The Odyssey
By: Katherine Kovacich
Not What You Expect
When someone starts to read "The Odyssey" by Homer, they have no idea that it actually relates to us now, even though it was written 2,000 years ago. There is definitely more than meets the eye in this epic poem. In it's exciting journeys and battles, you can dig deep and find a more complex meaning than what you would expect.
Battle of Troy
Troy is the first place that Odysseus goes. He fights in the war and begins his journey home with his fleet of ships and men. Little does he know that the trip home will take 10 years! So therefore, his son, Telemachus, and his wife, Penelope, are left in Ithaca alone. Odysseus is gone during Telemachus's childhood, so he never really had a father. This shows that in most of The Odyssey, Telemachus has to grow up on his own and learn how to be a man from society, rather than his father. It was also very hard for Penelope because suitors were invading their home and trying to marry her the whole time Odysseus was gone. This shows the theme of marital fidelity because Penelope is loyal to Odysseus when he was gone for 20 years. So if he never left, their lives would be drastically different.
Ismarus & The Cicones
The second place Odysseus ends up is the land of Ismarus. The Cicones inhabit the land. When him and his men get on the island, they plundered the land and stole their belongings. They stayed on the island and the Cicones attacked them. This is an example of justice because Odysseus stole and destroyed their land, so they had their right to attack them back. This is also an example of Odysseus's poor leadership decisions because he didn't leave after they destroyed the land, which cost him the lives of some of his men. Because he lost his men, it will hamper him from returning home faster.
Land of the Lotus Eaters
Leaving Ismarus, Odysseus and his crew end up at the Land of the Lotus Eaters. The natives here are very welcoming to all of the foreginers and offer the men fruit of the lotus. The fruit intoxicated them and made them lose all though about there voyage home. Every man except Odysseus ate it. He finally got all of his men back on the ship by dragging them. This shows that Odysseus is not only physically strong, but mentally strong because he didn't have a negative attitude toward the situation. Throughout this epic poem, Odysseus is perceived as a very strong warrior, which shows in this situation.
Island of the Cyclops
His men and him sail all night and tumble upon the Land of the Cyclops (Polyphemus). All of them get off the ship and explore the land. They see a cavern and venture into it. Odysseus and his men snoop around for a while until Polyphemus finds them in his home. Odysseus asks for a gift because the Cyclops is their host, which is part of the code of hospitality. Polyphemus is furious so he eats two of the men...Odysseus and all the rest of the men are trapped. This shows that Odysseus sees potential in perilous situations, but it also shows a poor leadership decision again costing the lives of his men. They eventually find a way out and get on the ship to sail home. Homer uses very good imagery in this particular section and he tells the story so you really know what is going on.
The Underworld
On the ship, Odysseus kills his finest sheep to preform a ritual of talking to the dead. He gets the blood and puts it in the open so that dead souls can come drink it so they can talk to him. Odysseus talks to many different people, but the most important one has to be his mother, Anticleia. She explains to him that she died because she missed him so much. After she said this, he tried to hug her not one, not two, but three times. They both start crying and pouring out their emotions. Throughout the whole story, Odysseus has been this tough guy that is a warrior, but now the emotional side comes out of him. This shows not a theme, but that he is a dynamic character because he has changed from what he was in the beginning of the story.
Sirens
While Odysseus and his men are sailing back to Ithaca, they come across an obstacle; the Sirens. Circe gave specific instructions to him so that they can get past the sirens. As they were about to pass the island, Odysseus put beeswax in all of his mens' ears so they wouldn't be able to hear it. He ordered them to tie him to the mast so he wouldn't escape it. By doing this, it shows one of his better leadership decisions by following the rules and "taking one for the team". They successfully sail past the sirens thanks to Odysseus. Homer again uses imagery in this situation to make the reader see exactly what is happening.
Scylla & Charybdis
Just when they got past the Sirens, they come upon the Scylla and Charybdis. He cannot go through the middle of them, he has to pick which one to go through. If he picks Scylla, most men die except him. If he picks Charybdis, everyone dies, including Odysseus. Part of his human will, he picks Scylla. He rather have his men die than he die. The Scylla takes his men, puts them in a cave, and traps them so they can be it's meal for later. After it took the men, it allowed Odysseus to sail on and finally, after 20 long years, return home. Keep in mind that Penelope has never given up hope that Odysseus will return home, which shows their marital fidelity. Telemachus also hasn't given up hope which shows their very distant but present father and son relationship.
Home Sweet Home
After 20 years, Odysseus finally returns home. He has pretty much nothing left with him than a beat up ship. When he gets back, Athena disguises him as an old man, so that he can see how everything is without him being revealed. First, he proves to Telemachus that it is actually him. They hug, cry, and embrace each other. This shows how strong of a bond they have, even though they barely know each other. Odysseus and Telemachus keep it a secret the whole time that it is actually him. How easily they bond and work together after 20 years of being separated shows their father and son relationship to the fullest.
The Suitors
Then, they create an elaborate plan to get rid of the suitors that are invading their home and that are trying to steal Penelope. They do this and eventually kill all of the suitors, including Antinuous, one of the main suitors. When this event happens, Homer makes it all seem like its in slow motion, just like a movie would. It adds drama and emphasis on what has occurred. After this all happened, Penelope has a challenge to see who marries her. Odysseus ends up winning, but she doesn't know it is him because he is disguised. He proves to her that it is actually him by describing their bed and how the home was built around the main bedroom. After hearing this, they all cry tears of happiness, embrace each other, and live a happy life as a family again. In Greek culture, it is taught to not trust women. In this epic poem, it proves that women can be trusted because Penelope stayed loyal to Odysseus for 20 years.