Wine/food

In The Odyssey throughout Odysseus' journey wine and food are quite important. Odysseus and his crew would use any chance they had to eat and drink. They did this every time they land on a new island or leave they always would get drunk on wine and eat a great meal. Wine in the story allows the characters to forget their troubles of big monsters eating or killing their fellow comrades. It also symbolizes society and wealth from Odysseus' point. This is shown when he encounters the Cyclops he calls them uncivilized and lawless who detest wine while Odysseus respects law and civilization and loves wine.

Hermes helps Odysseus 

Hermes is a recurring character in the Odyssey, and has helped Odysseus out multiple times. Odysseus gets sent to an Island with Calypso where he is trapped and forced to be Calypso’s lover, but Zeus sends Hermes to make Calypso let him go. Then later on in the story Hermes tells Odysseus to eat a herb that will make him immune to Circē’s drug. Circē had drugged many members of Odysseus’s crew and turned them into pigs, and Odysseus went to save them, but he couldn’t have done it without Hermes.  

Calypso and Circē try to take advantage of Odysseus

In the Odyssey one pattern that emerges is the two similar goddesses Calypso and Circē who try to take advantage of Odysseus. The first instance when this happens is when Odysseus gets sent to Calypso’s island where he is kept there under Calypso rule and forced to be her lover. When he is there, he is very grim and depressed due to how all he wants to do is see his wife and children when he isn’t allowed to. After seven years, the gods rule that he needs to be sent home. He is finally let free and sails away from that dreaded island. The next time Odysseus is taken advantage of is after his crew is turned into pigs by Circē he goes up to her house, but before he reaches there Hermes gives him a herb that will prevent him from being turned into a pig. When he reaches Circē, she tries to put him under her spell but is shocked when nothing happens. Odysseus later uses this to help get his friends back to normal. This shows that this recurring pattern with these goddesses keep trying to take advantage of Odysseus, but he has now learned from his past mistake with Calypso and has used that to shock Circē. 

Symbols:

Animals 

Animals are an important symbol of the Odyssey. They are important as they represent peace as well as vulnerability to Odysseus and his crew. When Odysseus and his crew first came upon the cyclops Polyphemus, he showed them for being such a large figure who represents death and terror to most, he can still take care of little ewes and rams. This brought a light to a vulnerable side to such a savage race and thus a single animal can do so much for a person. On the contrary when Odysseus sent out a few of his crew members to scope out the home of Circē, she turned them into pigs. This showed how some of the strongest soldiers who have withstood the wrath of the sea can be turned into a simple pig. This shows great vulnerability and humility amongst the men in how as a pig with a conscience, there was nothing he could do to save himself. This showed that throughout the Odyssey, animals have represented vulnerability and peace however can also show humility and sorrow.  

Gifts

Wherever Odysseus goes, it seems that people tend to give travelers gifts. For example, he and his crew travel to the land of Aeolus. Aeolus gives Odysseus the bag of winds so Odysseus can get home. On their voyage home Odysseus’s crew thinks that Aelous gave Odysseus lots of gold and silver, so they open the bag, which unleashes a massive storm that carries them back to the land of Aeolus. Odysseus asks for aid once again, but Aelous refuses. The gifts in the Odyssey symbolize greed, and this is shown when Odysseus asks Aelous for more gifts, even though Aeolus already gave him the bag of winds. Additionally, it is shown when Odysseus’s crew wants to take some of whatever Aelous gave Odysseus. These instances show that whenever gifts come into play, Odysseus and his crew get greedy.

Clothes

Clothes in The Odyssey have an important role of showing a character's status and their personality. Odysseus Clothes before they washed showed his role as a king and how he appreciates fancier and finer things in life. His clothes represent his wealth, importance, and power. But after they were washed away by the waves he was left beat up by the rocks and left on the shore where Athena had to put him to sleep. The losing of his clothes represents his loss of status and power and how without them he is left vulnerable and he had to let other people help him get back on his feet. Then after he was found on the shore by Nausícaa he was given clothes and taken to the castle which restored some of his dignity and power.

Monsters. He meets Monsters at every other island, who gobble up his crew. 

Death. Death greets him at every island he goes to, such as the cyclopes eating his friend, which causes him to have to be braver and smart to survive.

Hospitality(the feasts were put out every time company came over), caring for people who show up at your door, drowning out sorrow(the wine). “Lavish portions of meat and abundant wine” 

Hermes keeps interfering with Odysseus on his journey to help him out. First, he helps Odysseus leave the nymph, Calypso, and later does the same to help Odysseus and his friends escape Circe.

Trickery is a recurring theme throughout the Odyssey. Penelope uses trickery when she tells the suitors that she will pick who she will marry as soon as she finishes her weaving. She weaves every day yet, undoes it every night, so that she can prolong her decision making. Odysseus also uses trickery when he encounters Cyclops. He tells the monster that his name is “Nobody” so that when Odysseus attacks, Cyclops calls out that, “Nobody is killing me!” Trickery seems to be used frequently as a tactic that displays the characters wit. 

Athena represents the hero Odysseus is/needs to be. Plenty of times, Odysseus wishes that Athena was there to save him, such as he does when he is with the cyclopes, and similarly he wishes he was stronger and braver than he was. Athena is a symbol of the bravery that Odysseus doesn’t have and will not get until he learns to think on his own.

The Sea. Odysseus encounters the ocean multiple times throughout the epic. The sea symbolizes life, hope, and perseverance since it is the only way for Odysseus to return to Ithaca. However, the sea also represents adversity and hardships, as the sea-god Poseidon proceeds to present storms that harm Odysseus on his journey. 

Also represents the unconscious mind

The bag of winds- deviation from goal, they wanted to get home, but their greed overpowered their unconscious mind, jealousy took over their minds. Odysseus is on vacation, spending 7 years with Calypso and one month with Circe, while his crewmates are getting gobbled up at every turn. 

That the monsters reflect Odysseus’s inner character, Cyclops was physically blind, and seeking to destroy life, similarly, Odysseus is so ego-focused and greedy that he doesn’t see that he endangers the lives around him. 

Odysseus is insecure, he is constantly looking to the gods for help and guidance, because he doesn’t trust himself, he wasted 7 years in paradise with Calypso, and he didn’t tell his crewmates about his suspicions about the Laestrygónians. 

Odysseus is quick-thinking and has gained a lot of wisdom. He is able to outsmart his way out of dangerous situations, like defeating Calypso when he was trying to kill him. Odysseus is able to learn from each of his challenges and gain soemthing from them in order to gain strength. 

The symbols suggest that Odysseus still has a lot of learning to do, especially in regards to learning from past mistakes, and realizing that his quick thinking and large ego will not be able to help in every situation.