Was Odysseus wit-filled? Or, was he arrogance fuelled? Is it really as simple as good or bad...
Homer wrote an increidble piece of literature - The Odyssey, starring Odysseus. most people either love him or hate him... but before we dicuss yours truly, lets look at the genius behind the Epic Poem.
Homer remains an elusive figure. It is still undecided if the entirety of The Odyssey was written by Homer. Some believe that the last two books - 23 and 24 - were written later due to stylistic differences. Some are unsure if it was written by one man, as Homer is known to have been blind, or if it was a group of people; either are plausiable. Whether it was one storytelling old man, or a group of geniuses, an increidible piece of literature depicting the intricate lives of the intricatly woven society's from ancient Ithaca and Phonecia all whislt weaving in the myths and magic of the supernatural was created!
Now, I must admit, I really did not take to the Odyssey very quickly. I feel asleep through book 1 many times. Practicially criminal. However, once you know the characters, understand where you are and are able to interrogate the emotions of the characters an immersive world is opened up to you!
Cutting a 24 book story short, it details Odysseus' 20 year journey back from the Trojan War. It isn't chronological, and it did take me a couple of run throughs to work out what actually happened and when. But, if you're just reading it for fun not for study, you don't need to map it all out!
Odysseus encounters ship wrecks, Cyclops, Giants, Sirens, a dog with 6 heads who lives in a cave, a drug-lacing witch, a kidnapping nymph and over 100 men trying to marry his wife in his absence. He goes through a lot, to be fair to him! He loses many of his men in Tory, and even more on thier homeward journey. There is no wonder that he is upset...
HOWEVER... however, to what extent is the destruction on the way home his fault? Is it his arrogance that means it takes 10 years to get home, or is it out of his control?
BOTH! His arrogance hinders his journey at points. For example, in Book 10, he wants to stay with Circe as he gets too comfortable, and they stay for a year. That is an extra year that his wife Penelope has to unweave at night, and re-weave her tapestry (as she said she would marry one suitor when it's done... clever woman!) so that she can escape the suitors. Also, his crew open a bag of wind due to his arrogance - they are jealous of his over-zealous attitude when he is welcomed 'in every port' or so they say - and they are all blown away from Ithaca.
He goes on to kill 6 of his men with Scylla so that they don't all die in the whirlpool of Charybdis (seems selfish I suppose, but i'm not sure I would do it differently!?), and leaves his men after saying don't kill the cattle - spoiler, they kill the cattle and are punished by Helios.
But, is it really in his control? We know that within Greek Mythology, that the gods decide the fates of humans. In the Odyssey Athene - the goddess of wisdom and war - took a shine to Odysseus, and conseuqently helps and hinders his journey. After all, the favoured humans are just their playthings. She is responsible for not helping when he leaves Claypso in Book 5 and is shipwrecked (she can't help to be fair to her, as it is Poseidon's area in the sea... but the point still stands), she allows the suitors into the room of weapons in later books, and disguises Ithaca in Book 13 so that Odysseus doesn't know yet where he is. Zues allows him to leave Ogygia, and Ino saves him from drowning. Without this intervention he would not have been homeward bound. It is super important to remember that the god's favour is not a weakness, actually a sign of intelligence and excellence.
Athene particaully loves Odysseus' lies in Book 13, and when he disguses himself as a beggar in Book 17 and 18. Odysseus' excellent rhetoric skills are note-worthy in Book 6 with Nuaisciaa. There is this HILARIOUS scene when he arrives, and he is naked and only covering himself with a 'leafy bough' is how it is described! He supplicates to Nuasicaa by his speech of flattery which allows him safe passage to their palace. You can't say he is not smart...
There is a continual interwoven nature of the good and bad within Odysseus. He acts as 'everyman', meaning that he is relatable. Thus, he must have good and bad traits. I don't think that he is good or bad - I think he is a human who messes up (really bad at times) but ultimately does the best he can with what he's got!
Are you an Odysseus lover or hater
コメント