In order to answer this question, you must first discern exactly what questions and expectations you've had throughout the reading process. And then you must decide whether the text (and possibly classroom discussions) provided the necessary answers and satisfaction.
Your comments will necessarily be quite personal in nature, but please don't neglect to include pertinent book.line references to help explain your questions and expectations, and to then show where and how closure was either granted or denied you. You might also include some thoughts on how the ending either surprised or disappointed you, if in fact that's how you feel. By the way, it's quite possible to have experienced a sense of closure but to still have some lingering questions. What are those, and how might the answering of those change your view of the text?
Again, kudos on digesting an enormous (and enormously important) Great Narrative Work.
After finishing The Odyssey, I do not feel an over-whelming sense of closure. While the epic clearly ended and the main characters experienced an end resolution to whatever issue they were facing in the story, I do not feel that the ending was enough to satisfy my needs for a full closure.
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of the story, Athena tells Laertes to “…brandish your long spear and wing it fast!” (484.572). But only a few paragraphs later, she says “Hold back, you men of Ithaca, back from brutal war! Break off – shed no more blood –make peace at one!” (485.584). These two statements are completely contradictory and cloud my process of closure. When Athena says to throw the spear, I am led to believe there is going to be an all-out war and I start to envision this and come to expect it. I am then let down when Athena calls for peace because all of the excitement and drama is now gone. Thus, I do not experience closure because of disappointment.
Although the ending of The Odyssey didn’t really leave me with any unanswered questions, I think it is important to address some “turning point” questions. If Athena wouldn’t have called for peace, what would have happened? Would Odysseus and Telemachus have been killed? Or would they have won the battle of the townspeople? What if Athena revealed herself to Telemachus in book 1 (83.209)? If Telemachus knew he was in the presence of a goddess all along, how would that have changed his outlook and mindset? How would that have affected the suitors’ mentality and behavior?
When asking “what if” questions like the ones above, it is much easier to find closure in the epic. You can re-write almost the entire story by editing events and changing the outcomes to suit your own personal needs of closure. Although you’re not closing out the actual text, the fact that you can answer any unanswered questions on your own is quite satisfying in the end.
Kaitlyn Smith
ReplyDeleteAfter finally finishing the Odyssey, I think that I have mainly experienced closure with the book despite a few lingering questions that I wish were somehow addressed.
One of the biggest questions that needed to be answered for me to have closure was how Penelope and Odysseus would reconcile upon meeting. This aspect of the book closed quite nicely in my opinion. I was surprised at how narrow-minded she was in the beginning of the meeting; however, once she opened up to him, we were able to see that they would be together. In Book 23, Penelope “felt her knees go slack, her heart surrender…flung her arms around his neck and kissed his head” after realizing that her husband was finally home (23.231,234). After debriefing her on all of his travels from the past ten years, Odysseus says to Penelope, “come, let’s go to bed, dear woman—at long last delight in sleep, delight in each other, come!” (23.289-290). This ensures us that although they have been separated for the past twenty years, they have the strength to stay together and still be a family despite Odysseus’ endeavors.
What was going to happen to the suitors was another question that needed to be answered for me to find closure in the book. I also thought this was covered thoroughly and left no room to wonder what else was to happen. In Book 22, the brawl between the suitors and Odysseus had finally begun and is vividly described with the narrator stating, “the attackers routed suitors headlong down the hall, wheeling into the slaughter, slashing left and right and grisly screams broke from skills cracked open—the whole floor awash with blood (22.321-324). Later, we learn that every suitor is killed and even some of the maids and servants that had been unfaithful to Odysseus were slaughtered. This fulfills the prophecy many people had throughout the book that Odysseus would come back and kill all of the suitors that had been courting Penelope.
As for the lingering questions, I wonder when Odysseus will have to leave again and how long he will be gone. He states to Penelope in Book 23, “We have still not reached the end of all our trials. One more labor lies in store—boundless, laden with danger, great and long, and I must brave it out from start to finish,” (23.282-286). I wish the book went into more detail about this voyage and how much longer Odysseus and Penelope will have to be apart as a result.
Overall, the book in my opinion concluded itself quite well. While I wish I had an answer for smaller aspects of the book, the biggest questions I had throughout the book and that were raised while in class were all answered in a way that gave me closure.
Honestly, I was not in any way, shape, or form excited to read The Odyssey. I had read some excerpts from this book in high school and did not understand or appreciate it. Now that we have finished reading this novel, my former criticisms have dissipated. I now see The Odyssey in a new light. At first, I questioned many things in this book. I was unsure of who Odysseus really was. I asked myself,” is he a hero, a god-like man, or just an unfaithful husband?” I was also curious to see how Penelope would handle her suitors. Since reading, these questions have been answered. In the beginning, people described Odysseus in numerous ways such as, "mastermind of battle" (1.193), "godlike" (1.260), "hero" (3.159, 173), and "excels all men in wisdom" (1.79). After reading things like this, I pictured Odysseus to be a God who was always kind and never made mistakes. However, after reading further, I discovered Odysseus’ infidelity to his wife Penelope and his apparent arrogance. For example, after his ship crashed at sea, he received help from the Goddess Ino, but replied to her, "No, here's what I'll do, it's what seems best to me" (5.397). Now that all is said and done, I have seen many sides of Odysseus and discovered that he is just a human being, and while he is god-like, he has his faults as well. Penelope’s struggle in dealing with her many suitors was a difficult one. I imagined being in her shoes and wondering how I would feel and how I would choose to handle the situation. Penelope proved to be a very intelligent and cunning, but above all the qualities she had, she was hopelessly and irrevocably in love. She kept her suitors at bay with crafty plan where she tells the suitors that she will choose a husband from among them as soon as she has finished weaving a shroud for her dead father. All day she weaves and every night she secretly unpicks the shroud and has to start again. “She set up a great loom in the royal halls and she began to weave, and the weaving finespun, the yarns endless, and she would lead us on” (24.140-142). Now that The Odyssey has come to an end, I feel as though I got a sense of closure. I did have questions throughout the text but through class discussions they have all been answered. I am happy to have known how Penelope and Odysseys were reunited and I am thrilled to know that the suitors got what they deserved. But what really made the ending for me, was when Odysseus listened to Athena when she told him what to do. It showed the sense of growth and respect Odysseus has developed through his journey and brought the book to a worthy end. ”Royal son of Laertes, Odysseus, master of exploits, hold back now!...So she commanded. He obeyed her, glad at heart” (24.595-598).
