Functions Disguise \"The Odyssey\" Throughout the Odyssey

¶ … Functions Disguise "The Odyssey" Throughout the Odyssey reader notices characters adopt disguises facilitate complicate's passage world. In fact, characters multiple disguises tale.

Disguise in Homer's Odyssey

The idea of disguise takes on a whole new meaning in Homer's "Odyssey," taking into account that it is present in numerous occasions in the text and that it appears to shape people's personality whenever it is used. In addition to changing a person's physical appearance, a disguise is also promoted as something that is meant to induce particular feelings in both the person under disguise and in individuals that he or she interacts with. Deceit is not necessarily portrayed as a concept that can be associated with shame, as it seems to be especially effective and backed by impressive intelligence.

Illusion in general can be linked to Odysseus's character and with the experiences that he goes through as a whole. The poem is meant to emphasize how a disguise can be something very elaborate and how one usually employs a significant amount of thought in creating a disguise. The characters in the "Odyssey" often take on diverse attitudes with the purpose of hiding from the truth. These respective characters appear to benefit as a result of using disguises and actually seem to be happy as they walk around trying to seem persons that they are not.

Odysseus is certainly one of the characters who use disguises the most and he appears to have become an expert in this field. He makes use of his intelligence with the purpose of tricking others into being unable to see beyond his disguise. However, when considering the general aspect of the narrative, it seems that his obsession with disguises eventually backfires as he starts to have problems identifying with the person he once was.

Odysseus' return to Ithaca influences him to get a disguise as an old beggar in order to prevent his wife's suitors from being able to discovering who he is. The moment when he meets his son, Telemachus, is particularly intriguing, considering that the Greek hero's struggle to stay in character and loyal to his mission leads to him telling his son about how he wants to get retribution. Furthermore, he threatens to kill his old nurse when she discovers his true identity, this contributing to the feeling that he is especially concerned about keeping his disguise a secret.

Odysseus has lived a significant part of his life in disguise, up to the point where he is especially afraid about having anyone recognize him. This influenced him to be hesitant about putting across his true feelings, as he rarely does so and as he seems to be uninterested in showing sympathy with regard to those close to him. Going through so many disguises practically killed his ability to be himself and made him addicted to staying in character, even if this meant that he needed to hide from loved-ones in order to do so.

When considering Athena's disguises intended to assist Telemachus in developing as a strong individual, it is interesting to observe how Odysseus' son seems able to tell that the person standing before him is not a moral being. Even with this, he appreciates the god's help and focuses on the advices rather than on the status of the person delivering them.

Odysseus' ability to disguise himself has reached impressive heights, taking into account that he is able to maintain his cool even when in the presence of Penelope. This shows that this is a character who is willing to do everything in his power in order to achieve a perfect disguise. It seems that his determination to wear a disguise is much more powerful than his determination to be with his wife.

Penelope and Telemachus are also influenced by Odysseus' disguises and they eventually learn to take disguises on their own. The former employs a disguise by making everyone think that she is happy when she is actually depressed. The latter manages to keep his father's secret even with the fact that the two have not seen each-other in twenty years and that one would normally expect such events to be filled with emotion and long-lasting.