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Athene in 'The Odyssey' - Coggle Diagram
Athene in 'The Odyssey'
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Characterisation
Master and lover of disguise and subterfuge: Masks Ithaca in mist, appears to Odysseus disguised as a young girl, then a shepherd
Fiercely loyal to Odysseus as his wily ways remind her of herself: "And that is why I cannot desert you in your misfortunes..." - Finds him entertaining?
Expects people she helps to pull their weight: Telemachus to stand up to the suitors, Odysseus to fight them himself
Doesn't want to directly oppose Poseidon, though this could be considered as an excuse
In charge of the entire narrative and ordains people's fates: "My child, did you not plan all this yourself?"
Despises people who abuse Xenia and guests: Upholds morals, so says J. Griffin: “The Olympian gods…respond to the inextinguishable cry of the human heart for justice.”
Role in the Plot
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Secretly supports and aids Odysseus in many small ways from the moment he leaves Calypso's Island to the moment he gets back to Ithaca
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Manipulates the mortals and engineers every event that leads to the plot progressing as it does post books 9-12 chronologically
'Female Protagonist' so sats M. Thorpe: “If Odysseus is the hero, [Athene] is almost the heroine of the poem.
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Key Moments
Book 1: Reaffirms Zeus's word that mortals who behave poorly despite omens and warnings must be punished, and campaigns for him to take pity on Odysseus. Visits Telemachus in Ithaca, condemns the suitors, and urges him to stop being idle and seek information about his father.
Book 5: Convinces Zeus that not enough is being done to help Odysseus, and 'tricks' him into ordering Odysseus's release from Ogygia, keeps him alive as he makes the journey, flattening Poseidon's storm and feeding him good ideas.
Books 6-8: General assistance to Odysseus, ensuring the Phaeacians receive him well and get him where he needs to be.
Book 13: Reveals herself to Odysseus officially, explains why she always stays by his side, and promises to continue guiding him in Ithaca. Helps him hide his newly acquired time' and disguises him as a beggar
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Book 22: Appears to Odysseus, but doesn't help him fight the suitors until he has killed the vast majority of them, after which she raises her Aegis and sends the suitors running scared. Lets Odysseus get the Kleos for killing the suitors.
Themes
Nostos: Odysseus's homecoming and reclamation of his Oikos is almost entirely dependent on Athene: Initially delays him throughout books 9-12 as a means of punishing him, but then gets Zeus to release him, helps him navigate Phaeacia, and plans the suitors' deaths with him.
Morality and Xenia: Her condemnation of the suitors is largely based on their exploitation of Xenia. In many ways, she may be using Odysseus to carry out justice more than she is helping him out of kindness.
Heroism and Kleos: Odysseus's divine associations with and assistance from Athene cement him as a hero, and earn him Kleos. She enables his Nostos, which in turn earns him Kleos. Advises Telemachus to go out and make a name for himself, which brings him Kleos
Women and their roles: Obviously, as a female immortal, her role in the story and helping Odysseus is important, as her main function appears to be supporting the male cast: Telemachus + Odysseus.