ReplyDeleteThere were 3 main questions I wanted answered in some shape or form by the end of the book. My first question was-would Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus even act like family (if and when they were reunited). Second, would Penelope wait for Odysseus to return or would she marry one of the suitors. By the end of the book I was wondering if Odysseus, Telemachus, and the two herders would all make it out of the battle with the suitors alive.
ReplyDelete458.95-110: Penelope is hesitant to believe if this beggar is her husband. “With that thought Penelope started down from her lofty room, her heart in turmoil, torn…should she keep her distance, probe her husband?” This paragraph describes Penelope wavering if she should run up to who seems to be Odysseus. 458.111-118: Telemachus steps up into conversation begging his mother to believe it is her husband, he wants to see his mother and father reunites. “Cruel mother, you with your hard heart! Why do you spurn my father so—why don’t you sit beside him, engage him, ask him questions?” 459.128-132: Odysseus tells telemachus to wait because Penelope will soon realize it is him. This whole scene depicts that Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus act like a family—they care for one another and want what is best.
462.230-258: Penelope runs and reunites herself with her husband and does not marry an icky, dirty suitor!
453.480: The fight is over, Odysseus orders Telemachus and the two herders to help clean up and then kill the unfaithful women.
My three main questions were answered, and overall I am satisfied and having a feeling of closure. I wish there was more detail on Odysseus leaving again, but that is the only other thing I wonder. Maybe it’s fun to not have every question answered?
For the most part, I do feel a sense of closure because most of my questions were answered with the exception of one. The Odyssey felt complete even though my one question was not answered.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main questions I had was concerning Penelope and Odysseus and how their long awaited reunion would go. Book 23 answered this question. I liked how Penelope did not just run into Odysseus’s arms but instead she tested him to ensure that he was not a fraud. After Telemachus called her stubborn for not greeted his father warmly she stated, “ But if he truly is Odysseus, home at last, make no mistake we two will know each other, even better- we two have secret signs, known to us both and hidden from the world” (459:121-125). The sign is their bed and how it was made and what of. Besides them only one other person had seen the bed, a maid of Penelope’s. After he had proved he was who he says he was, then she ran into his arms. Penelope’s cautiousness with Odysseus showed her cunningness she had in the beginning of the book with the weaving. The book also showed that this cunningness is one of the things Odysseus’s admires about her. When he is dressed as a beggar, Penelope addresses the suitors and is tricking them into giving her gifts. “Staunch Odysseus glowed with joy to hear all this- his wife’s trickery luring gifts from her suitors now” (384:316-317). So I would expect nothing less of Penelope when it came to reuniting with her husband.
Another question I had was how Odysseus was going to take on all the suitors and deal with the unloyal maids. He gets the cowherd, swineherd, and maid, Eurycleia, on his side once he knew they were faithful by showing off “This scar where a boar’s white tusk gored me years ago” (431:244-245). Eurycleia help make sure the women stayed away while Odysseus, Telemachus, swineherd and cowherd killed all the suitors with the help of Athena, who was disguised as Mentor. After all the suitors had died, Eurycleia then reported on the unfaithful maids, who Odysseus had Telemachus kill. So with all the suitors dead, I wondered how the families of the suitors react to Odysseus’s slaughter of their sons. Most of the men want to “punish the murderers of [their] brothers and sons” (481:480). With this they set out to kill Odysseus, but Athena brings peace to both groups, and this ends the story.
The only question I have remaining is the journey that Odysseus needs to go on in order to die at an old age. Odysseus tells about the journey the prophet Tiresias told him about. Penelope was not too upset by this and says “there’s hope that we’ll escape our trials at last” (465:328). Even though the Odyssey never tells when the journey will take place or how it happens, I still feel a sense of closure because the book was about how Odysseus returns home and what happens with the suitors. So now that everything is peaceful, I feel the story is over and I have closure.
I would say that I have a feeling of closure after the book, but it may be different then other people. In high school we had to read a small section of the book, and then we watched the movie. This means that I already knew how it would end and I did not have as many questions to ask during the book. However, the book does go into much greater detail then the movie, so there was still some room for questions.
ReplyDeleteMany questions such as how would Odysseus' family receieve him after being gone for 20 years were in fact answered. We saw how Telemachus and Penelope receieved him, (Tel 16.212, Pen 23.204-232) We see that they are both very apprehensive at first (Penelope much more then Tel) but eventually come around.
Another question I had was how would Odysseus "dispose" of all the suitors, would he go at it alone? We found out earlier in the book that Athena had told him that she would help, but we were enver sure how she would do it. But we saw that not only did they fight, but Telemachus, Mendos, and Phemius all fought beside them.
However, there a few lingering questions that I have. One of them is how the suitors and Agemenmon will get along in the House of the Dead. We see a small interaction between them (23.211-223)
The other big question I have is about the other trial that Odysseus has to go on. It was mentioned a few times in the book, and Odysseus even mentions it to Penelope (23.282) He has to go to where people have never seen ships and plant an oar and make sacaficies to Poseidon to try to get his favor again. However with the ending of this book, we never see this happen. Does Odysseus go on it? Does he live?
And my very last question is from the very end of the book. Athena is trying to stop the war between Odysseus and his side, and the Fathers/brothers of the suitors. She does succeed as the brothers/fathers leave, and Odysseus even puts down his own sword, but is that the last that he would see of her?(24.600) Does Athena continue with helping Odysseus out for the rest of his life?
And the ending to me seemed natural. It felt like the book should have came to the end that it did (besides ignoring the fact that Odysseus last journey was not in it). Throughout the whole book we saw tention, people coming close to killing, close to marrying, people always on the edge of something so it only seems logical to me that the book would end with another event that ALMOST happened.
Though The Odyssey did not end with “And they lived happily ever after,” I did feel a pleased sense of closure that was experienced through a number of different scenes and encounters in the story. My main needs for this closure centered on three different matters: Odysseus’ reunion with Penelope, the possibility that he would reunite with his hermit-like father, and how Ithaca would respond to the slaughter of the suitors. For me, these questions were all answered in the final two chapters of the book.
ReplyDeleteThough I was expecting (and desperately hoping for) a fast embrace between Odysseus and Penelope followed by declarations of love and endless devotion, I was a bit disappointed by the fact that Odysseus, upon seeing his wife, decided to finish conspiring with Telemachus before explaining himself to her (23.126-133). I understand that the proclaimed “master of tactics” must always be on his A-game before attending to the fickle matters of the heart, I was pleased once “he wept as he held the wife he loved, the soul of loyalty, in his arms at last” (23.159-261). This reunion, though short in comparison to other scenes, fulfilled my first need for closure admirably.
