Fate as the Impetus Behind the Hero's Journey in Homer's Odyssey and Virgil's Aeneid

Fate: The Impetus Behind the Protagonist’s Journey

Commonplace in literature, especially in epic poems, the protagonist is bound by an assured fate. This theme of fate and prophecy is used by authors to foreshadow later events. Fate, in both the Odyssey and the Aeneid, was the supernatural force that drove the heroes destiny whether or not they were conscious of the fact. Characteristic of both epic poems, the Odyssey by Homer and the Aeneid by Virgil, fate was the impetus behind the hero’s journey; however, the motivators and obstacles encountered by each protagonist differed as Odysseus was driven by the chaotic situation in Ithaca, combined with simultaneously enduring Poseidon’s wrath, while Aeneas’ motivation to fulfill his fate was found through divine interference, specifically the gods’ messages and prophecies, all the while trying to overcome Juno’s meddling.

In the Aeneid, Aeneas’ knowledge of his destiny propelled Aeneas to complete his journey, while in the Odyssey, Odysseus was motivated more by the love he had for his wife than the knowledge of his fate to return home. Throughout the Aeneid, Aeneas received many reminders of his destiny to establish modern-day Rome. The first example of this is when Mercury tells Aeneas, “Think of the expectations of your heir,/ Iulus, to whom the Italian realm, the land/ Of Rome, are due” (Virgil 4.373-375). In this short speech, Mercury tells Aeneas to concentrate on his future descendants and in turn complete his intended journey. This direct divine contact reveals how important Aeneas and his journey were for the future founding of Rome. This favoring message sparked Aeneas’ drive to complete his journey and leave Dido. Although Aeneas did have a degree of feelings towards Dido–although not to the scale of Dido in return–Aeneas realized that love would merely impede the rate of achieving his goals. He put Fate: The Impetus Behind the Protagonist’s Journey

Commonplace in literature, especially in epic poems, the protagonist is bound by an assured fate. This theme of fate and prophecy is used by authors to foreshadow later events. Fate, in both the Odyssey and the Aeneid, was the supernatural force that drove the heroes destiny whether or not they were conscious of the fact. Characteristic of both epic poems, the Odyssey by Homer and the Aeneid by Virgil, fate was the impetus behind the hero’s journey; however, the motivators and obstacles encountered by each protagonist differed as Odysseus was driven by the chaotic situation in Ithaca, combined with simultaneously enduring Poseidon’s wrath, while Aeneas’ motivation to fulfill his fate was found through divine interference, specifically the gods’ messages and prophecies, all the while trying to overcome Juno’s meddling.

