Homer captured a variety of themes through his heroic message. The book’s central motif is the adventurous journey, the complete transformation of the king of Ithaca from the Trojan battle. The Odyssey completely immerses the reader in the atmosphere of the book. At the same time, many of the themes have not lost relevance with time and remain essential to the individual. Thus, it is crucial to determine which motifs from the poem are valid in today’s world.
The Analysis of the Argument and Counterargument
In the poem The Odyssey, one can trace the property and social inequality, the division into “better” and “worse.” Therefore, Homer indicates that there is slavery, which retains a patriarchal character. Accordingly, enslaved people are primarily shepherds and domestic servants, among whom are the privileged, such as Euryclea, Odysseus’ nurse. The author also includes among the privileged the shepherd Eumaeus, who acts entirely independently, more as Odysseus’ friend than as his slave (Homer, 2015). Hence, the history of humanity has not known a society without social inequality. Inequalities of income, power, prestige of occupation, and education have arisen in human society and are evident today. In the United States, the principles of class stratification are most fully realized. Scientists distinguish four main classes: the upper, middle, working, and lower. Therefore, the topic of social inequality, which Homer discussed, is relevant nowadays because there is a separation into social classes and strata.
At the same time, the book’s point is that one should not indulge in pride. For instance, Ithaca abandoned the view of the son of the sea’s ruler and was quite self-confident, believing that fate’s favor was based on merit and imagined superiority. His presumption exceeded all bounds, because of which God inflicted damnation and forced him to swim in the sea until he admitted his responsibility (Homer, 2015). Furthermore, the religious motive is essential: like all the individuals of his time, the poet thought that nothing in this world is subject to an object; all is determined. In the modern world, humans do not rely on religion in this way, which is why the theme of Gods and damnation is not relevant. At the same time, the system of justice and punishment according to the law is developed. Hence, the development of the theme of religious motives in The Odyssey is a counterargument to the fact that the poem is relevant to the present day.
While the theme of destiny is evident in every episode of the book, Homer demonstrates the individual’s rebellion against destiny, against the gods, leaning toward the idea that it is futile and criminal (Homer, 2015). Fate anticipates even these movements of the soul, all of which are already calculated and derived by the Maoists in the form of a thread of life. One can find parallels in the modern world, such as activists organizing actions of support for the rights of the LGBT community. Consequently, this motif of the poem is relevant in today’s world because individuals still continue to defend their identity and desire, independent of whether or not society and government support them.
Conclusion
Thus, The Odyssey describes the ten-year journey of the protagonist, his countless exploits, and brave concessions. Indeed, the religious motif present in the poem does not have a clear manifestation and relevance in the modern world. In contrast, many moments, such as social inequality, identifying one’s own opinion, and individuality, are characteristic of a person in a modern community. Therefore, it can be argued that the themes highlighted in the poem are still relevant today.
Reference
Homer, H. (2015). The Odyssey. Xist Publishing.