The relationship between parent and child is one that I put at the forefront of my needs for closure in all books; thus, I was ultimately satisfied with the interaction between Odysseus and Laertes, though I did not enjoy how Odysseus tricked his father. Laertes is an elderly man who mourned the absence of his son and for Odysseus to decide to test his father before revealing himself makes him seem insensitive. However, for Odysseus, a few more minutes of waiting for a heartwarming reunion is small in comparison to the twenty years he has been gone from Ithaca. After Odysseus’ torture of his father, I received my second bout of closure once “he threw his arms around his dear son, fainting as hardy great Odysseus hugged him to his heart...” (24.386-387).
Ithaca’s response to the murder of the suitors was one that I had been expecting to be overwhelmingly negative. Those robust men were loved by their families and represented the worthy stock that deserved the hand of the queen in marriage. The families wanted to believe the best in their boys and the majority refused to believe Halitherses, who proclaimed, “thanks to your own craven hearts these things were done” (24.502). He continues to accuse their children of the acts they committed and that pleased me to have that thrown back into their faces. All the same, to have them all murdered at the hands of the old king had to have been a great shock and I wouldn’t have been surprised if everyone, not just most, refused his right to rule and attempted to usurp his throne. I was expecting another great showdown between the two sides, but Athena stepped in one last time to fulfill her plan. At the rush of excitement at the end of book when “Goddess Athena rushed to his side, eyes ablaze,” I felt the finale creeping in and thoroughly enjoyed the last few lines of the story (24.569).
Perhaps my feeling of closure was also due to the fact that I had not considered the possibility that we would be subjected to Tiresias’ entire prophesy. I believe that The Odyssey ended at an excellent spot with the idea of the next leg of Odysseus’ journey on the horizon. As much as I am curious about his struggles along the next next voyage, this tale is about one man’s journey home and, now that he has returned, I wasn’t prepared to see him off again.
After finishing the Odyssey, I feel only a bit of closure. I am content with the story line I got between Penelope, Telemachus, and Odysseus but due to the fact that they finished the story with Odysseus and his father Laertes, I feel a sense of emptiness.
ReplyDeleteWith the story of Odysseus family, we get to see Telemachus fight with his noble father against the suitor. We also got to see Penelope feel “her knees go slack” (23.231) and “her heart surrender” (23.231) at the acknowledgement that it was truly her Odysseus. After all these events, the family wrapped up nicely by having a nice night together at the palace.
When Odysseus goes to reunite with his father and fights in a battle with Telemachus that is ended abruptly by Athena. I know that there could be more to this ending than just that. Did the pact between the two last? Or did a battle break out after a series of time? I just wish the narrator could have said something past Athena breaking up the battle.
All in all, I think this book was rather interesting. As someone who does not like to read and finds it hard to get in to a novel, this book had a lot of different types of stories, and brought out several types of emotions as you were reading.
After finishing the Odyssey, and making a decent attempt to analyze everything held in its 485 pages, I would say that I am satisfied but not necessarily content with the ending. At the beginning of this reading adventure, I considered questions such as what will happen to Telemachus on his adventure, how will Odysseus make it back to Ithaca, does Odysseus really want to return to Penelope, and what will happen to those sniveling suitors. The loose ends from the beginning of the book have been tied up and tucked away, which has given me satisfaction and closure, but the events that arise towards the middle and end of the novel have opened up a whole new can of worms.
ReplyDeleteThe last two books could probably even start a whole new epic poem in themselves. An abrupt ending could have come after Odysseus and crew had slaughtered the suitors. Although the reunion with Penelope would be nixed, a whole new set of questions wouldn’t erupt over how the Penelope/Odysseus relationship will be affected, why everyone feels the need to test each other upon reunion, when Odysseus will ship off on his new adventure, and why Athena chose to remain disguised till the very end. Perhaps the last bit is what bothers me the most – Athena has gained all of this mighty power and leeway from Zeus, she has the ability to play elite puppeteer to keep the suitor slaughter on track, and she can stop the townsmen from killing off Odysseus and crew, she “handed down her pacts of peace between both sides for all the years to come . . . but the goddess still kept Mentor’s build and voice.” (24.599-603) This choice of ending just makes me curious; it makes me want another chapter or two to maybe set all of that straight and set Odysseus on his next adventure.
Overall I will say that this book has given me closure – I now know that Odysseus made it home, he still loves his wife, Telemachus has become a decent man, and Athena has morphed into this powerful commanding woman. These answers to my initial questions make me satisfied. I think that I was almost hoping that the story would continue up until Odysseus is sailing off into the bright morning surf (or some similar Hollywood ending) – so I am not completely content. I want a little bit more but alas, I shall just try to take Odysseus’ advice: “Our lives, our mood and mind as we pass across the earth, turn as the days turn . . . just take in peace what gifts the gods will send.” (18.156-157,163)
Though I am happy we have finished The Odyssey and I feel that it was a great tale, I also feel like the end of it was kind of a letdown. I was hoping for more closure from Penelope and Odysseus, the suitor’s family’s conflict, and Odysseus’ future journey. It seems like there was so much build up to the couple’s reunion, the suitor’s deaths and repercussions, and the looming journey, that the superficial ending wasn’t really enough for me. However the part of the ending that concerned me the most was Odysseus and Penelope’s reunion.
ReplyDeleteWith Penelope and Odysseus’ reunion I was surprised at first that Penelope really didn’t believe that her husband had come home. She didn’t want to listen to Eurycleia and only went from her room to see what happened to the suitors. If I was in Penelope’s position and someone who intimately knew my husband told me that he had returned home after so many years I would run to him; even if it would have turned out not to be him after all. I think waiting so long would create so much excitement that I wouldn’t be able to argue it or hold it back. However she did show some contemplation which I could relate to in Book 23 she wondered “should she keep her distance, probe her husband? Or rush up to the man at once and kiss his head and cling to both his hands?” (lines 97-99). I like that Telemachus points out Penelope’s withdrawnness; it’s like he is expressing what the reader is thinking. But then the suspense of the couple is put on pause after Odysseus and Telemachus make plans for how they will deal with the repercussions of the suitor’s deaths. Which is either clever because it creates a build up for Penelope’s response to Odysseus or confusing because it detracts from the moment.
But when Odysseus returns to Penelope and she tests him with the moving of their bedstead, it is pretty clever of her. And when he gives her the response that recognizes him as her husband she gives him the reaction that we were hoping for: a tearful, loving reunion. However I was let down again over the fact that when Odysseus was recounting his tales he seems to pass over his affection for Circe only stating that “he told her of Circe’s cunning magic wiles” on line 366 but then says “He told how he reached Ogygia’s shores and the nymph Calypso held him back, deep in her arching caverns, craving him for a husband- cherished him, vowed to make him immortal, ageless, all his days, yes but she never won the heart inside him, never…” (Lines 376-380). So it seems to me that Odysseus is just telling Penelope what she would want to hear, that there was nothing really there emotionally with Circe and that even though he was promised so many great things with Calypso he still held true to Penelope. Which made me upset because he is basically lying to Penelope and if she knew the complete true would she still want to be with him or feel so happy about his return? So I guess the incomplete truth from Odysseus is what made the reunion a letdown. I wanted him to give more details and know more of Penelope’s reaction.
