Guidance_Might_Not_Be_the_Best_Way_to_Go_for_Some,_but_for_Others_It_Can_Be_Very_Helpful_When_Facing_Life_Situations.

Guidance might not be the best way to go for some, but for others it can be very helpful when facing life situations. In general, people tend to follow their inner guidance while ignoring the rest, until they realize that the few people, who wanted to help, were actually right. Guidance shows guardianship towards the person they care about, and therefore, this idea is portrayed in three different pieces of literature portray such as, “The Odyssey” by Homer, “Three Tragedies” by Sophocles I, and “The Inferno” by Dante Alighieri. Homer uses Athena as a guide to Odysseus because throughout the book he is faced with different challenges. Sophocles I use’s Antigone as a guide to Oedipus, in order for him to decide what is best to do in respect to what has occurred in Thebes. Alighieri uses Virgil as Dante’s guidance to support him in each level through hell. Each guide will provide helpful information and ideas to the characters. This will help them overcome situations, where things will seem to fall apart, but the guides will support them. As a result, the guides will also give characters the opportunity to learn something unique about them. In the book, “The Odysessy”, Homer chooses Athena as a guide because she depicts an image of a soft and brave goddess. Her and Odysseus demonstrate a strong connection and confidence they both have for each other. As well as, the immense motivation she is for Odysseus. In book V, Odysseus is caught in the middle of a strong storm at sea with Poseidon due to what the other gods have done in his absence. Athena guides him and explains what to do in order to not face another storm. In Homer, “Athena instructed him: “he gripped a rock-ledge with both hands in passing and held on, groaning, as the surge went by to keep clear of its breaking. Then the backwash hit him, ripping him under and far out. . . . Odysseus left the skin of his great hands torn on that rock-ledge as the wave submerged him. . . Odysseus would have perished, battered inhumanly, but he had the gift of self possession from grey-eyed Athena. . . . Lo and behold, the mouth of a calm river at length came into view” (V.446-462). In this case Athena could have used her power to save him, and take the easy way out, but she preferred him do the work for himself. However, she feels that the best way to help Odysseus is by giving him instructions and not actually doing it for him. This will eventually let Odysseus choose between listening to Athena or going by his gut feeling. While the journey continues Odysseus wakes up in a country where he doesn’t recognize anything, and Athena, disguised as a shepherd, lets him know that he is in Ithaca. While Athena listens to Odysseus story she tells him, “would you even have guessed that I am Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, I that am always with you in times of trial, a shield to you in battle, I who made the Phaiakians befriend you, to a man”(XIII. 384-388)' This lets us know that Athena has been right by Odysseus side through his journey. Even though she wasn’t with him physically, she was clearly with him in spirit. Athena also lets Odysseus know that she has been his protector and will be by his side until the battle. He is happy to see Athena and she updates him with what has occurred during his absence. Athena informs Odysseus that he needs to prepare for the battle that a wait’s for him. In Homer, Athena informs Odysseus on what is the next step: But join the swineherd first—the overseer of all swine, a good soul now as ever, devoted to Penelope and your son. He will be found near Raven’s Rock and the well of Arethousa, where the swine are pastured. . . . There stay with him. . . .I am off to the great beauty’s of Sparta, to call your son Telemakhos home again—(XIII. 507-517). It is understood that Athena has given Odysseus a whole picture of what he shall do until she returns with Telemakhos. After all the years that have passed by, Odysseus reencounters with his son, and decides to fight the battle with the suitors. She lets Odysseus know that she will return helping him fight through the battle. However, in order to fight in the battle she disguises herself so no one will find out that she helped Odysseus. In book XXII Athena, “wore the guise of mentor and Odysseus appealed in joy”(XXII. 228-229). Even though Athena intervenes she does not immediately fight, but instead encourages and guides Odysseus and Telemakhos to make their relationship stronger. Having Athena take this big step and unifying both father and son shows that in any moment her intentions were not to hurt Odysseus, instead her idea was to have some guidance for him, so that he could figure everything out. Therefore, guidance in this case was very helpful because if it weren’t for Athena all hope of Odysseus would have been lost. In “Three Tragedies”, Sophocles chooses Antigone as Oedipus guide once Oedipus reaches Colonus. Oedipus has earned an honorable role at Thebes because he saved the city from a plague that occurred in the past. After, years later in “Oedipus the King”, Oedipus is determined to find the murderer of Laius. Teresias is ordered to speak with Oedipus and is falsely accused. Oedipus believes that his accomplice is Creon. Therefore, Creon is ordered to speak with Oedipus, and is accused of Laius’s murder without evidence, and feels pity for him. It’s not until the end of Oedipus the King, that Oedipus finds out, that he was the one who killed Laius. Meanwhile, he also finds out that his wife turns out to be his own mother. Oedipus decides to blind himself by taking out his eyeballs and is taken where he could not be seen. However, after years have passed by, he finds himself in Colonus. After many years from being disappeared, Oedipus ends up in Colonus and is an old man, who comes across his daughter Antigone. Antigone will guide her father at Colonus and update him with everything that has occurred so far. In “Oedipus at Colunus”, Antigone says “follow me then, follow me with your blind steps; follow me with your blind steps; follow where I lead you”(Oedipus at Colonus. 