The Odyssey and The Aeneid are some of the major epics created by the western civilizations. Virgil wrote his Aeneid as a certain replica of Homer’s Odyssey’s, which was aimed at glorifying Rome. Therefore, the two epics have a lot in common. Nonetheless, since the two works were written by two different people in two different epochs, there are quite many differences.
Speaking of similarities, it is possible to think of some adventures of the two main characters, descriptions of wars, descriptions of other characters, major ideas, and motifs. One of these similarities is also the ending of the epics. The two major characters have to defeat their beloved’s suitors. Odyssey has to punish his wife’s suitors for finishing his long trip (Homer Book XXII). At the same time, Aeneas has to defeat Turnus and win the heart of his wife to be (Virgil Book XII). Both heroes manage to defeat their enemies and achieve their major goals and their major destinations, i.e., their homeland.
As for the differences, the styles of the two works differ. Even though Virgil’s work was based on Homer’s work, the epics are characterized by different styles. The two poets pertained to different epochs and different cultural backgrounds, which influenced their styles. At that, Virgil exploits more complex imagery and literary devices. Homer’s epic is quite simple when it comes to literary tools, e.g., metaphors, allusions, etc. Virgil’s epic is also more didactic than Homer’s work. Homer tells a story of a hero’s adventures while Virgil glorifies hero who is a representative of a great state and can be regarded as the embodiment of the state.
On balance, it is possible to state that the two epics share a lot of features as Virgil’s work is a certain kind of replica of Homer’s masterpiece. However, the two works are quite different as they were written in different epochs and different cultural backgrounds.
Works Cited
Homer. “The Odyssey.” The Internet Classics Archive. 2009.
Virgil. “The Aeneid.” The Internet Classics Archive. 2009.
Everyone knows the ancient Greek myth of the Odyssey. During his wanderings, his wife Penelope got rid of the obsession with suitors. She announced that she would marry only when she finished weaving the ritual cloth (The Odyssey 32). Still, at night she unraveled everything weaved during the day until Odysseus returned. Bribed maids betrayed the secret of her ongoing work to suitors. Penelope had a hard time in the face of angry fans, but Odysseus returned in time (The Odyssey 28). The gods thanked Penelope well for her devotion to her husband (and weaving, too), making her the patroness of weaving.
Discussion
The Penelope image is associated with the goddess of the house, the keeper of the hearth, and all households. Direct or literary understanding of the weaving implies that Penelope rejects that she weaves a funeral veil for her father-in-law Laertes (The Odyssey 30). By dissolving it, she strives to delay the choice of a new husband.
The weaving in the poem symbolizes the recreation of the fate of a loved Odyssey. In other words, in Penelope’s hands, the thread of her beloved’s life. Finishing the canvas means cutting the thread, stopping believing, and waiting for the one whose life pattern is in her will.
Conclusion
Therefore, the mythological significance of waving is deeply connected with preservation and protection as a beautiful image of a woman. That is why Odysseus wants Penelope to wave a scheme that can express his gratitude to Athena. During his wanderings, the goddess is the patroness of Odysseus. She helps Odysseus even after returning to his homeland when he has to fight against Penelope’s impudent and shameless suitors. All three mentioned characters are connected by fate which is weaved in the canvas of Penelope, who puts enormous efforts into being dedicated and faithful to her husband and the will of the gods.
Work Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics, 1999.
Throughout the odyssey, Odysseus encounters several unique characters who have distinct stories and interact with the main character in their specific way. The mythological aspects of the main characters and their significance for Odysseus are essential for understanding the poem. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus encounters Athena, Poseidon and Polyphemus are surrounded by unique myths and occupy a distinct place in Odysseus’ journey.
While Athena and Poseidon are gods, Polyphemus is a Cyclops encountered by Odysseus. Considering the contrasting origin of these characters, Athena and Poseidon are well-known for their divine powers; Polyphemus, on the other hand, is known for his leadership over the Cyclops and being the son of Poseidon. Odysseus first meets Athena disguised as a little girl; in contrast, Poseidon’s first encounter with Odysseus occurs when the god attempts to avenge Polyphemus, who was killed by the protagonist on the island of the Cyclopes.
Although Odysseus interacts with several gods throughout his path, the goddess Athena remains particularly important due to her position as the hero’s patron. Athena has always protected the protagonist from danger, ensuring his successful journey. For instance, when talking to Athena, Odysseus says: “Stand by me—furious now as then, my bright-eyed one— / and I would fight three hundred men, great goddess” (Homer 224). From this perspective, the goddess shares a unique relationship with the protagonist and is vital for Odysseus’s path.