I’ll have to admit that when I saw that we were going to read The Odyssey, my heart sank, and I was a little bit discouraged. I had “read” The Odyssey in High School, and when I mean “read”, I used Spark notes and asked my friends, but I was definitely not interested in the book at that time. Now it feels good to say, that though I didn’t understand everything, our class discussions helped and I actually appreciate this book more than I thought I would. My expectations were low starting this book, but it actually turned out to be better than I had originally thought.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I did get some closure in the book with the ending that Odysseus is back home in Ithaca, but I still have questions that either I missed in the book being answered or they really have been unanswered. My first thoughts as the book ends is what is it that Odysseus has to do now that he is back home and has successfully killed the suitors and been given peace by the gods between his people and his kingdom? On page 463, Odysseus tells Penelope that they still have more trials in their life, as he is to travel to towns upon towns until another traveler meets up with him. He is then supposed to sacrifice fine beasts to Poseidon and travel home after that to die an old man in peace (463.282-290, 464.306-325). I wonder, although still unsure, if this prophecy is to describe Odysseus’ actual journey home to Ithaca the first time? On his trip from Calypso’s Island he came upon the Phaeacian’s (Book 7) who think they far exceed the world in everything possible (194.119-121) and they also set him up with a ship and crew to find his way home (192.39-41). The struggles he faces with the suitors (Book 22), and the fine beasts that he sacrifices to Poseidon; could those be the bodies of the suitors? And in the last book, (482.483-484) the Town’s people are planning to attack Odysseus and get revenge, but Athena steps in and demands “pacts of peace for both sides for all the years to come—“ (485.599-602). So is the prophecy really for the sake of leaving Ithaca and traveling for Odysseus, or is it his initial journey home to Ithaca and living out his life where he belongs?
Another question that I felt went unanswered started in Book 14. “And you replied, Eumaeus, loyal swineherd,” (303.63). We know as readers that there is a narrator through-out the book, but who is the narrator and why does he only speak to Eumaeus? When we discussed this in class I got the inclination that possibly Odysseus is narrating these specific parts re-telling the story to Eumaeus. In Book 14 alone, the narrator says those words 5 times (303.63, 306.192, 313.408, 315.502, and 317.574). I felt that Odysseus was narrating here because of the words he used to describe Eumaeus and the way Odysseus described “the stranger” that he was posing to be when speaking to Eumaeus. This happens a few more times in the following chapters that Eumaeus is spoken to that way, so in those moments, does the narrator change to Odysseus and then back to the original narrator (whoever that may be?), or does the narrator stay the same and specifically talk to Eumaeus for reasons unknown to the reader?
These questions didn’t change my entire outlook on the ending of the book, which was that I actually enjoyed the reading. I did feel that classroom discussion was very helpful as it posed me to ask myself questions about the reading and also gave me new perspective to parts of the book that I had missed while reading. Overall, I am glad that I had the chance to re-read The Odyssey and honestly find a new appreciation for a book that I sincerely dreaded reading when it was assigned. I enjoyed this translation as well as it was much easier to understand!
I have read the Odyssey before this class, so I knew how it had ended, which left me with few surprises. However, it has been a while since I read it, so I had forgotten a few points and characters from the story. Pretty much, my questions arose periodically throughout the story, and then were answered with only a few that were not. Overall, I got a sense of closeure. The suitors were all killed, Penelope and Odysseus get back together, and Telemachus grows up to be a man.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there were a few questions that were not answered that seemed to hinder the complete closure. One of those questions was in trying to figure out who the seer Theoclymenus was. He popped in from nowhere and seemed to be an important figure, but he really had nothing to do with the rest of the story, except to tell Penelope and Telemachus that Odysseus was near at hand.
A second thing that seemed to hinder the complete closure was the ending of the tale itself. It looks like it was just cut off and should have another 50 to 100 lines in it. Also, the prophecy that Odysseus received from the seer Tiresias about how Odysseus must make another journey after getting home, as well as his promises to sacrifice to those that were dead (11.32-38, 136-152) makes me think that there are another couple of books that we are missing. However, for me these are not major issues. The main questions and expectations that I had were answered, which gave me a overall sense of closure. I cannot wait for the movie to be made of this story!
Now that we have reached the end of the story, I dont necessarily really feel like I got a sense of closure. I feel like some of my questions got answered but there was one question that was still unanswered, would Odysseus really die like the prediction of Theoclymenus? For me, I thought that that would be how the story would end.
ReplyDeleteHowever, instead there was a great battle between the suitors and the herdsman, shepman, Odysseus, and Telemachus; which was a great visual for the story. The battle scence did not leave me with a whole lot of closure however. For instance, in the end when Athena goes with the men into town to find Larates, they begin to fight and i am waiting for an all out battle but then Athena calls peace (485. 584). But two minutes earlier she told Larates to pray to Zeus and throw his spear (484. 568). I just find that confusing and it does not really help with me visualizing an end to the story. Athena calls peace, but I was waiting for Odysseus to sail again and then face death like Theoclymenus predicted. I thought that he would leave Ithica. I think that it was nice that he found peace in Ithica but it did not really seem like the story would end that way. I thought that with this story it would end with a great battle, like it was leading up to.
However, I thought that the reunion between Penelope and Odysseus was well written. The reunion did not start out quite the way that I envisioned it. I thought that she would come out of her chamber and jump into his arms. On the contrary, she just kind of sat there across from him almost like she was going to interigate him. It wasnt until he was bathed and Athena changed him back that she reacted the way i thought she would all along, but I think that it made it for an interesting story line.
Overall, I thought that the story answered most of the questions that I had throughout the story but I cant say that I really was left with a strong sense of closure. For me, I think that i am still left with the question of, what would have happened if Athena wasnt there in the end to call peace? Would Odysseus and the other men fought and would have Odysseus gone and sailed like the prophet said? Although, I do have to say, that this is the first time that i read through the entire book of the Odyssey and I really enjoyed it.
