ys at sea. A general relation between a character’s traits and his heeding of prophecies can be seen when the prophecies are divine instruction. If the character follows the gods’ advice he will prosper. But the advice is offered not because a man is prosperous but because he is worthy. Therefore, if a man is worthy, he will repeatedly receive advice, and vice versa. How is a man worthy? By being brave, honorable, true, and following the gods’ advice! This relation is strictly a generalization, but can be applied to the other types of prophecies as well. The generalization helps us characterize the prophecies by their heeding of the prophecy. On the negative side, Aigisthos was slain because he didn’t heed the gods’ warning; this makes him unworthy, which means he wasn’t brave, honorable, etc. The suitors repeatedly ignored the omens of the gods and Halitheses’s prophecy; therefore they were unworthy and deserved to die, etc. On the positive side, because Odysseus is worthy he is brave, honorable, true, and follows the gods’ advice. Also, because he is worthy the gods offer him advice. It is circular sequential logic, but it holds in the book. Odysseus blinds Polyphemus, offends his father, and Poseidon extends Odysseus’s voyage home. But because Odysseus is worthy and just made an error, the gods guide him back to reconciliation with the earth-shaker. How? Bad luck leads Odysseus to Aiaia. There Hermes helps him face Circe. Because of this, Circe leads Odysseus to the underworld and Teiresias. Teiresias instructs Odysseus on how to appease Lord Poseidon; Circe tells Odysseus how to get home. Moreover, though it is difficult to see, prophecies also help characterize the prophesier, in the Odyssey, mainly the gods. That the gods have the power to see the prophesier, in the Odyssey, mainly the gods. That the gods have the power to see the future sets them apart from mortals; that they ...