Another God whom Odysseus encounters on his journey is Poseidon, the god of the seas. However, Odysseus and Poseidon share a drastically contrasting relationship, with Poseidon demonstrating tremendous wrath towards the protagonist, who blinded the god’s son. As such, Poseidon says to Odysseus: “I’ll give that man his swamping fill of trouble!” and “With that he rammed the clouds together—both hands / clutching his trident—churned the waves into chaos” (Homer 86). By doing so, Poseidon attempted to hinder the hero’s journey, which is one of the numerous examples of the god’s critical role in Odysseus’ path.
Finally, Polyphemus attempted to harm the hero and his companions; however, Odysseus succeeds at tricking the cyclops. Polyphemus said to that “‘Nobody, friends’[…] / ‘Nobody’s killing me now by fraud and not by force’” (Homer 149), which prevented Polyphemus from receiving help from his friends. Thus, the encounter with Polyphemus serves as an example of Odysseus’ wit and is an essential moment in The Odyssey.
Work Cited
Homer. (1997). The Odyssey. Translated By Robert Fagles. Penguin.
The most striking feature of Odysseus is deception. It is evident that in the land of the gods, the tricksters have a better chance of survival. The reader might view it as acts of lack of honor, which could be true. However, deception was the best resource that Odysseus possessed.
The character’s ability to improvise false stories and devise trickery plans is outstanding and draws the reader’s attentions closer. Throughout the play Odyssey does not struggle to reveal himself to anyone as a trustworthy person. Deception is a vital tool for survival in this story, considering that not all events favor the protagonist. This paper seeks to show how lying has been employed as a survival tool in Homer’s work “the Odyssey”.
The Trojan horse trick against Polyphemos is an instance that gets Odysseus out of trouble. The soldiers disguise themselves in a body of Trojan horse to conceal their identity. Odysseus and his accomplices disguise themselves as rams to hide from Polyphemos. Another instance of deception is when Odysseus pretends to be a beggar to keep himself safe. He also pretended to be a beggar to test the loyalty of others and to devise his plan of overthrowing the other suitors (Homer 93-96).
Amid all deceptions, the protagonist is viewed as an honest soldier going against all odds. The protagonist uses the deceits to acquire a strong team of followers. The followers view the protagonist as the voice of reason, an inspiring figure to continue fighting. Their hero is their reason of continuing no matter the change of challenges.
The hero uses deception to create a symbol of ideals and exemplifies what the group believes. The hero makes his followers to respect him in order to obey him. As a consequence of deception, the hero endures more problems than his followers.
In the story, deception is not always meant to cause harm to other people. Some instances of deception are meant to help other people to get out of trouble. In the story lies have been used as tool for encouragement especially in family relationships. In the absence of the father, a woman takes the role of the husband inform of disguise. This is not meant to do any harm but just as way of encouraging a child who may be totally dependent on the father’s advice (Homer 99-105).
Deception has been used as a manipulation tool. The protagonist lies to be someone he is not in order to manipulate people to do something that will be to his advantage. By way of embodiment Odysseus is able to pretend to be somebody else. A good example was when Odysseus pretended to be a beggar, and also when he pretended to be somebody else to test his wife’s trust. In the story, a character is able to achieve this by lying that she is a god and at the same time makes sacrifices as a human (Homer 435).
Lies have been used to test the hospitability of other people. Odysseus transforms himself to beggar so as to test character of others whether they can be hospitable or not. Odysseus was able to pretend to be a beggar and creep all along the borders of enemy line that he was fighting without being noticed. His creativity as a liar gives him an advantage over his enemies. This made him win battles and came out as a war hero but it was all through deception (Homer 255).
Deception has been used as tool to get honor. Many instances of deception have made Odysseus to stand out as a hero to his acquaintances. The soldiers trust his wit and follow his ideas which end up rescuing them in times of trouble.
When Odysseus went to a new place where the natives did not recognize him and, it became easy to win their honor through lies. Odysseus lies to have come from a lineage of a wealthy family. He lied that his wealthy father died and left him with a lot of properties. The story represents a community that emphasizes on an individual’s lineage in matters relating to marriage.
In order to win the trust of a wealthy family, it becomes important to use deception. Due to honor of his father as a wealthy person, he is able to marry a girl from family with a lineage of wealth. This is arguably the negative consequence of deception, but on the contrary, Homer has used it to show the readers the extent of desperateness that his protagonist was going through (Homer 220).
Deceptions have been used in testing other people’s emotions. Sometimes it is hard to know what people are capable of when they are emotional. As means to protect yourself from their emotions you can lie to them so as you can know them better. In the play Odysseus tests the emotions of his father by lying to him about his identity by pretending that he was another person. He only reveals his identity when his father gets emotional. This deception gave him an opportunity to read his father’s mind, a chance to understand how he would react when the emotions take the best of him.