186-189). In this situation Antigone acts like a guide towards Oedipus because he is blind. However, through these actions she lets him know that he is not alone. Antigone shows him her care and well being towards Oedipus. Antigone lets Oedipus know, “father let me help you—this is my task”(Oedipus at Colonus. 204). Antigone demonstrates her concerns towards Oedipus and just wants to see him in peace. She portrays as guidance for Oedipus and worries about him not being able to stay at Colonus due to his past mistake. However, she supports him and her words motivate him to not give up, and trust her, because she not their to hurt him but to help him. Since Antigone wants Oedipus to be safe she decides to have him stay at Colonus. Antigone try’s everything to let Oedipus stay and with the help of Theseus he does. However, Antigone plays a major role of guidance towards Oedipus, because as stated by Antigone, “land with praises richly celebrated, now be it yours to make those praises shine”(Oedipus at Colonus. 814-815). Antigone warns Oedipus that Creon is getting closer. However, she tells Oedipus that now it’s his turn to shine and defend himself towards Creon. In other words Antigone has provided him with the information and guided him to the point where he must confront Creon. Now Oedipus must take the initiative to speak to Creon and decide what to do with the help of Theseus. Oedipus must save his daughters from not be taken away from Creon. He then proves himself to be strong by fighting back to have his daughters next to him. In this case we notice that having a guide can always be good and in this case Antigone did good to guide him, but not, to do it for him. Oedipus learns that having some form of guidance could be helpful even though at time we might not want it. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus shows hubris and does not want to be helped by anyone. However, when he finds out that he killed Laius, he decides to blind himself but ends up at Colonus with a different mentality. Oedipus becomes humble and accepts guidance from Antigone. Therefore, Antigone guides him through Colunus until its Oedipus confronts Creon. Oedipus then learns that by listening to others and talking out arguments, an agreement can be reached out. In the book “Inferno” by Dante, Virgil guides Dante, and the reason for this is because Beatrice sends him. Although, this is one reason, another reason Virgil specifically guides Dante is to show the physical route through Hell but also strengthening its moral lessons. Dante’s goal is to get to heaven, but in order to arrive there he must go through hell. Since Virgil is a ghost this gives Dante the chance to be protected from harm and evil. Unfortunately, for Dante at the beginning of the cantos, hell turns out very brutal, but as you increase to each level, the punishment becomes minor. In Canto VIII, the fifth circle Virgil and Dante come across Phlegyas (boatman) who takes them both across Styx. While approaching the Styx, Dante happens to recognize Flippo as one of the wrathful. While Dante feels no pity for Flippo, he enjoys watching him being tortured. Meanwhile, Virgil lets Dante know that they are both approaching Dis. When Virgil attempts to get Dante into the sixth circle, he fails. However, when one of the messengers goes inside, they both take this opportunity and enter. Not only does Dante enter but also he is confronted with a creature and he must do as Virgil tells him to do or else he will become blind. In Canto IX Dante is faced with a three infernal furies. Since, Virgil portrays guidance, he informs Dante to “turn your back and keep your eyes shut tight; for should the Gorgon come and you look at her, never again would you return to the light” (Canto IX. 88. 54-56). Virgil covers Dantes’ eyes or he is banned to see ever again. In this case, Virgil saves Dante, from a big tragedy to occur that would mark the rest of his life. Dante obeys Virgil throughout his journey into hell and listens, which is the most important. This also shows that Virgil cares for Dante and wants to see him succeed getting into heaven. As we enter Canto X, Vigril gives Dante some tips in how to speak to spirits. In Canto X, Virgil and Dante arrive to the sixth circle and become surrounded by tombs. All of a sudden one of the tombs speak and it turns out to be Farinata one of Dante’s political leader. According to Alighieri, Dante says “my guide prompt hands urged me among the dim and smoking sepulchres to that great figure, and he said to me: “Mind how you speak to him (Canto X. 97. 37-39). Having Virgil let Dante know how to speak to the spirit is a good thing, just to leave things in peace without causing problems. Virgil warns Dante that next time he should be aware to whom he’s speaking to and how to answer back. However, Dante takes Virgil’s advice and does not let this problem repeat itself. Virgil is helpful to Dante throughout the whole book because with his knowledge of how hell is, he is able to help Dante not make silly mistakes in each level. Dante becomes more confident and less fearful, he is able to gain faith and give himself the opportunity to feel the emotions of others without accepting the behaviors at the end. Guidance is portrayed strongly in all three books because each character is guided by someone important who will guide them through their long journeys however, the guides are not their to spoon feed the answers to their many questions. Guidance is the perfect way to alert the person of what will occur and therefore, must look for various ways to confront the situation. Guidance is the only way each character will be able to have support and have someone to fall back into it. It’s not about being given the answer easily, but it’s about finding the answer on your own with clues.