The Trials of OdysseusHomer's epic poem The Odyssey was written after his Iliad which recounted the stories of the Trojan War. This Odyssey recounts the wanderings of a prominent warrior and ruler, Odysseus. Odysseus fought in the Trojan War and, after the Greeks claimed victory at Troy, began his long journey home. During his journey, Odysseus was faced with many obstacles that he had to overcome. During his wanderings, Ulysses had to prove his worth, his intelligence and his determination. Many current characteristics of man are incorporated in The Odyssey, including a constant dependence on others, the presence of a greater vision, or lack thereof, and the essence of a sensitive side behind the courage and pride. At times throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus did not think about the consequences of his actions and relied on the guidance of the gods to help point him in the right direction. Odysseus was quick to act and sometimes made bad decisions that could only harm him. Odysseus was eager to fight, even though he had little chance of surviving. His impulsiveness pushed Athena to come down from Mount Olympus to warn him, saying: “Reckless man! Always determined to war and struggle! Will you not even give in to the immortal gods? It is not a mortal being, but an immortal misfortune, terrible, harsh, and fierce, and which must not be fought. Courage is nothing; escape is the best thing” (116). Odysseus didn't know when to run and leave a situation or when to face it and fight. He believed that his courage would allow him to achieve victory, even against a goddess. Without the wisdom of Athena, Odysseus was sure to meet his doom because he had no way of defeating the goddess Charybdis. Odysseus didn't just depend on the immortals to get him out of trouble, b...... middle of paper ..... He felt comfortable showing this side because he knew she wouldn't would not make fun of him, but that she would be understanding because she felt the same way as him; they both longed for each other. The Odyssey implied many of today's characteristics of man, including a dependence on others, the existence of a greater vision, or lack thereof, and a sensitive side hidden behind courage and pride. Today, people still face these problems and must strive to overcome them. Man must learn to survive through his own determination and strength rather than that of others. Man must also learn to take a broader view and consider the bigger picture rather than the present moment. Finally, man must decide with whom he wishes to share his feelings of fear, love, and despair so that he can achieve greater fulfillment in life.Works Cited: Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. New York: vintage books, 1962.