Deception has been used as a way of testing someone’s love. This is based on the fact that a person in love is primarily supposed to defend her love especially to strangers. Odysseus talks ill about himself when disguised to give him an opportunity of reading the mind of Penelope. In this way Odysseus uses his disguise to test if Penelope loves him by speaking to her as a stranger (Homer 200).
Deception has been used to show cleverness. Cleverness has been used to depict the characters of people in the play. Many of the actions displayed by Athena throughout the play shows how clever she was. She wants to help Odysseus after realizing he was lying .She does this using deceptive means.
It is through cleverness that gives Penelope value which makes Odysseus to like her but achieves this through lies. Athena wants Odysseus to be inspired by the beauty of Penelope so that he can know what he would be fighting for. She must be clever enough to accomplish this and does it using lies (Homer 503).
Deception has been used as a test of loyalty for the protagonist to know the people he could trust. In the play Odysseus was able on spy his servants to know whether they were loyal to him. He was able know those who were disloyal to him by his act of sleeping outside.
Even though he gets them he is unable to take any actions because he feared being blackmailed by another nurse who had identified him. He used deceit to identify he men who had invaded his home. The reasons for doing this was to enable him identify the loyal people who he could trust and work with (Homer 502).
Deception has been used as a tool of vengeance. Odysseus revenge could not have gone through if he had not used deceit. He is able to accomplish his revenge mission on the suitor who once a conflict with by killing him through deceit. He takes the advantage during the contest to win Penelope in marriage to kill the suitor first.
Using deceits he kills those suitors who were disloyal to him and saves those who seemed of good character to him. In the end he is able to kill the maids who were disloyal to him by using by blackmailing the old nurse who brings them to him. It was the plan of deceit that enabled him to accomplish his vengeance.
Works Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. New York: Plain Label Books, 2009. Print.
The Odyssey by Homer represents many characters of female monsters and immortals, which significantly influence Odysseus’s journey. These characters include Calypso, Circe, Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis among others, and their role in Odysseus’s life is critical to have an effect on his further course in the hero’s journey. The reason is that, in most cases depicted in the work, these female characters are even more powerful than male mortals, or they have power equal to male gods. Although female characters in The Odyssey can be viewed as evil creatures that are not determined by their gender, Homer would consider gender equality as a cultural monster because of associated threats and anxiety.
Women depicted by Homer in his work seem to be the source of danger and obstacles for men in the case when they have too much power. There are many situations in the work when Odysseus as a man cannot control his choice, course, crew, and even his will because of the females’ impact. Thus, when Homer depicts female characters, including monsters, as having power equal to that of males, it is possible to state that he considers gender equality as a cultural monster leading to destruction. The reason is that many behaviors of these female characters are masculine in their nature, and they need to be further discussed with reference to examples.
There are many illustrations of a kind of gender equality in The Odyssey, especially when discussing the behavior and actions of female immortals. For instance, Calypso and Circe try to seduce Odysseus, and in this case, they act like men when avoiding a submissive role in relationships (Homer 64-80). Sirens also play a similar role while attracting men for the purpose of seducing them (Homer 157-160). In this case, female Sirens even have more power than males because mortals cannot cope with the desire to succumb to the temptation. These examples demonstrate that immortal women in The Odyssey tend to act as men, and this behavior is almost always dangerous for males.
Scylla and Charybdis represent the other type of female monsters in the work who also have powers to control men. Thus, Scylla and Charybdis embody disgusting female immortal creatures that are also irresistible. They are not attractive, sensitive or helpful like other depicted female immortals in The Odyssey, but they seem to personify all the evil associated with women and give a reason not to trust females. The actions of these monsters are masculine as their goal is to do all possible to kill Odysseus and the members of his crew (Homer 158-167). As a result, the body of a female monster in The Odyssey can be viewed as a cultural concept associated with gender equality fearing the males of the period when Homer lived and wrote his story.
It is possible to state that the gender-related expectations regarding female immortals in The Odyssey are not supported in most cases depicted in the work. Instead, it seems that Homer refers to female monsters as the examples to demonstrate the destructive consequences of regarding women as strong human beings or individuals equal to men. From this perspective, it is possible to conclude that Homer would perceive the idea of gender equality depicted in a specific manner in his work as a kind of a cultural monster that needs to be avoided.
Work Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Anthony Verity, Oxford University Press, 2016.
