Odyssey_And_Trickery

Odyssey And Trickery In The Odyssey by Homer, there are many themes to be explored and enjoyed. One such main theme is that of trickery. In many different scenarios, the reader sees a variety of characters using trickery and deception to escape from life threatening situations, and to commit devious acts. For whatever reason, trickery is a main underlying theme of the Odyssey that is very interesting to delve into. One of the first examples of trickery we encounter in The Odyssey and one that occurs frequently throughout the story, is of Pallas Athene disguising herself, such as Mentor, a friend of Odysseus’ when she goes to visit Telemachos. Homer writes, “She was disguised as a friend, leader of the Taphians, Mentes” (The Odyssey, Homer, pg.30). This technique of disguising oneself is used repeatedly not only with Athene, but Odysseus as well when he is changed into an elderly beggar on his returning home. Athene transforms him, “and with her wand she tapped Odysseus, and withered the handsome flesh that was upon his flexible limbs, and ruined the brown hair on his head, and about him, to cover all his body, she put the skin odyssey, trickery, odysseus, men, homer, story, theme, deception, very, sheep, penelope, cave, athene, weaving, using, suitors, situations, set, polyphemus, one, old, must, man, important, handsome, go, examples, web, weave, until, undetected, time, threatening, though