Odysseus faces numerous challenges on his homeward journey including shipwrecks, six-headed monsters, a Cyclops, and a goddess, but one challenge stands above the rest: doubt. After Odysseus and his men face these many dangers, Odysseus is the only one to make it back to his home, Ithaka. When he arrives no one knows who he is because of his change in appearance. Athene made him look like an old, ragged vagabond and he was treated as such by most of the Achaians. Since Odysseus looks so unlike himself no one believes him when he reveals his true identity. Each time he tells someone who he really is they doubt him. They cannot believe that after twenty years Odysseus has returned. Even though they have been praying to the gods that he would return the people cannot believe this stranger. They doubt the very man they have been longing to see.
When Odysseus reveals himself to his father Laertes, he receives the same reaction. Laertes says, "If in truth you are Odysseus, my son, who have come back here, give me some unmistakable sign, so that I can believe you" (lines 328-90). So Odysseus show his father the scar proving his claim. After Laertes sees his son's scar he immediately embraces him and begins crying and rejoicing.
This reminds me of Thomas. After Jesus was resurrected he went to see his disciples and Thomas doubted that Jesus was who he said he was. To make Thomas believe him, Jesus showed Thomas his scars.
When the true kings reveals his scars, no room for doubt remains.
No more doubting Thomas. No more doubting Achaians.
P.S. I posted on Emily Laforce's blog.
I love how you paralleled Odysseus revealing himself and Jesus revealing himself which they did both by revealing scars. I never thought of that until your post. It is funny how you also pointed out how everyone doubts it is actually Odysseus even though they've been praying for him to come back and they've received prophecies of his return. In the same way,correct me if I'm wrong,Jesus told his disciples he would return but still people doubted it was truly Jesus until he revealed his scars. It is truly amazing how a single scar can come to define you.
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