In Homeric poem “The Odyssey,” we are treated to an account of the story of Odysseus as he tries to make his way back to Ithaca after successfully aiding the Greeks in conquering the city of Troy. While the tale has various mythical and magical motifs in the form of Gods, Goddesses, nymphs, witches, and magic; one of the most interesting and a rather unusual aspect of the story was the astounding level of generosity shown to Odysseus through various parts of the story (Grabek, 96). In this essay, examples of hospitality in “The Odyssey” shall be explored.
It can be stated that if it were not for the multiple instances where Odysseus was accepting the generosity of various strangers, he would long ago have been able to reach home instead of being delayed for so long.
Greek Hospitality in The Odyssey
An examination of other forms of ancient Greek literature reveals that the concept of Greek hospitality (xenia) towards guests is firmly embedded in the belief that all guests are under the protection of the Gods. Zeus himself was said to be the benefactor of guests who entered the households of strangers in foreign lands and that to turn away a guest would be the same as insulting Zeus himself (Grabek, 96).
Other interpretations show the belief that guests are said to be tests sent by the Gods themselves and that various guests asking for shelter within households could be Gods in disguise (Grabek, 96).
One particular piece of Greek mythology supporting this claim is the story of Baucis and Philemon. In it, readers see a situation wherein Zeus tired of eating ambrosia on Olympus descended to the Phrygian countryside along with Hermes to test the generosity of the people. Disguised as poor travelers, they knocked on hundreds of doors. However, they were always rebuffed, and the doors slammed into their faces.
It was only when they encountered the dilapidated cabin of Baucis and Philemon that they were accorded with the highest degree of courtesy from the unfortunate couple. The end of the story was the complete flooding of the Phrygian countryside with all that turned them away dying as a result, with Baucis and Philemon being honored for their generosity by being made into priests of a new temple on top of a hill that escaped the destruction of their neighbors.
As a result of similar tales, ancient Greek society at the time had a rather generous predisposition towards guests, often showing them the most fabulous hospitality that one can muster (Grabek, 96). It must be noted, though, that this hospitality is not the result of any ingrained cultural predilection towards generosity. Still, rather, it can be interpreted as being the result of fear towards the wrath of the Gods (Melisa et al., 1).
Another interesting factor to consider is the concept of the “guest-host relationship” in ancient Greek culture and how it plays a factor in the theme of hospitality in “ The Odyssey” (Melisa et al., 1).
The concept of the guest-host relationship is firmly embedded in the method in which hospitality is given and how it is received. As stated earlier, it was shown that improper hospitality towards guests had the effect of dire punishment. On the other hand, it was also revealed that proper generosity resulted in a significant number of blessings (Melisa et al., 1).
Why Is Hospitality Important in The Odyssey
Hospitality is one of the epic poem’s main themes. There are plenty of examples of hospitality in The Odyssey. In particular, three distinct parallels can be singled out:
Calypso’s imprisonment of Odysseus vs. Circe’s offering of hospitality and love;
Alcinous/Phaeacians being helpful by trying to get Odysseus home vs. Poseidon’s shipwreck;
Penelope’s hospital reception of Odysseus disguised as beggar vs. the suitor’s bad treatment/mocking of him.
These three cases show the concept of the guest-host relationship and what the result of improper/proper hospitality in both cases was. It can be stated that while it was hospitality that enabled Odysseus to finally overcome various obstacles and get back home, the concept of hospitality firmly embedded in the guest-host relationship that caused several of his adventures and was one of the primary reasons behind him getting delayed.
Example of Hospitality in The Odyssey: Calypso vs. Circe
In the first parallels, there are two distinct situations presented, namely the imprisonment of Odysseus and the reception shown to him by Circe. In the case of Calypso, Odysseus was found by the sea nymph after his ship was wrecked due to the fury of Poseidon. After which he spent seven years in the captivity of the sea nymph due to her falling madly in love with Odysseus and wanting him to become her mate. Under the guest-host relationship concept, Calypso is playing the part of an excellent host.
Even though her father is Poseidon, she still chose to aid Odysseus when she found him washed up on the shore of her island, Ogygia. In this case, Calypso successfully fulfills the first aspect of the guest-host relationship in that she accepts a guest that has come to her home in need.
While Odysseus may be criticized in various texts due to his actions with Calypso wherein he did not attempt to immediately escape after getting better, the fact remains that Odysseus was fulfilling the second half of the guest-host relationship. He was adequately and respectfully receiving the gift of hospitality that was given.
For the ancient Greeks, the concept of hospitality does not just extend to how it was given but rather in the way it is received and the inherent consequences of the reception. For example, in the case of the island of Thrinacia, where Odysseus and his men were allowed to land by the God Apollo, various members of the crew violated the guest-host relationship by hunting the cattle of Apollo (Greek life, 1).
