Odysseus and his son Telemachus battle with the suitors.