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Literary Analysis Draft: The Odyssey and the Inferno

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The Odyssey and the Inferno a Journey of Maturation Depicted In the Relationship between Humanity and the Divine

The thematic presentation of two different literary works often reveals the cultural setting and the behavior of artists at a given period of time. When differences or similarities are noted, a categorization is identified which place the works into a classification that are relatively revealing about the subject matter as well a sin of the work depth meaning. The themes often reveal what the writer was working in passing along with a clarity that is often centered on the historical diversity or singularity of an era. However, sometimes, the subject matter revolves around a social issue which might be a contemplation of the meaning of life as experienced by the writers. Odyssey and Inferno are two literary works that deal with humanity and divinity by tackling the relationship with poetry that depicts the yearning, the questions and the intricacy in relating God, gods, and power on the value of human existence.

The theme presented in Odyssey begins right at the first sentence and thus an introduction to the subject matter. The journey in Odyssey begins with the yearning that is introduced of getting back home. The functionality of the journey is very similar to that of Dante in which it begins with the journey to hell. The characteristic introduction of both works delivers a punching introduction that delves directly into the consideration of startling revelation. In the process of introduction, both touch on the level of commitment and yearning which is essentially a toe of the human spiritual and physical need.

The Odyssey and The Inferno delve into the subject of spiritual awakening through human action that depicts sin as one of the falls of the human relationship with the divined and an indication of the suffering that is often associated with this in the afterlife. In this way, both touch on the interaction of the actions done alive spilling into the spiritual realm with a sense of wonder and amazement that depicts power in the divinity as all seeing. While Dante questions the omnipresence of God, The Odyssey questions the availability of too much of its presence by talking of accountability.

The relative development of thematic zones in the texts both differ in the way that Odyssey explain using character journey within the life realm while The inferno uses a perspective of an observer in the realm of the dead. The difference is also evident in the fact that historical placement within Odyssey depicts an acceptance of gods and heroes as part of the divinities. However, Christianity had entered into Italy posting the fact that a change in thought is observed in The Inferno for the pagans and believers of gods were still roaming in purgatory. The God depicted in this is a jealous being and issuance of punishment is relatively centered on the power of one being (Thomas & Hult, 2008). This is opposite in Odyssey in which different gods tackled different issues of indication of a structural consideration that involves multiple divinities.

Minos who is mentioned in both text take on the same role of being the judge but he has very different responsibilities. In the Inferno Mino works within the second ‘layer’ of hell in which he has complete authority to pass judgment (Thomas & Hult, 2008). He is a spiritual entity that is just is and thus has no account of the origin and the fact that there are no human familial like ties generated to his being makes him as mysterious as the functionality of hell itself. The mystery is delivered by Dante while alive who doesn’t understand why some of the people he admired and had accomplished so much could still be in purgatory. We watch him come to terms with the fact that the action of life in the afterlife is determined by the action one does and thus has to go through pain and from this pain an emergence of hope. However, in Odyssey, Minos is tied with the familiar normal family structure by being the son of Zeus　(Puchner et al, 2013). However, the task he has is very limited to only passing judgment giving him the role almost as a passing by the entity because of the fact that he the son of a god.

Relatively the relationship given in Odyssey portrays the divinity as people who had the same desire or even more so that is basic to humans and within that, they could physical identify themselves within the people that they have chosen hence living among the humans. However, The Inferno shows a different setting in which mystery is shrouded in the lack of a physical presence and recognition of one’s misgivings and failure to walk on the right path (Puchner et al., 2013)

While this central theme of the relationship in Inferno is a sense of detachment between human, spirituals, and divinity showing a form of reverence given to the dead and God, it also indicated the journey of understanding and of acknowledgment of the roles defined in the societal structures which guide the spiritual. It shows a form of growing as Dante begins the poems by identifying what seems to be a loophole within the hells system. In which there are people who are roaming and do not know where to be placed. It brings in sense of chaos like a child trying to learn. However, the sense of power and questionable measures is arrived through the poem by looking at metaphors like the panther. Dante begins to learn of this power and an understanding of both sides of the coin. Mentioning Minos tails wrapping around the people he passes judgment to bring in the sense of intellectual understanding and intelligent analysis. This end with a sense of dread yet hopes into going through the Saint Patrick portal showing that fate could not be changed and an acceptance of the fact is a reason to be merited as having grown as an individual.

On the other hand, Odyssey right from the beginning of the name shows a journey. There is a loss which Odysseus begins with and then a sense of longing to return home. This identification of the pains, being a beggar and going through longing of becoming some who would be accepted is the true strain in his journey. The flaw depicts by jealousy especially of Poseidon who does not want him back home shows as a sense of motivation that drives Odysseus to be better and even more powerful. It is in the identification of raising himself up from the pain that we can see his growth as a person and his intelligence. Even though he lies and steals is the identification of these complexities that completes his journey to being himself and a hero.

Reference

Puchner et al. (2013). Eds. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: Volume 1, Beginnings to 1650. 3rd edition. New York: Norton

Thomas, H. & Hult. C.A.(2008). The New Century Handbook. 5th edition. New York: Pearson.