The result was the death of all crew members except Odysseus, who survived the resulting shipwreck. Thus, on the part of the host, violating the guest-host relationship by not being open and friendly to guests results in the wrath of the Gods descending upon him. However, the reverse is also true wherein guests that do not adhere to proper mannerisms behind the guest-host relationship will also receive some form of misfortune.
The consequences behind the reception of hospitality are one of the driving factors behind the reason why Odysseus had to stay with Calypso for seven years. He did not want to break the guest-host relationship by just leaving when it was apparent that Calypso was in love with him, especially when taking into consideration the fact that she had saved his life.
In other words, it can be seen that for the Greeks, there is a specific code of conduct that must be done when it comes to hospitality or else there would be dire consequences (Greek life, 1). Homer further emphasizes this point in the case of Odysseus and Circe, in this particular part of the Odyssey, we are presented with the witch Circe who kept on turning all guests who came to her island into pigs.
In this case, instead of Odysseus himself being turned into a farm animal, he is warned by Hermes of what Circe was doing to his crew and informed him about taking the drug moly to prevent the effects of Circe’s magic. The result was Odysseus brandishing his sword at Circe, threatening to kill her. The reason why Hermes helped Odysseus was that Circe was violating the code of conduct of hospitality, which even the Gods themselves must abide by.
Circe, powerful though she was, was not exempted from this rule and as such, was taught a lesson by the Gods to teach her to be more hospitable to guests. What is being implied here is that the rules regarding hospitality always have consequences no matter who you are. This particular concept will be more apparent later on as I elaborate more on the various parallels in this paper.
How Is Hospitality Shown in “The Odyssey”? Odysseus Home vs. Poseidon’s Shipwreck
Unlike the previous parallel, where, in both cases, Odysseus had to spend a significant portion of time with both Circe and Calypso, Odysseus was able to get home through the Phaeacians’ help. The basis of this story lies in Poseidon’s destruction of the raft of Odysseus and his subsequent shipwreck on the island of Phaecians.
Once more, we can see the guest-host relationship wherein Nausicaa, the daughter of Alcinous, encounters Odysseus and encourages him to seek the hospitality of her father. Once again, we see the guest-host link at work wherein Odysseus is openly greeted by Alcinous and is treated rather well. Odysseus, on the other hand, similar to the cases of Calypso and Circe, once more plays the part of a guest who graciously receives the hospitality of Alcinous.
Unlike the cases involving Circe and Calypso, the culmination of the stay of Odysseus with the Phaeacians results in him being able to leave rather quickly for his home in Ithaca through their assistance. The reason behind this is connected to the concept of the guest-host relationship and the consequences behind the reception of hospitality. In the case of Circe and Calypso, both women did not want Odysseus to leave since they were both in love with him.
This presents a problem for Odysseus since he must also be receptive to the wishes of the host. As a result, his time in both cases gets extended beyond what he had initially planned for since he did not want to become an ungracious guest due to the possible repercussions this might bring him as a result of the guest-host concept.
While the Odyssey does take the concept of the guest-host relationship to an absolute extreme is does portray an accurate enough depiction of the idea utilized in ancient Greek society (Shaw & Bloom, 41). Thus, it is also considered one of the examples of hospitality in “The Odyssey.” It could be stated that the reason why Homer chose to depict the story of Odysseus in such a way was that he wanted to present his views regarding the system itself, which places an unnecessary burden on both the host and the guest (Shaw & Bloom, 41).
In the case of the Phaeacians, particularly Alcinous, after hearing the tale of the travels of Odysseus, it was the wish of the people present there to help him reach Ithaca. As a result, Odysseus complying once more with the concept of the guest-host relationship goes along with the wishes of the Phaeacians to help send him home.
In this particular case, it was the wish to help Odysseus by the Phaeacians that was the facilitating factor in enabling him to go home. It can be assumed that if the king wanted to keep Odysseus around instead of helping him go home, it can be expected that the time Odysseus spent away from home would have increased to a certain degree.
On the other half of this parallel is the case of Poseidon and Odysseus involving Poseidon’s antagonist attitude towards Odysseus involving the shipwreck before Odysseus was able to reach the Phaeacians. It must be noted that as God of the sea, the various seas that Odysseus traversed were, in fact, part of the home of Poseidon.
When he blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus, who also happened to be a son of Poseidon, this constituted a violation on the part of Odysseus towards the concept of the guest-host relationship, which inevitably caused him to be shipwrecked due to Poseidon’s wrath. From this, it is further emphasized that violations of the guest-host link can and will result in an ignominious end. The reason behind my emphasis on this particular concept can be seen in the parallelism involving Odysseus and the ill-tempered guests at this home.
