Topic > Physical border crossings in the Odyssey, the Arabian Nights, and the Book of Joshua

Throughout history, people around the world have experienced moments of physical border crossings when they traveled, migrated, or were in exile. These events are seen in many famous literary texts including The Odyssey, the Arabian Nights, and the Book of Joshua. In the Odyssey, a man named Odysseus is seen lost and trying to find his way home after fighting in a war. In One Thousand and One Nights, a sailor named Sindbad tells the story of his adventures during seven voyages. Finally in Joshua we see a group of nomadic Israelites trying to find a home. With these texts we see many different ideas, along with the effects of these border crossings such as the benefits, dangers and upheaval of certain conceptions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Odyssey is a great example of physical border crossing. The idea of ​​travel and exile is an important part of this epic. Odysseus leaves for Troy to fight in the Trojan War. With this decision, Odysseus faces many dangers. First of all because he leaves to go and fight a war, a war in which many men die and he too could die. Yet, in addition to this danger of losing his life, Ulysses also puts all his wealth and his family in danger. Odysseus is the king of Ithaca and so when he leaves as king, he is risking everything he leaves behind. Wars can last for many years and therefore people at home can take advantage of this type of situation and betray others. This is seen with the example of Agamon. Even though this happens after the war ends, it is still a good example of what can happen when someone leaves home. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, left to command the forces of the Greek army and upon his return found his wife cheating on him with Aegisthus. He was killed by traitors after losing everything he owned. This is not exactly what happened to Odysseus, but after Odysseus accepted the risk of leaving his home and not returning for twenty years, suitors from noble families came to Ithaca and tried to take over Odysseus' throne along with his wife . the discomfort felt with Ulysses' absence is that of his family that he leaves behind. When a father goes away across borders for a time and leaves his family behind, it affects them as much as it affects himself. With his son Telemachus, the reader sees a man, but even though he physically depicts a man, Telemachus is a boy his father left behind when he went to Troy. Without a father figure to help him raise and educate Telemachus, he could not become the heir and protector of Ithaca as he should have been. Throughout the epic Wilson calls Telemachus “boy” or “son of Odysseus.” An example of this is seen on page 131 when “the boy went down to his father's warehouse…” and on page 133 when Telemachus' crew “loaded everything onto the decks; Ulysses' son instructed them, and then embarked...". The fact that Telemachus is still called a boy or part of Odysseus' name shows how he struggles in everyday life as the son of a great warrior and king. She is unable to repel suitors and loses much of her inheritance every day along with her house and mother. Telemachus longs for Odysseus to return so that he can become an adult and make his father proud. With Odysseus' wife, Penelope, the reader does not see or learn much, but her pain is also visible throughout the epic. The pressure of suitors who break into her house and insist that she choose one of them to marry makes her.