I think that I do have a sense of closure from the book. I honestly don’t feel like there were unfinished ends, even though there are a few, and I feel satisfied with the ending. I believe that my main questions that I had of the book were; Does Odysseus get home?, How does Penelope, and the rest of the town react?, and What happens to the suitors?. Obviously Odysseus does arrive home, we find that out relatively early in the book, and that answered my main concern of the book in a simple yes no format. Knowing that Penelope was at first distrusting of Odysseus and then realizes it was him and is overjoyed “so joyous now to her the sight of her husband” (23.269) completely satisfied that question. That is exactly what I expected her to do and is the same thing I would have done myself in that situation. However, we do not find out that much about how the town receives Odysseus. We only really hear from the suitor’s families who want revenge, but all in al I think that still was enough answer to my question of what they think. We hear a little more from them when they are criticizing Penelope for getting ‘married’ again. I guess even with that question unanswered I still feel satisfied, perhaps because it wasn’t that important to me and I had a little bit of an answer. The question of the fate of the suitors was an easy answer as well. They all were slaughtered expect for two servants that were honest. Fair enough. That is what I expected to happen to them, as it was foreshadowed earlier in the book, and I also wanted it to happen to them. The ending of the book overall felt a little bit boring to me; I am glad they had peace in the town but I found myself thinking ‘wrap it up already’. After all my questions were answered the book seemed to drag on. I guess that’s because I had my closure.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading and finishing The Odyssey I didn’t necessarily get that feeling of complete closure. The three main questions I had and wanted answered toward the end of the book were: 1.What was Telemachus and Odysseus’ first father and son going to be like? 2. What was Odysseus and Penelope’s scene of being reunited going to be like? Are truths about their time apart going to be told, and if so, was there going to be any arguments? 3. What was going to happen when Odysseus finally comes out of disguise to all of the suitors?
ReplyDeleteIn the scene where Odysseus sees his son for the first time, I was a bit surprised how it happened. I was expecting Odysseus to come undisguised to his son immediately with open arms and greet him with tears and open arms but it didn’t exactly happen this way. Instead Odysseus is hiding in the background disguised and Eumaeus and Telemachus seem to have what I thought should have been Odysseus and Telemachus’ moment as it states here “As a father, brimming with love, welcomes home his darling only son in a warm embrace-what pain he’s borne for him and him alone!-home now, in the tenth year far abroad, so the loyal swineherd hugged the beaming prince, he clung for dear life, covering him with kisses, yes, like one escaped from death. Eumaeus wept and sobbed, his words flew from the heart: “You’re home, Telemachus, sweet light of my eyes! I never thought I’d see you again…” (339.20-28). I expected more closure with the two of them sooner when I read this scene in the book.
My second question that had seemed the most important to me was how the first time Odysseus reveals himself to Penelope was going to play out. I was surprised by how unexcited Penelope was at first when she was told Odysseus had finally returned home. She was very suspicious of his return and didn’t seem to believe that it was actually him until she had complete proof. She didn’t have faith in him at all until she tests him by saying “move the sturdy bedstead out of our bridal chamber-that room the master built with his own hands”(23.198-200). Knowing that the bed cannot be moved, she tests him and needs some sort of proof. I found this interesting. I expected her to be more trusting of her maids and son. I did find closure when Odysseus and Penelope shared everything that had happened to them in the years that they had been away from each other. I had hoped that this would happen and Penelope would find out everything, especially about Circe and Calypso which she does when the book says “He told her of Circe’s cunning magic wiles”(23.365) and “He told how he reached Ogygia’s shores and the nymph Calypso held him back, deep in her caverns, craving him for a husband-cherished him, vowed to make him immortal , ageless all his days,”(23.376-379). The only thing that upset me about this and made me feel less closure was the fact that it didn’t say whether or not he told about how he slept with these women or how it didn’t tell of Penelope questioning Odysseus anymore about it. They simply went to bed and nothing else was said of the conversations they had. I found this disappointing.
Lastly, I want to discuss the final question I had which was about the suitors and whether they were going to get what was coming to them or not? I was very happy with how this played out, even though it was a bit more gruesome and bloody then I would have liked to read about. I couldn’t wait to find out about what was going to happen when Odysseus finally unveils himself to the suitors who had been humiliating him in his own kingdom. When book 22 reads, “Odysseus scanned his house to see if any man still sulked alive, still hoped to avoid black death, But he found them one and all in blood and dust…” as bloody and gory as it was I was very satisfied with this whole war of the book, because it seemed as if everything was right and the way it should have been. The hero’s and underdogs had one and the suitors and sinners had gotten what was coming to them.
I also have read the book before ,so I knew how it was going to end. However that was in high school, and like most of the other students I was forced to read. So I really only paid attention to the main events and what we were going to be quizzed over. This time around I was able to focus on everything else going on in the book because I already knew what was going to happen. After finishing the book this time I have an overall sense of closure. But I am left with a couple questions.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned above, the character Theoclymenus is somewhat mysterious to me. I felt like he should have had more importance in the story because he just appeared near the end. All he really contributed to the story was the propechy for the suitors (421-422. 391-398). Would the story have drastically changed if he was not in it? Or is there something missing from the story?
Another question I thought about throughout book was how would the town react to Odysseus' return? Book 24, pages 481-482, describes how the suitors' families react to the slaughter, but what about everyone else? That was exactly how I expected the families of the suitors to react, but it never goes into detail about the rest of the townspeople. Would they welcome him back with open arms? Or would they be hesitant to accept him, much like Penelope did at first?
A question also emerged for me at the very end of the story. It was actually quite suprising to me. Odysseus travels to his father's farm in book 24. When Dolius, a servant at the farm, returns he greets Odysseus. "Spreading his arms, Dolius rushes up to him, clutched Odysseus by the wrist and kissed his hand, greeting his king now with a burst of winging words..." (480. 441-443). Throughout the novel I had been making a list of all the characters, who they were and how they were related to each other. Dolius is the father of Melantho and Melanthius. Melantho was a servant that was also one of the lovers of a suitor. Melanthius was the goatsherdman that mocked Odysseus, disguised as the beggar. I thought it was interesting at the end of the novel when the suitors' families go to fight Odysseus, Dolius is fighting on his side. Did Dolius not know that his daughter and son were killed by him? Did the news not get to him yet because he was out? Or did he not support his children and stayed loyal to his king?
After reading the story, I do feel like the end of the book just left me hanging. In Book 23 Odysseus tells Penelope “We have still not reached the end of all our trials. One more labor lies in store— boundless, laden with danger, great and long, and I must brave it out from start to finish” (23. 282-286). What does that mean? When is this going to happen? How will this affect his family and Ithaca? I also felt like the last fighting scene, in book 24, between Odysseus and this suitors' families was cut short. Ahtena gives Laertes strength to kill Eupithes, but then decides to call a truce. Was she seeking her own revenge on Eupithes? She obviously can control who gets killed and who doesn't, just as she did in book 22 during the slaughter. So why not fight? These questions do not cause any problems for my sense of closure. They just made me think about what would have come next if the story continued.
