Question

In the Odyssey, gods such as Jove, Minerva, and Neptune get involved in the mortals’ affairs. What do you think it would be like if gods really intervened in human affairs as they do in the Odyssey? Do you think life would change for the better or for the worse? Explain your stance and use examples from the Odyssey that support your response.

Answer 1

Answer:

If in real life, the gods could interfere in human lives, we would not have free will and we would sink into a confusion without size.

Explanation:

First, we can say that we would not have rights to free will, being able to make our own choices. This is because we would always be coerced to do the will of some god, to avoid reprisals against him. This is because the gods, as shown in the odyssey, are vindictive, jealous, tantrous and sometimes cruel to those who do not obey them.

In addition, it is impossible to please all the gods, for this reason, we would always be in "fight" with one of them, which would transform our life into a succession of sabotages and a real chaos.

We can cite as an example, the passage in the Odyssey where Neptune is furious with Odysseus:

"Bear in mind, however, that Neptune is still furious with Ulysses for having blinded an eye of Polyphemus king of the Cyclopes."

Answer 2

It would be perpetual chaos if if gods really intervened in human affairs as they do in the Odyssey; because gods just as they are painted in books as Odyssey, have human characteristics and become involved in human quarrels . They manipulate, they lie, they covet, with the addition of having special powers who can destroy and change entire cities. They also would intervene without the same notion of consequences as humans have.  Life would change for worse.

For example, in Odyssey passage:

" And Jove said, ‘My child, what are you talking about?

How can I forget Ulysses than whom there is no more capable

man on earth, nor more liberal in his offerings to the

immortal gods that live in heaven? Bear in mind, however,

that Neptune is still furious with Ulysses for having blinded

an eye of Polyphemus king of the Cyclopes. Polyphemus

is son to Neptune by the nymph Thoosa, daughter to the

sea-king Phorcys; therefore though he will not kill Ulysses

outright, he torments him by preventing him from getting

home. Still, let us lay our heads together and see how we can

help him to return; Neptune will then be pacified, for if we

are all of a mind he can hardly stand out against us.'"