Examples of Bad Hospitality in “The Odyssey”
In the conclusion of the Odyssey, we see Odysseus returning to Ithaca. However, instead of immediately presenting himself to his wife, Athena first disguises him as a beggar for him to evaluate what has happened to his home while he was away. The result of this action is that when he entered the home looking for food and shelter, he was immediately accosted by the various suitors who were there berating him, mocking him, and otherwise treating him in a deplorable manner.
What must be taken into account in this situation is that Odysseus himself is the master of the household that the guests are in. Even though they are unaware of it, treating him in such a manner goes entirely against the guest-host relationship. Another factor to consider is that in several parts of the Odyssey, it is shown that Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, has often asked the various suitors to leave. However, most of them stayed despite her wishes and even abused their privilege while staying at her house.
This instance shows another violation of the guest-host relationship wherein the guests do not follow the wishes of the host. Throughout the story, it is evident that one of the reasons why Odysseus took so long to reach Ithaca was because he adamantly tried to follow the guest-host relationship (Melisa et al., 1).
As mentioned earlier, violators of the guest-host relationship often wind up in an ignominious end. In this particular situation, all of the suitors at the house wound up dead. However, there is no punishment coming from the Gods for the actions of Odysseus. In fact, in some versions of the story, Athena herself intervenes to save Odysseus from the anger of the parents of the various suitors.
The reason behind this is the fact that the suitors themselves violated the guest-host relationship by not treating the host with respect and not following through with the host’s wishes, as such, this justifies their slaying.
In the other half of the parallelism, Penelope treated Odysseus, who looked like a beggar with a great deal of kindness and compassion following the tenets of the guest-host relationship. Earlier it was mentioned that the concept of openly receiving guests was because the Greeks thought that guests were a form of the test from the Gods because they never knew if the person that they were treating was a God in disguise (Steward & Bloom, 187).
Similar to the story of Baucis and Philemon, the disguised person, in this case, was not a God but Odysseus, but it was also a test similar to the case of Baucis and Philemon (Steward & Bloom, 187). The result was that Penelope was able to receive the reward, her husband being alive and well.
Works Cited
Grabarek, Daryl, Walter Minkel, and Patricia D. Lothrop. “Understanding The Odyssey A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents/A Companion to Homer’s Odyssey (Book).” School Library Journal 49.12 (n.d.): 96. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web.
Melisa, Cory et al. “The Value of Hospitality.” Why So Hospitable. Union.edu, N. A.:1. Web.
Shaw, Thomas., and Harold Bloom. “T. E. Shaw on Homer’s Temperament.” Bloom’s Notes Homer’s Odyssey (1988): 41-43. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web.
Stewart, Douglas J., and Harold Bloom. “The Disguised Guest.” Bloom’s Modern Critical Views: Homer (1986): 187-204. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web.
The Odyssey serves as an inspiration for further exploration of its characters, plots, and themes. The character of Telemachus, specifically, can be used to explore ideas of yearning, familial bonds, loss, and fatherlessness.
The Odyssey is among the greatest and most well-known pieces of literature that survived to this day. Combining in itself tragic partings and happy meetings, journeys of great strife and human folly, the piece still finds its relevance today. The most intriguing part of analyzing or discussing this work is that the Odyssey can be approached differently, depending on the intent and creative skills of an individual. While some scholars and literary critics choose to more closely examine the poem, others may engage with it in other ways. Specifically, derivative works based on the Odyssey are a great way to bring more light to the classics. Plot threads or ideas taken directly from the book can be found in writing, songs, art pieces, and even games. Alternatively, it is also possible to give existing characters new meaning, or engage them from a different perspective. One of the characters that can be interesting to examine in a more broad way is Telemachus. His journey to find his father, as well as his subsequent time spent with the man are well-suited for creative interpretation. For the purposes of this work, the poem Telemachus by Ocean Vuong will be compared and contrasted to the original Odyssey. The poem in question derives significantly from the source material, nevertheless being able to capture the core feelings one may have when reading about the young man’s struggles (Segal). It works well to tie in a sense of loss and longing for a father with Telemachus, allowing the reader to see the character more broadly.
In Homer’s most famous epic poem, “The Odyssey” there is certain facts that are obvious to the reader about the nature of a father – son relationship. For instance, that the structure and the organization of the Greeks was patriarchal (Caldwell 40). The men were highly respected especially those that were strong and courageous. Their sons were mostly prized too if they exhibited their father’s achievements and skills.
In Odyssey therefore, it is expected that the relationship of Odysseus and Telemachus is as admiring as it is; the father is proud of his son, who is courageous and the son is proud of his father who has earned a reputation as a warrior who defended his territory bravely.