Overall, I had my questions answered and I feel like I have closure. Odysseus is home, alive, with his family. Penelope and Laertes can now be happy because Odysseus is home. Telemachus has grown into a man. Athena has gotten everything she wanted from Zeus. The suitors got what was coming to them. Only good things are to come for Ithaca. And I really enjoyed reading the story, much more so since I wasn't being forced to read it.
Personally, I got a strong sense of closure out of The Odyssey. Many of the questions I had regarding the plot and the characters were answered at the ending. Though, with solutions to many of these questions, some remained unanswered.
ReplyDeleteThe main question i had at the start was about the trials and ordeals Odysseus suffered through to get home, which was answered when Odysseus finally made it to his homeland Another question I had while reading was what would happen to the suitors, which was thoroughly answered in book 22. And finally, the last predominate question I had while reading was how would Penelope respond to Odysseus' return. The answer to this question was the most interesting to me. At first, when Eurycleia informed Penelope that Odysseus had returned, she responded with "Dear old nurse, the gods have made you mad...It's only your old gray head that spares you that." (455-456. 11-26) I found it interesting that Penelope was so against the thought that Odysseus had returned. But once Odysseus had passed her test, their reunion provided much cloture at this point in The Odyssey.
There are, however, some questions that still remain for me. The most pressing concern is what will happen to Odysseus on his next "odyssey," and where exactly is he meant to go? And Odysseus says, "At last my own death will steal upon me." (464. 321) Did this mean that he would die upon completing the journey Tiresias said he must complete?
Other than these few lingering questions, I felt a strong sense of cloture upon the completion of The Odyssey. Though some questions remained unanswered, that is not necessarily a bad thing. It leaves the imagination open to consider examining the events and characters of the story.
It took quite a while for me to become engaged in the text-- I honestly wasn't captivated to the point where I no longer paid attention to how many pages I had left to read until I reached the last book. And then, oh then; I finished the last sentence with an expression of "And? What next?!" It's the sort of feeling I get when the credits of a movie start rolling too soon.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of closure I experienced was due to a few different things. I had my question concerning plot, of course. For a while, since the scene in the House of Death (11.138-156) to be precise, I have wondered how this last adventure of Odysseus would enfold. Would he leave immediately, and die soon after his second return, only to have given Penelope a day or two of respite from her grief? The mention of the journey in the House of Death does not go unremarked upon by Odysseus. He tells of his fated journey when revealing all his experiences to Penelope after she accepts his return as truth (23.282-287; 304-325). Yet the last book ends without addressing this prophecy further. So my question goes unanswered!
The other complaint I had was not necessarily one of plot, but of underlying theme. As this was to be seen as something of a 'coming-of-age' for Telemachus (as discussed in class), I expected people's view of him to change significantly. Throughout the entire text, he is referred to as "dear boy" (16.28), "child" (19.22), and the like. I thought, then, perhaps by the close of the last book, he would be referred to as a "man" at least once--yet he wasn't. Big letdown.
One point at which I did feel closure was with Odysseus' retelling of his journeys to Penelope. I had wondered whether he would tell her all that happened, including his sleeping with Circe and Calypso. To his credit, he does (23.364, 376-380). I never thought much of Odysseus, myself. But I felt he redeemed himself a small bit with this 'confession,' as it were. Even if he may have stretched the truth and made it sound as if he were completely coerced into sleeping with them, he didn't have to tell her any of it! He could have skimmed over it completely, yet he didn't. Good for you, Odysseus.
Finally, I must mention the last page of the entire text. Even had I not had any unresolved questions concerning the story, I would have felt that this ending was abrupt. Athena convinces them all to have peace from then on, and where other books or where any (complete) movie would have a scene to wrap-up the loose ends with a bit of a breather, this book doesn't. Instead of breaking the end gently to the reader, it continually slaps action-packed scene after action-packed scene at you, only to abruptly end with peace in the last 5 lines (24.598-602). It brings you to a screeching halt, leaving you teetering on the edge of your thoughts while the rest of you tries to catch up with the given conclusion. It was uncomfortable, to say the least!
However, after all of this, despite my disappointment with the ending and my lack of exhilaration in reading a majority of the story, I am not sure how I feel about the text in its entirety. I think the last class discussion will help decide that. All I know at this point is that I'm ready to embark on a new text!
I feel as though the ending of The Odyssey provided significant closure for me. It did not close the story of Odysseus and his full journey, as he still must go and make a sacrifice to Poseidon. That being said, I feel as though the general sense is that Odysseus will have no problem making that trip and accomplishing his goal, especially considering everything he made it through on the open sea.
ReplyDeleteI received plenty of closure for the questions I had going into the last few books, although not in the same form as I was expecting. I was expecting Odysseus to slay all of the suitors, which he did, and with no lack of detail in the description. From hearing how his arrow struck Antinous, whose “life-blood came spurting from his nostrils” (440.15) to seeing him “splattered with bloody filth like a lion that’s devoured some ox” (451.427) upon his victory, I felt full closure in this regard.
I also received closure on the other question I had. This was the question of how Penelope and Odysseus would handle their reunion. This is where the results differed from my expectations. I expected Odysseus and Penelope be much more excited about the situation than they were. Instead I felt as though Penelope was over analytical, and Odysseus was trying to avoid talking about his journey. She would not stop interrogating him, making him tell her the whole story right then saying “what’s the harm if I hear of it tonight?” (464.298). I would say that the harm is that she asked a man who just struggled for 10 years to make it home to recall his journey rather than just enjoying his company. In the same way, he first wanted to just take her to bed instead of talk, and also lied to her about telling the ‘whole’ story while conveniently leaving out the part about sleeping with a couple other women.
In the end however, the only frustrating part is that he must leave the next day, but the closure was there that he would be successful and that he was finally home at last. And in accordance with the rest of the story, we saw in the end Odysseus’ amazing wit and grandeur (slaying the suitors) as well as his human deficiencies (lying to his wife).
The Odyssey was a fantastic Great Narrative Work and I’m very glad I got to read it for once. The story had many different and wonderful characters all in a beautiful and amazing world. We mentioned in lecture the feeling of closure in a story comes from questions finally being answered. Personally I feel that I didn’t get any closure on the basis of two things. The first was not knowing how Poseidon treats Odysseus after everything that happened and second the fact that such an amazing story ended so horribly.
