The Odyssey is a Comedy

[Shurabi. S]

The epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer is commonly perceived to be a
tragedy. Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine,
usually through some combination of fate and the will of the gods. The
tragic hero's powerful wish to achieve some goal inevitably encounters
limits, usually those of human frailty, the gods, or nature.
Throughout this poem, one sees the many struggles Odysseus faces,
imposed by Poseidon, after the 10 year Trojan War, on his way back to
his homeland, Ithaca. On the other hand Penelope, his wife, and his
son Telemachus
are faced with greedy suitors wanting Penelope’s hand in marriage. Not
until the very end does one know that the Odyssey is actually a
Comedy, a divine comedy to be exact. The Odyssey is like winter
followed by spring. There are the rough times for our hero Odysseus
at the beginning but near the end all order and peace is restored.
The Tragic and the Comic fade into each other by almost insensible
gradations, and the greatest beauty of a poetical work often consists
in the harmonious blending of these two elements. Not only in the same
drama may both exist in perfect unison, but even in the same
character. Throughout the Odyssey we see a universal balance on all
levels. Firstly, there is the comparison of tragedy vs. Comedy.
Secondly we have vengeance vs. Forgiveness. Poseidon is angered at
Odysseus for killing his son. Odysseus unfortunately, had no idea
that he had killed Poseidon’s son. Poseidon punishes him for years as
Odysseus struggles to be reunited with his family. When Odysseus
returns home to Ithaca, he kills all the suitors without forgiving
them. In the end however the Gods all decide to stop tormenting
Odysseus, which is a sign of forgiveness and which is commonly found
in a comedy. At the very end of this epic poem, we see Odysseus
reunite with his father Laertes, wife and son.
Still, the Comic is not the Tragic, however subtle may be their
intertwining, and however rapid their interaction. They rest upon
diverse, and in some respects opposite, principles. As the story comes
to a close, the tragic events throughout the story start to change.
Super order is achieved when Odysseus reaches home safely with the aid
of Athena, kills the suitors, wins his wife back and reunites with his
father. This social rest indicates that The Odyssey does end a
Comedy.