However, it is surprisingly that distance earned the father – son affection. A son must earn his father’s respect and it is by leaving home and fighting his own battles that a son is able to achieve this. Through distance, a son and a father establish their share of beliefs and values but not through direct contact
The relationship
In the Odyssey, the father and the son spend most of their time apart and it is through distance that they developed admiration and love for each other. The physical distance between the father and the son is vital and cements their relationship. The father created the distance by being far from home for twenty years.
His son then decided to go on a journey and look for him. It is through this journey that Telemachus is able to prove his worth. Blazina says that there is unique bond between Odysseus and his son Telemachus “desired to connect all along” (285) and the distance strengthens this bond and proves their achievements.
Telemachus went and faced the king when he was enquiring on his father’s whereabouts as explained in the most important quotes from the Odyssey, “to see lord Menelaus…There face-to-face [to] implore father’s whereabouts” (Homer 52).
There is also the connection of emotion when the father and the son meet, “salt tears rose from the wells of longing in both men…./So helpless they cried pouring out tears” (Homer 268). The distance allowed the father and the son to develop a strong bond and feelings towards each other.
In respect to the distance that existed between the father and the son, Telemachus discovered his father in him. Through Telemachus victory, Odysseus saw himself in his son. There are some secrets, not pronounced in fathers that appear in their sons. The father is similar to his son and the vice versa is true. Some aspects and values that fathers and sons share define them.
These values are in The Odysseys by Homer to help shape father- son relationship. According to Homer there are characteristics, “that a son must be willing to do anything for his father, whether it is avenging him or keeping a secret for him (49).” Through these believes and values, the father and son establishes a solid relationship where every one looks after the other.
With this sense of responsibility to look after one another, the sons will always avenge their fathers from any humiliation. When Telemachus went enquiring from the king about his father the king told him of Orestes and what he did to the man who murdered his father. Nestor says, “… you’ve heard of Agamemnon – how he came… how Aigisthos waited to destroy him…paid a bitter price for it in the end… that is a good thing…a son behind him… (Homer 41).
According to Homer every man should have a son that would avenge for him when he his gone. A son should look at his father as his greatest father and uphold him in his highest esteem. The father on the other hand should protect his son from any harm. Odysseus would do anything to protect his son from any danger. He was gone for twenty years but when he returned Odysseus made sure that he protected his son.
He attacked all the suitors who disturbed his son saying, “You yellow dogs, you thought I’d never make it/you took my house to plunder…You dared bid for my wife while I was still alive…Your last hour has come. You die in blood” (Homer 410) He made sure that he put them to death because that what they deserved for disturbing his son.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the relationship between a father and his son is strong bond that cannot be broken. It is usually internal as expressed in the Odyssey. It is stipulated clearly that a father will go to any limits to protect his son and with the same measure; a son will protect his father.
However, the quality of this relationship is determined through the distance between the two. As aforementioned, a worth of a man develops by fighting and winning own battles. Odysseus won his battle just like Telemachus and each saw himself through the lenses of victory of the other and their relationship grew stronger every day.
Works Cited
Blazina, Chis. “Mythos and Men: Toward New Paradigms of Masculinity.” The Journal Of Men’s Studies 5.4 (1997): 285-294.
Caldwell, Richard. The Origin of the Gods: A Psychoanalytic Study of Greek Theogonic Myth, 1993. New York: Oxford University Press.
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. W. H. D. Rouse. New York: Signet Classics, 1999.
Lauded for their acts of courage, characters of ancient epic poems have become the staple of heroism. However, not only did the interpretation of heroism in the ancient world differ substantially from the current one, but also the distinction between core character traits was quite noticeable. The song of Roland is an example of an epic along with The Epic of Gilgamesh and Odyssey. The three characters share quite a range of similarities, including them having to face multiple challenges, as well as the extent of their confidence. Though all three belonging to the genre of an epic poem, Roland is significantly different from Gilgamesh and Odysseus due to his lack of cunning and wit that the other two characters use as their primary means of overcoming obstacles.
The emphasis on bravery and dignity in Roland represents a stark contrast to the characters of Odysseus and Gilgamesh. For instance, it is explicitly stated that Roland uses his courage to fight the challenges and manages to retain his dignity at all times: “It shall be Roland, my stepson; you have no baron so courageous as he” (The song of Roland, 1999, p. 16). The described decision stands in rather stark opposition to the fashion in which Gilgamesh and Odysseus managed challenges and overcame obstacles. Specifically, both are known primarily for their schemes as the means of fighting the enemy, the battle between Odysseus and the Cyclops being the most obvious example (The song of Roland, 1999). Therefore, Roland is a character that seems to be the most heroic. Arguably, the other two could be characterized as braver and, therefore, more heroic if their stories explicitly stated that they used their wits to overcome their fear. However, without the specified detail, form a present-day perspective, Roland seems to be the most heroic character of the three.
