The Odyssey Books 1-5

The major character I would like to discuss, form books one through five, is Athena, daughter of Zeus. She is a very interesting character to me. In the beginning, she requests her father's permission to help Odysseus. She feels for Odysseus, and would like to help him out. With Poseidon (the only God that, for some reason, does not feel pity for Odysseus) far away in Ethiopia, Athena sees that this is the perfect time to help Odysseus. It is most interesting, how Athena never seems to help Odysseus directly.

From the beginning, her plan involves leading Odysseus's son, Telemachus to find his father. She plans out his trip, and landmarks along the way. She recomends different kings his father once knew (King Nestor in Pylos, King Menelaus in Athens). Athena know's that Telemachus will get clues along the way, and find out that his father is alive, and his exact location. She pushes Telemachus to be a man, to not be shy, and to find out about his father. All this time she know's exactly what is going on with Telemachus' father; where he is, and what his troubles are. For some reason though (even though Telemachus already know's Athena is a goddess) Athena would rather have Telemachus figure it all out on his own, through the meeting of people. Perhaps she wants the boy to learn of his father, whom he never really knew (Odysseus was at war when he was very young)? Or maybe she wanted Telemachus to express how much he really cares for his father (and subsequently, cares for the good of his mother)? She does mention that she wants to glorify Odysseus' name, but is all of this really about just that?

When Athena decides that she must get Odysseus out of the hands of Calypso (in book five), she still does not help him directly. She urges her father, Zeus, to send a messenger to Calypso. The messenger then orders that Calypso frees Odysseus. Later in book five, when Poseidon has returned, and threatens Odysseus' life, Athena is said to have helped by stopping Poseidon. In reality, it is primarily Ino who helps the most. Ino supplies Odysseus with an immortal scarf to protect himself from death.

I find it interesting that Athena is so set on helping Odysseus, but never does so in a direct way. Perhaps it is because a God's job is to guide humans, not to run their lives. Maybe Athena is just as worried about making Telemachus into a great man, as she is worried about Odysseus. The amount Telemachus grows in just the first few books is evident. He becomes much more well spoken. Perhaps this is Athena's intent, after all Telemachus is the heir to the throne.