Poseidon, on his return back from a trip, discovers the extent what the other gods had done in his absence. He is overwhelmed with fury and decides to stir up an enormous, dangerous storm that nearly swallows Odysseus whole. I am confused as why only Poseidon strives to bring death upon Odysseus while the rest of the Gods pity him and seek his safe return home to Ithaca. Without the help of the Goddess Ino, Odysseus would have most likely perished in the storm waves. Goddness Ino seems to find herself asking the same question, “ahh poory man, why is the god of earthquakes so dead set against you? Strewing your way with such a crop of troubles”(page 163).
Within this page, Odysseus seems to be plagued with paranoia and doesn’t seem to trust anyone. He states “I fear another immortal weaves a snare to trap me,…” (page 163), and decides to go along with his instincts rather than take the advice of others. Poseidon feeds off of this vulnerability, since Odysseus clings onto his ship still, by sending another round of huge waves in an approaching storm. Does Odysseus know that Poseidon is the one that is causing all these obstacles for him? If so, does he know why specifically Poseidon is trying so hard to get rid of him through death?
-Maurice Studer
