Ten Years Of Indecision In Homer's 'Odyssey'

Superior Essays
Ten Years of Indecision The choices Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, faces resonates considerably with the decisions and challenges that await me in my coming years. The fact that The Odyssey is an allegory helps enhance the feeling of my life journey being that of Odysseus’. An allegory is an extended metaphor that compares a narrative and the personified characters within to an object in the outside world. Just as Odysseus had to face many trials and tough decisions, I also have to face many obstacles and options in the next ten years. I have never known what I want to do in my life, and the decision will inevitably have to be made. All I know is that whatever path I take, I want to succeed and triumph in that position. …show more content…
Regardless of what college I attend, I will be tested with drugs, alcohol, and turning away from my goal of being successful. As I have said before, dozens of hard assignments and tests face me in the future. The stress of this may coax me into forgetting my purpose with negative methods such as drugs and alcohol. Odysseus faced similar tribulations at the land of Lotus Eaters. Evidence is tangible in lines 207-210, “But those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus, never cared to report, not to return: they longed to stay forever, browsing on that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland.” The men succumbed to drugs and forgot about their homeland and goals, the same will become of me if I indulge in such activities. Clearly like Odysseus, I may be influenced to end my worries in mind-altering drugs like the lotus. In order to avoid these roadblocks, I must keep in mind my goal as Odysseus remembered his quest to get back to Ithaca, not like the three crewman who fell trap to the plant. One way of refraining from these items is participating in positive activities like sports. Exercise will help my mentality and give me an escape from the stresses of the day. A multitude of decisions are required to be made regarding these temptations, but even tougher choices lie ahead concerning the ten years to …show more content…
From lawyer to engineer, accountant to computer programmer, I can see myself pursuing multiple careers, but I must eventually pick one. Even before this I am required to decide what college to go to in order to obtain the occupation I am most interested. Once I have chosen a college, a major will have to be chosen. Choosing a major will nearly be as difficult as deciding a career. Another question that challenges me is what I want to do when I select a career and what new tasks will arise? Clearly this is directly similar to Odysseus’ choice of encountering Scylla or Charybodis. As Odysseus must opt with the best path without the most losses, so I will have to formulate the judgment with the least amount of cons. To select the malevolent Scylla who consumed a man for every one of her six heads, or the whirlpool of a beast called Charybodis who could easily split his vessel in two, was the assessment Odysseus had to make. Odysseus chose Scylla and lost six men, even though it was the correct option. Likewise, I realize that opportunities will be lost or gained despite what path I take. Information was essential to Odysseus making the right decision, as it shall be when I am forced by time to give my final answer as to what my future will

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