the power of fate

• proem points out it was the transgression of Ody's men that brought about their own doom
• Zeus tells the assembly that men blame the gods for their trouble
• they bring about their own suffering
• example's of men's responsibility are repeated throughout the poem
• Ody remarks that Aeolus' gift of the bag of winds was doomed because of his and the crew's stupidity
• the Suitors are doomed to die because of their disregard for the laws of Zeus
• Ody, sparing Phemius and Medon, tells them that it is always a much better policy to do right than wrong
• they have determined their own fate
• underpinning sense that Zeus is not to be interfered with
• bk 1 - Athene talking to T, imagining a triumphant return of Ody, she adds that the gods will decide whether or not he is to return to the palace
• when Aeolus sees that his gift has not been effective, he says that Ody must be detested by the gods and shuns him
• giving him another bag would be putting up a challenge to Zeus
• Alcinous says that they will happily safeguard Ody until he is on his own land
• he will have to suffer whatever destiny has in store for him