All aspects of life are controlled by a higher being, or in his case beings. The entire adventure of Odysseus centers around the punishment and pity of the ancient Greek gods. However he also demonstrates free will through the epic though often with a negative outcome.
I wonder if Homer intended free will to be viewed negatively? For example when Odysseus blinds the cyclops it is to demonstrate his destructive pride but it also is a decision he made entirely of his own free will, without any interference from the gods. This independent choice lines up Poseidon against Odysseus thus setting up his obstacles for the rest of the play. I seems to me that almost all of the big decisions made are formulated and/or suggested by the gods.
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