Introduction
Humanities are an important discipline of study that significantly contribute to the modern world. The term refers to the study of human processes, experiences, and values through the use of different types of techniques such as art, music, philosophy, anthropology, and literature. Arguably, humanities include the process of enquiring from different sources of art and literary works presented in a qualitative format to decipher the true meaning of human behavior ( Miletzki, & Broten, 2017) . Institutions of higher learning enroll large numbers of students for diverse humanities programs, and the trend necessitates the need to undertake a deeper study in this area. The focus of the paper will be discussing the significance of humanities in life and prove it through the use of the medieval text in the Odyssey.
The humanities play a significant relevant role today. Foremost, humanities contribute to the development of a socially and morally upright society by creating an understanding of what is considered acceptable and nonacceptable by people. Ethical principles prescribed by humanities aid in effective decision making for individuals and groups thus reduces the rate of conflict. By showing people the right way of life, humanities positively influences the development of a cohesive society.
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Secondly, humanities connect people to their cultural heritage. Visual arts and poetry remind people of their predecessors and their cultural beliefs and practices. This does not necessarily mean that people should incorporate all the cultural information passed down through the humanities. However, being culturally aware is a significant part of social identity for the affected people. Besides, studying humanities aids to develop critical thinking skill as people attempt to understand the true meaning of the artwork.
Methodology
Selection of the best methodology framework is vital for undertaking humanities research. The literature analysis framework will be employed to analyze the text of the Odyssey with the intention of proving the poem’s relevance to our lives. Literature or literal analysis refers to the process of examining small parts of the text to determine its effect on the whole work. Selection of small parts is essential to ensure efficient analysis. The literal analysis focuses on several key variables including the tone, themes, characters, context, setting, and metaphors incorporated in a text.
The literal analysis provides a unique contribution to the comprehension of humanities particularly poems. Individualized opinion is key to the interpretation of humanities (Ochsner, Hug, & Daniel, 2012) . People often derive different meanings when exposed to the same type of art depending on the attached knowledge and societal impacts. Literature analysis encourages the full exploitation of individual critical thinking capacity to recognize various patterns of human conduct from humanities, and the general rule is that every opinion or perception of a text is correct as long as there is a reasonable justification for an argument. The main distinguishing factor of literal analysis is the incorporation of researchers’ creativity and past experiences to derive the meaning of the text. This analysis method is not constrained by existing subject knowledge, and is highly subjective in nature, unlike other techniques.
Several factors make literal analysis the most suitable research methodology. They include allowing for an in-depth investigation into the meaning of the poem by concentrating on small segments. Literal analysis is instrumental in the identification of major themes in the study and placing findings in the context of modern-day lifestyle. Since the literal analysis will be guided by the research question, only the most relevant information will be gathered.
Interpretation of Text
“The Odyssey” by Homer is a poem detailing the journey of Odysseus from a long period of war back to his native land Ithaca. Odysseus was the only war survivor that was yet to get home, and the main problem was god Poseidon’s anger towards him for blinding his son (Johnstone, 2018). Eventually, the other gods intervene setting Odysseus free. However, Odysseus encounters numerous problems throughout his journey from mortals, gods, and monsters, and is forced to rely on charity from strangers to reach his destination. Back at his home Odysseus’s wife Penelope and son Telemachus face challenges due to his absence and anxiously await his return. Literal analysis of “The Odyssey” will focus on the major themes, characters, symbols, and tone of the story.
Foremost, it is important to analyze the main characters in the story. Odysseus is the main protagonist in the story; he is a brave man who led his men into battle and won over their enemies. He also protected his warriors from dangers by putting them on the ship preventing them from eating the lotus plant to ensure they got home safely. Odysseus is clever, as he lies to win the sympathy of strangers in his way to Ithaca and enters his homestead under disguise to avoid catching the attention of his wife’s suitors (Johnstone, 2018). Consequently, he catches the suitors unawares and manages to get back his household. Also, Odysseus enjoys a good reputation in the eyes of gods Zeus and Athena, prompting them to help him escape from captivity and reach his home safely. However, Odysseus has several weaknesses. Namely, he is quick to anger and acting without considering the impact of his actions, and he quickly succumbs to the temptation of a beautiful woman.