In the Aeneid, Aeneas’ knowledge of his destiny propelled Aeneas to complete his journey, while in the Odyssey, Odysseus was motivated more by the love he had for his wife than the knowledge of his fate to return home. Throughout the Aeneid, Aeneas received many reminders of his destiny to establish modern-day Rome. The first example of this is when Mercury tells Aeneas, “Think of the expectations of your heir,/ Iulus, to whom the Italian realm, the land/ Of Rome, are due” (Virgil 4.373-375). In this short speech, Mercury tells Aeneas to concentrate on his future descendants and in turn complete his intended journey. This direct divine contact reveals how important Aeneas and his journey were for the future founding of Rome. This favoring message sparked Aeneas’ drive to complete his journey and leave Dido. Although Aeneas did have a degree of feelings towards Dido–although not to the scale of Dido in return–Aeneas realized that love would merely impede the rate of achieving his goals. He put their word and will above his own fleshly desires. Aeneas’ strict obedience to the message shows how Aeneas trusts and believes in the gods over his own free-will. This event mirrors Odysseus’ time on the island Ogygia with Calypso. Calypso’s presence was just a hindrance in Odysseus’ voyage home. These female figures in both epics did not have a part in the hero’s end journey. Not only did Aeneas realize that Dido was merely a distraction, Aeneas knew that Jupiter was on his side and was trying to help carry out Aeneas’ foretold fate. In addition to the direct messages from the gods, there were also indirect messages the gods sent in order to keep Aeneas on the correct track. The first example of a fulfilled prophecy was when Aeneas and his men ate tables due to their extreme hunger (Virgil 7.163-167). The second example of this was the prophecy of the white sow nursing thirty piglets (Virgil 8.58-63). When Aeneas saw these sights, he knew he had reached his destined land. These prophecies helped to keep Aeneas on the quickest and correct path which would lead him to his fate. The gods’ interventions here facilitated the fate while allowing Aeneas a chance to disobey if desired. Meanwhile, in the Odyssey, Odysseus through his own determination, pushes himself to get back to Ithaka at any cost. This love- driven homecoming characterized Odysseus as a true hero, one who not only was successful in war, but also lived to return to his family and restore order. As described by Homer, when we first encounter Odysseus on Calypso’s island, “His eyes were perpetually wet with tears now,/ His life draining away in homesickness” (Homer 5.151-152). Odysseus’ emotional unrest and his longing for home was the source of his motivation. The use of the phrase “his life draining away” truly depicts how badly he longed for home. Odysseus sought home in order to resume his daily life and once again be at peace internally. Odysseus’ distraught state led Zeus to demand Odysseus’ release. Zeus’ favoritism of Odysseus parallels Jupiter’s favoritism toward Aeneas. Both heroes had great characteristics and thus the gods looked down upon them with the Romans, the future descendants of Aeneas. Hatred and revenge drove Juno’s knowingly impossible endeavor. On the other hand, Poseidon loathed Odysseus due to the maiming of his son, the cyclops Polyphemus. This caused Poseidon to be very hostile towards Odysseus. Poseidon outright declares, “He’s close to Phaeacia, where [Odysseus’] destined to escape,/ The great ring of sorrow that has closed around him./ But I’ll bet I can still blow some trouble his way” (Homer 5.289-291). Poseidon’s outburst shows how he knows that fate is already to set to happen, although the steps along the way can be altered. Poseidon focuses on slowing Odysseus’ homecoming by making his voyage troublesome and filled with tribulations. Both Odysseus and Aeneas overcame varying obstacles and in the end completed their journeys as fate foretold; however, Aeneas had the god Jupiter on his side assisting him in spite of Juno’s intervention, while Odysseus endured Poseidon’s outrage without the direct help of a divine figure.

In spite of the fact that fate is inescapable, the steps along the way can be affected by certain decisions made by the hero, the people around them, or by divine intervention; this in turn, however, can be a detriment to the journey. One setback that Aeneas faced due to his actions was remaining in Carthage for longer than necessary. This pushed back his journey as he and his crew could have sailed off earlier than they did. Landing on the island of the Harpies also set Aeneas’ journey back. The Harpies viciously attacked Aeneas and his men, but the Trojans did persevere through the assault. Nevertheless, this was still another impediment Aeneas encountered on his trek to Italy which could have been avoided. In the Odyssey, Odysseus’ crew was the main reason behind the lengthening of the journey back to Ithaka. The first holdup the ship faced was when the crew opened the bag of winds from the god Aeolus. The crew, out of jealousy, proclaimed, “First, [Odysseus’] freighting home his loot from Troy,/ Beautiful stuff while we, who made the same trip,/ Are coming home empty-handed” (Homer 142.46-48). Though the crew was loyal to Odysseus, the jealousy of Odysseus’ supposed riches outweighed any allegiance the crew held. Jealousy and selfishness led to them seeking refuge on the island of the Laestrygonians and once again setting back the trip home. The second event which further delays Odysseus’ trip home is when Odysseus’ crew decide to eat Helios’ sacred cattle. After directly being warned not to eat the livestock of the god, the men succumb to their hunger and devour the biggest of Helios’ livestock (Homer 12.328-331). Consequently, Zeus struck down Odysseus’ ship with a lightning bolt in retribution for Eurylochus’ and the others disobedience. Odysseus was the only one that survived as he had still not fulfilled his fate. Although the actions of Aeneas and Odysseus’ crew ultimately led to the suffering of the heroes, the protagonist’s fate was still fulfilled by end of the epics as Aeneas still reached Italy and Odysseus succeeded in taking back his home from the suitors.

The similar theme of fate in both epics was what drove the resolutions of both works; however, the journeys and the events that happened along the way differed greatly. Through his constant determination, Odysseus fulfilled his fate of returning to his home and rescuing his wife from the troublesome suitors. Aeneas due to his obedience of the gods’ words and strict adherence to his destined path, settled in the land that would later be called Rome. Both heroes overcame the forces going against them and succeeded due to the supernatural force of fate guiding their destiny.

Works Cited

• Homer., and Richmond Lattimore. The Odyssey Of Homer. New York: Harper & Row, 1967. Print.
• Virgil., and Robert Fitzgerald. The Aeneid. New York: Random House, 1983. Print.

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