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Words of Advice

Book Seven Literary Analysis

The power and importance of disguise

B48E8B11-C29B-4F78-AD46-5F67FB64A1FE”Open your eyes, I’m a blessing in disguise.”

-Young Jeezy

 

     Disguise is the key to success. In book seven of The Odyssey, Odysseus uses the power of disguise to help get him through the city with a little help from Athena. Athena uses her “powers” to disguise Odysseus in a cloud of mist and transform herself into a little girl. Because of their disguises they are able to hide from the Phaeacians. Athena had disguised Odysseus in a cloud of mist and turned herself into a little girl. Athena showed him the way to Alcinous’s palace then when they got there Odysseus was removed of his disguise. 

 

But the famed Phaeacian sailors never saw him, right in their midst, striding down their streets. Athena the one with lovely braids would not permit it, the awesome goddess poured an enchanted mist around him, harboring kindness for Odysseus in her heart.

[The Odyssey, Book seven, lines 36-41]

 

Odysseus has used the power of disguise to hide himself one or two times already in the book. One of the most well known scenes from The Odyssey is when Odysseus disguises himself as an old man and kills the suitors that were bothering his wife. This comes to prove that disguise is one of the most powerful and important things for all of Odysseus journey. I have really enjoyed The Odyssey so far and will definitely expect to see the power and importance of disguise more.

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