ReplyDeleteMany of Odysseus’ trials and misfortune came from the actions of the sea-god Poseidon. As the story goes into its ending it’s good to see that everything is piecing itself out properly and Odysseus is getting everything back to order. My problem that doesn’t give me any closure about this story is that Poseidon isn’t around anymore whining about how everything is working out for Odysseus or trying to cause anymore problems for him like everything has been forgiven. If Odysseus plans on getting Poseidon’s forgiveness I think that would have been better ending rather than some war that in the end doesn’t happen. Now for the ending I didn’t like how they ended the Odyssey, a story about Odysseus, like it was Athena’s story. “And Athena handed down her pacts of peace between both sides for all the years to come—the daughter of Zeus whose shield is storm and thunder, yes, but the goddess still kept Mentor’s build and voice.” (24.599-602). There actually was one part of the last chapter where I thought a good spot to end might be even if my question about Poseidon didn’t get answered. “So they traded stories, the two ghosts standing there in the House of Death, far in the hidden depths below the earth.” (24.223-225).
Even though all of my questions didn’t get answered I can put the book down with a little satisfaction knowing that some of my questions did get answered. How did the suitors died in the epic four-man battle, whether Odysseus told Penelope about his times with Circe and Calypso and more others. As I said before even though some questions got answered I still didn’t get a sense of closure because Poseidon was a big deal to me. Overall though the book was wonderful and actually gave me some ideas for a story that I am currently working on. I can’t wait to see how much better the next book will be!
Going into the book, I thought I wouldn’t have any questions. I had already read the Odyssey in high school so as certain conflicts came up, I already knew how most would be resolved. I already knew Odysseus and Telemachus would bring vengeance upon the suitors and also the basic premise of how he gets back home. However, not having been graced with a perfect memory, there were a few questions I came across going into round two of the reading. The main question I had was regarding the journey Odysseus still had to embark on. Tiresius tells Odysseys about it when they meet in the Under world (11.136-156). When I read the Odyssey this time around, I didn’t think much of it until the end when he mentions it to Penelope (23.282). I feel like there needs to be an additional chapter that addresses this, because it is clearly extremely crucial to Odysseus being able to die happy with those he loves.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast to some of the class, I really never questioned what would happen when Odysseus and Penelope were reunited. He has been away from her for a very long time, but it’s not as if he chose to remain so far away for that long, he was being deterred by the gods.
The portion of the story that intrigued me the most, was the reunion between Telemachus and Odysseus. While I knew that they would unite and destroy the suitors and start their relationship, it was their initial meeting that I looked forward to the most. What can Telemachus say to someone who he has really never known, but shares an incredibly deep devotion and bond to? On the flip side, what can Odysseus say to his son, who he left at such a young age and left to be the man of the house, without ever having a male role model? When Odysseus finally is able to speak to Telemachus as himself, he addresses him as only a loving father could. “‘No, I am your father- the Odysseus you wept for all you days, you bore a world of pain, the cruel abuse of men.’ And with those words, Odysseus kissed his son and the tears streamed down his cheeks and wet the ground” (16.212-17). After Telemachus is convinced his father has finally arrived, the moment between the two of them is quite moving. “Telemachus threw his arms around his great father, sobbing uncontrollably as the deep desire for tears welled up in both ... Both men so filled with compassion, eyes streaming tears, that now the sunlight would have set upon their cries...”
The Odyssey is truly deserving to be apart of this class, maybe being one of the greatest narrative works. I found a much deeper appreciation for this book having read it as a slightly more mature (emphasis on slightly) person than I was in high school. This book will absolutely be placed among one of my favorites.
I am glad that I finished reading The Odyssey and I am really proud of myself because I managed to read a 485 pages book. For me, this book is very interesting even though at first I felt like it was hard to understand. The story gets more and more interesting from one chapter to another and you just want to continue reading to know what will happen next. I am satisfied and I felt the sense of closure from this book. All my questions were answered. And there is only one thing that I am not satisfied about the story.
ReplyDeleteMy fist question was whether Odysseus and Telemachus will meet and how would they react since Odysseus left Telemachus when he was still a baby. This question was answered and I am touch when I read the part when they meet each other. “With those words Odysseus kissed his son and tears stream down his cheek and wet the ground” (16.215-216). Even though at first Telemachus did not believe him but Odysseus said that it is Athena’s work, “Telemachus threw his arms around his great father, sobbing uncontrollably” (16.243-244).
My second question was about the suitors. I am really satisfied with what Odysseus did even though the way the book explained it was so bloody and brutal. I am so mad with the suitors since the beginning of the books and the closure about the suitors’ story end nicely. I also love what Eurycleia did when she reported about the unfaithful maids.
My last question was how Odysseus and Penelope will meet and how they will react after 20 years of not seeing each other. But this part of the story ended up nicely even though at first Penelope at first Penelope was hesitant to believe that the beggar was her husband. But after that “Penelope runs and reunites herself with her husband” (23.230)
I am not satisfied with the fact that Penelope do not know that Odysseus cheated on her during his journey. But if she knows about that, I do not think that the ending of Odysseus and Penelope love story will be the same.
I must admit, it took me a while to take interest and seriously become more involved with the Odyssey. The first 9 to 10 books felt like a slow walk through a very bland and demoralizing museum of history. However, when the epic began to pick up with the first hint of violence, or gore, I managed to finally get a firm hold and be more enticed as the books flipped through. Sure it was slow, but it posed a great plot and will be a very memorable book. As several people before me posted, I have to agree with most of them, that I felt some sort of closure, but it lacked some questions to be answered.
ReplyDeleteThe “empty” feeling I experienced after finishing the last chapter was “What happens next?” To me, it feels as if there may be a sequel to this epic tale to polish off the adventures of Odysseus and Telemachus. The ending was somewhat clichéd in the sense that it was father and son reuniting at last, with a hint of happily ever after/peace among the king’s people: “So she commanded. He obeyed her, glad at heart. And Athena handed down her pacts of peace between both sides for all the years to come—…” (24.598).
Of course, there were also good parts to the end of the Odyssey. I found it ironic and satisfying knowing the both Antinous and his father Euphites shared the same mindset before being brutally killed. It was funny as well because the first suitor to die was Antious and the last person to die was his father after trying to rally up the parents of Ithaca to seek revenge against king Odysseus: “… and hit Euphites, pierced his bronze-sided helmet that failed to block the bronze point tearing through—down went Euphites crashed…” (24.573). I hope others agree with me knowing that both Antious and father Euphites had what was coming to them.
One last piece of unanswered book for me was previously discussed in class not so long ago. I remember we spoke about the goddess Athena and how through the book, we could see her rising up to become a true goddess, but that was left blank in my mind. She did aid Odysseus and Telemachus throughout the entire epic (1.354) and (13.216), but there was never any mention of a “rise to true goddess-ness”.
