The goddess Athena, daughter of Zeus, plays an important role in Homer's Odyssey for several key reasons. She is the goddess of wisdom and takes on the role of guide and mentor for the main character, Odysseus. Her advice and guidance encourage and direct his actions during his journey. She not only helps Odysseus, but also his young son Telemachus who is at home with his mother while Odysseus is gone fighting in the war. The responsibility of protector to his mother falls on his young shoulders and the goddess aids him when possible. With the aid of Athena, Telemachus is able to mature into a strong and confident young man who is wise and well suited to defend his family. Athena helps direct the choices of these main characters and is a central female figure in this classic literary work as she guides the characters through the story and helps them reach the final outcome.
Athena is an important female character in The Odyssey because she offers a substantial amount of guidance to Odysseus's son, Telemachus. Telemachus starts off as a young boy who does not like the suitors that are vying for his mother's hand, but he feels that he has no ability to control the situation. Athena disguises herself as Mentor and offers Telemachus guidance, allowing him to make decisions and to ultimately become much more sure of himself. Athena gives Telemachus the wisdom and guidance needed to forge alliances and begin the search for his father. This ultimately decides the fate of everyone involved, as the suitors are only vying for Penelope's hand because Odysseus is believed to be dead. It is fair to say that Athena determines the outcome of The Odyssey
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