Though all three of the epic hero characters, namely, Roland, Gilgamesh, and Odysseus, represent the staple of a leading character in a heroic epic poem, Roland represents a deviation from the characters of Odysseus and Gilgamesh due to the focus on bravery and strength as opposed to cunning and wit. The described change signals a shift in the perception of heroism and its transition toward the idea of heroism as it is understood nowadays. Therefore, Roland as a character is vital in the evolution of heroic characters in epic narratives.
Female characters have played a central role in both Gilgamesh and Odyssey narratives. Both epics were written at a time when women in literature were only responsible for domestic duties and childbirth. However, the two tales assign significant roles to the female characters. The women in both epics include human females and goddesses. However, despite their differences in mortality, the female characters have been equally awarded power in various forms by the authors. This essay will discuss how the two narratives deal with women and power by highlighting the centrality of women in the epics. Additionally, the essay will compare and contrast how the two epics treat female characters.
Depiction of Women in the Gilgamesh Epic
Women’s power in the Gilgamesh epic is shown in their ability to influence men greatly. The two lead characters in Gilgamesh’s epic are the men of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Furthermore, women in the epic were neither considered the wisest or strongest humans nor the most powerful immortals. Still, they played a significant role and were given extraordinary power in various forms. The women in the story were represented as gods (Ishtar), wise (Ninsun), and harlots (Shamhat).
In particular, the women’s power in the story was shown in their ability to influence significantly men, who were depicted as the wisest and most powerful beings. For instance, the goddess Ishtar was shown as one of the most powerful gods, remarkably because she managed to successfully manipulate men, both humans, and gods, to do what she desired. For example, when her father denies her the Bull of Heaven, she knows how to make him change his mind by explaining, “I have heaped grain in the granaries for the people; I made grasses grow for the animals” (Mitchell, 109-110). Due to her ability to influence men, her father gave her the bull.
Additionally, women’s power was shown in their knowledge. The women were not rulers but used their knowledge to be helpful to others and carve a place for themselves in Mesopotamia. Some women got power by using their bodies to seduce men to gain control, such as Shamhat (Mitchell, 81). Other women gained knowledge and power by being housewives who got the essential information from their husbands at the right moments. For example, Ninsun gained favor from the king because she only spoke when spoken to and provided him with wisdom and knowledge.
Depiction of Women in the Odyssey Epic
The Odyssey epic shows the power of women in various guises, such as intelligence, resourcefulness, perseverance, beauty, savagery, innocence, seductiveness, wisdom, and dexterity. In Homer’s novel, no woman is shown as powerless, regardless of age or status. The female characters in the epic use their feminine attributes and skills to wield influence indirectly, such as through supernatural means. The power was often exercised consciously and lethally. The women in the story wielded their power to destroy or protect the Odysseus household. For example, the goddess Athena supported Odyssey and his family (Homer, 89). The witch Circe had a year-long dalliance with him (Homer, 135), Calypso the nymph kept him prisoner for seven years (Homer, 224), princess Nausicaa and her family helped him when he swam ashore (Homer, 337), and Penelope, his wife, who managed to deceive 108 suitors and kept her household together for twenty years while her husband was gone (Homer, 469).
Comparison of the Two Epics
In both narratives, beauty, grace, and attractiveness played a significant role in exemplifying the power of women in their society. Women were shown to use their beauty and elegance to perform two distinct roles: either to be the epitome of goodness and purity or to depict everything vile, harmful, and evil. In both stories, some women, such as Calypso, were categorized into the evil category with a temptress quality, while women such as Penelope and Ninsun exemplified goodness. Additionally, in both stories, women were depicted to have a significant influence on men. They were commanding, powerful, and competent, which helped them easily manipulate the men. While in Gilgamesh, Ishtar used her power to influence both human and immortal males, Athena, Calypso and Penelope were shown to influence the men in the Odyssey.
Conclusion
Even though both stories showed that women have power that gives them the ability to handle more than domestic duties in societies, they still depicted women as submissive with subtle mastery. Positively, the epics did an exemplary job of showing variations in women’s societal roles. Unfortunately, the women’s power in the stories was dependent on men. This implies that the women were only as strong as the men claimed them to be, or their power was determined by their ability to influence the men. Conclusively, women had to manipulate, seduce, or submit to men to acquire that power.
Works Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fagles. (1996). Viking Publishers.
Stephen Mitchell. Gilgamesh: a New English Version. (2004). New York: Free Press.