My Take on This...
"It is 2013 and you find yourself in a modern-day adventure that parallels that of Odysseus in ancient times but with one major difference: you get to choose one sidekick who will survive with you all the way to Ithaca, aiding you through all the same adventures Odysseus had. Moreover, your sidekick will help you overcome Penelope's suitors and convince her that you are her long-lost husband finally returned from Troy. What real or fictitious individual would you choose to accompany you on these adventures and why? Describe how this individual would help you overcome the monsters, temptresses, gods, and natural phenomena you encounter in at least three of Odysseus's adventures. Minimum 200 words."
I have to go with Spock. In case you don't know who Spock is, he's the Vulcan Science Officer on the original Star Trek television series, though the Star Trek movies muddied his persona a bit, promoting him to captain, killing him off, having him reborn, and then retiring him and returning from retirement. In spite of all those strange paradigm shifts, Spock remains the Ultimate Sidekick. I would choose him to accompany me through any and all of the ordeals Odysseus endured.
First of all, Spock is half Vulcan, half human. His blood chemistry and metabolism are entirely different from that of humans, which would have certain advantages. For instance, he would be immune to the lotus flowers. He would also be the best person to face Circe, the sorceress since even without Hermes' help, he would be immune to the potions she uses to turn errant sailors to various animals. Moreover, assuming he would have with him his ever-present tricorder, he would be able to discern actual pigs from the pigs that were once Odysseus's men, and so he could help round them up to be re-transformed.
Secondly, Spock's Vulcan nerve pinch would come in handy in numerous occasions. When passing by the Sirens, he could quickly subdue any men who had not plugged their ears with beeswax thoroughly enough and started making signs of leaping from the ship. He might have saved Odysseus several skins of wine wasted on Polyphemus, assuming he could reach the back of the Cyclops head to execute the pinch. Of course, they'd probably still have to blind the doofus in order to escape the cave, but it would save them all that lovely wine that they had to use to get Polyphemus drunk.
Spock would be the best man to have at your side when it comes to women troubles; after all, he kept Captain Kirk out of hot water (for the most part). Stoic Vulcans like Spock are immune to the wiles of women and cannot be seduced. Calypso would be powerless against Spock, and he could use the mind meld with Penelope to convince her that this scruffy old guy really is her long lost hubby, Odysseus.
Best of all, Spock has access to phasers and photon torpedoes. Gotta travel between a whirlpool and a nasty, six-headed, man-eating monster? Blast 'em to bits. Oh yeah. Spock's my man.
I have to go with Spock. In case you don't know who Spock is, he's the Vulcan Science Officer on the original Star Trek television series, though the Star Trek movies muddied his persona a bit, promoting him to captain, killing him off, having him reborn, and then retiring him and returning from retirement. In spite of all those strange paradigm shifts, Spock remains the Ultimate Sidekick. I would choose him to accompany me through any and all of the ordeals Odysseus endured.
First of all, Spock is half Vulcan, half human. His blood chemistry and metabolism are entirely different from that of humans, which would have certain advantages. For instance, he would be immune to the lotus flowers. He would also be the best person to face Circe, the sorceress since even without Hermes' help, he would be immune to the potions she uses to turn errant sailors to various animals. Moreover, assuming he would have with him his ever-present tricorder, he would be able to discern actual pigs from the pigs that were once Odysseus's men, and so he could help round them up to be re-transformed.
Secondly, Spock's Vulcan nerve pinch would come in handy in numerous occasions. When passing by the Sirens, he could quickly subdue any men who had not plugged their ears with beeswax thoroughly enough and started making signs of leaping from the ship. He might have saved Odysseus several skins of wine wasted on Polyphemus, assuming he could reach the back of the Cyclops head to execute the pinch. Of course, they'd probably still have to blind the doofus in order to escape the cave, but it would save them all that lovely wine that they had to use to get Polyphemus drunk.
Spock would be the best man to have at your side when it comes to women troubles; after all, he kept Captain Kirk out of hot water (for the most part). Stoic Vulcans like Spock are immune to the wiles of women and cannot be seduced. Calypso would be powerless against Spock, and he could use the mind meld with Penelope to convince her that this scruffy old guy really is her long lost hubby, Odysseus.
Best of all, Spock has access to phasers and photon torpedoes. Gotta travel between a whirlpool and a nasty, six-headed, man-eating monster? Blast 'em to bits. Oh yeah. Spock's my man.