Penelope has the character of a true queen. She is a wise and courageous woman who understands her role in the society and to her husband. Penelope devises a clever scheme to put off the numerous suitors by weaving and unweaving a shroud and lying she would choose one persona upon the completion of the shroud (Johnstone, 2018). Telemachus is an insecure and immature boy at the beginning of the poem, and he is keen on finding his father. Under the guidance of the goddess Athena, he grows into a confident man intent on protecting his mother and becoming the head of the household. Zeus and Athena are compassionate to Odysseus and his family. While many people turned against the king, Eurycleia remained a faithful and loyal servant to Penelope.
Additionally, there are many aspects of symbolism in “The Odyssey.” The word ‘sea’ is symbolic of the ups and downs of Odyssey’s journey to Ithaca. Odyssey’s transportation mode is through the sea making him repeatedly susceptible to the anger of Poseidon. When the sea is rough, Odyssey and his men nearly perish as their vessel becomes unstable, but sail peacefully when the sea is calm (Johnstone, 2018). The shroud symbolizes Penelope’s deception as she uses it as a trick to avoid giving a definite answer to the suitor. Ithaca is symbolic of home environment and is often referred to as the land of sunlight. Odysseus has a great desire to go home for a chance to reunite with his family.
Several themes emerge from the text. The most predominant idea is hospitality that involves giving strangers a place to live and food to eat. Odysseus relies on the hospitality of different people for survival purpose. For example, Circle offers him and his men food and drink to quench their thirst. In addition, Odysseus enjoys hospitality from the Phaeacians who welcomed him into their city and gave him clothing, food, and gifts for sustainability purpose. The herdsmen are hospitable to Odysseus as they decide to slaughter a boar to celebrate with the stranger amidst them (Johnstone, 2018). However, this does not mean that everybody in the poem was hospitable. For example, the many suitors present at Odyssey’s home ate at his family’s expense. The suitors did not provide any input to supplement the food and cared less that they were slowly diminishing the little number of supplies in the household. Athena comments on the poor behavior of the suitors and advices Telemachus to mature and do the right thing on behalf of his father and mother.
Revenge is another theme emerging throughout the play. Humans and gods are actively involved in exerting revenge for wrongs committed against them. For example, Poseidon ’s revenge prevents him from letting Odyssey reach home safely despite his victory and dedication in the war (Johnstone, 2018). On the other hand, Odysseus exerts revenge on Penelope’s suitors by killing them for stepping on his boundaries. The anger and drive towards revenge almost lead to the destruction of Odysseus himself.
The tone of the play varies with the type of situation at hand. There is a serious tone at the beginning of the play as Zeus and Athena discuss Odysseus’ issues and try to find a solution to his problems. Although Zeus wants to grant his daughter’s wishes, he is careful not to anger Poseidon; and it is only after considering Odysseus good qualities that he sets him free. The tone is frantic whenever Odysseus’ life is threatened either by sea or monsters as the urgency to get out of such situations is high. On the other hand, Penelope’s tone is heartbroken and melancholic when she remembers her husband and feels the deep longing within the heart. At the end of the book, the tone is celebratory as Odysseus finally gets rids of the suitors and secures his family and kingdom once again.
Conclusion
The play “The Odyssey” by Homer is an example of types of humanities affecting modern day life. Although it is set in the ancient Greek periods, the situations facing the characters are similar to what happening today. Literal analysis of the text shows several key aspects of societal value and significance of the relationship between people in the society. Analysis proving the relevance of the play “The Odyssey” as a humanity cannot be understated. The play provides critical teachings about the ideal values and characteristics of people living in the model society that includes courage, wisdom, and ethical behavior. It also reveals that human beings are not perfect- they are at a high risk of falling into temptations, and this derails them from reaching their objectives. The most important thing is how people deal with the failures and continue moving on from the problem. Besides, the play also depicts the troubles that we go through all our lives. Like the constant shifts in sea waves, a person’s life is marked by ups and downs from different segments. For example, being fired from a job is a challenge but celebratory moments are achievements. It is impossible to isolate the good and bad experiences in life, but instead, the focus should be on finding harmony between all the aspects.
References
Ochsner, M., Hug, S. E., & Daniel, H. D. (2012). Four types of research in the humanities: Setting the stage for research quality criteria in the humanities. Research Evaluation , 22 (2), 79-92.
Johnstone, I. (2018). HOMER ODYSSEY ABRIDGED. Retrieved from http://johnstoniatexts.x10host.com/homer/odysseyabridgedhtml.html
Miletzki, J., & Broten, N. (2017). Development as freedom . Macat Library.