In conclusion, the Odyssey was a good first book for my Purdue experience, even though some points were left unanswered, the majority of the story was captivating and overall a good read. I look forward to reading “The Hero and the Crown”.
Throughout the entire novel my expectation was that Odysseus and his family would be reunited and that Odysseus and his son would band together to drive out the suitors in some over the top heroic way. The questions that I had going through this novel had to do with Penelope and her reunion with Odysseus. I wondered if he would bring up his infidelity or if tell her about the terrible things that had happened to him or if it would instead just be a reunion on a “finally were together again and everything will be ok now” way. I found that these ideas were answered sort of. Telechmus and Odysseus did indeed have a completely Hollywood, over the top battle to redemption. As for Penelope we never heard him tell her about his sexual conquests. Another thing that I didn’t really care about finding out the conclusion to was the reunion of Odysseus and his father. This, however, did strike me in a way that I felt the most for this reunion. There is a line in B24.p479.385-390 that really struck home with me it was, “ Laerte’s knees went slack, his heart surrendered, recognizing the strong clear signs that Odysseus offered. He threw his arms around his own dear son, fainting as hardy great Odysseus hugged him to his heart.” The other question I had the entire book was regarding whether any of the main characters would die in the final fight. I wondered if Odysseus would die defending his kingdom or something else similarly sacrificial. This didn’t happen but all of the suitors got gruesomely killed so I suppose that counts. I did get closure from the book in the peaceful ending that Odysseus and his family found, I really liked the way the novel ended.
ReplyDeleteAlicia Smith
ReplyDelete“But one man alone… his heart set on his wife and his return,” (1. 16). This line perfectly outlines the questions that I wanted answered trough The Odyssey. Will Odysseus return to Ithaca and will he be united with his Penelope? Both of these questions worked together to get me to the end of the story, and I feel like they have been fulfilled.
There was a constant struggle for Odysseus to get home, mainly, because there were always obstacles of all kinds that had to be overcome in order to return to his homeland. There were a lot that involved the ocean, where the tides and the winds sent him off course away from Ithaca; “And now, at long last, I might have reached my native land unscathed, but just as I doubled Malea’s a tide-rip and the North Wind drove me way off course careering past Cythera,” (9. 87-91), “They loosed the sack and all the winds burst out and a sudden squall struck and sent us back to sea,” (10. 52-54), “Poseidon god of the earthquake launched a colossal wave, terrible, murderous… so the long planks of his boat were scattered far and wide,” (5. 403-407). Despite the ‘adventures ‘ that Odysseus had throughout the story, the over-arching reason why he wasn’t physically getting to his homeland was because the sea was not allowing his boat to reach his homeland. When he did return home in Book 13, I felt a sense of closure because he was physically in Ithaca. Once there, my next expectation of him uniting with Penelope could start coming to a close.
The meeting between Odysseus and Penelope was heart wrenching, mainly because Penelope was not easy to trust that Odysseus was really alive. Telemachus asked, “Why do you spurn my father so – why don’t you sit beside him, engage him, ask him questions?” (23. 113-114), and Odysseus said, “Leave your mother in the hall to test me as she will. She soon will know me better,”(23. 128-129). This denial Penelope had was incredibly realistic, and though it bothered me to no end (dramatic irony is not fun), I feel it made the final union much richer because Odysseus had to convince his wife he was real. When he gave the secret of their bed made of tree roots, Penelope then had, “Living proof –“(23. 230), and was convinced her husband was not a trick of the gods or a hallucination from a dream. Even though my expectation was for them to be reunited, I don’t think I would have appreciated it as much if Penelope just welcomed Odysseus with open arms. The conflict between the lovers symbolized a stronger bond that I wanted to see between them, and I didn’t realize that I wanted to see it until Penelope showed she was not going to blindly trust Odysseus’s word.
There were other questions I had that were not answered by the end, but they aren’t critical, so I am okay with them left ambiguous. One such question was if Odysseus was going to tell Penelope that he bedded two immortals, and I think that her reaction may have changed the awe she had for Odysseus’s tale. I thought that the ending scene with the suitor in the Land of the Dead was interesting. I wasn’t expecting a story from their perspective, so I’m glad that the ending incorporated some of their thoughts on Odysseus’s return. I can honestly say that The Odyssey is one of the most completed stories that I have ever read. All of the major conflicts presented were settled, and though there could be additional characterization and expansion, it served its purpose in telling of Odysseus’s return to Ithaca’s throne.
While reading, I have the question about Odysseus’s love.
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether he loves Calypso. Or he loves his wife all the time? I expect that he was imprisoned and doesn’t love her. My expectation is satisfied. I think Odysseus doesn’t love her and has the hope to get back home. He treats his country and home more important. We can know that from book 5, “and found him there on the headland, sitting, still, weeping, his eyes never dry, his sweet life flowing away with the tears he wept for his foiled journey home. He’d sleep with her in the arching cave-he He also doesn’t love Circe. He slept with him because he needs to rescue his fellows. In book 10, the Hermes told him the method to rescue them has the step that” she’ll cower in fear and coax you to her bed-–but don’t refuse the goddess’ bed” (p239. 328-329).
He treats his wife’s loyalty important. He pretends to be a beggar and knows his wife’ mind about the suitors when he comes back. In book 17, “while she exclaimed among her household women, sitting there in her room, Odysseus bent to supper (p370. 560-561)” shows that he worried about what his wife thinks. When she tests Odysseus using their bed, Odysseus lost his mind even thought he is so wisdom and calm usually. It is shown in book 23, “Putting her husband to the proof—but Odysseus blazed up in fury, lashing out at his loyal wife” (p461. 203-204); we can see he treats his wife important. Besides, he can clearly remember their secret about the bed.
The ending is not surprised. It is a happy ending and we can expect that.
On the first day of class I saw that 'The Odyssey' was the first novel that we were to read. There were many emotions that overcame me, but the most dominant was nervousness. I thought, "I'm not a good enough reader for this novel". I also couldn't help but think how I wouldn't be interested at all. We had read bits and pieces of it in high school, and studied an entire unit about Greek mythology--where I realized I had little interest. Then I began reading. The beginning of this novel was indeed slow as I had imagined, but it did pick up and I realized I was beginning to enjoy the text. The events were beginning to engage me, and once Odysseus made it back to Ithaca I found I was relieved! I wasn't expecting to feel for his character as much as I did, but it happened. At that point I knew, wow, this novel genuinely engaged me after all my doubts I had been having.
ReplyDeleteNow that I have finished the novel, I have thought back to the questions and expectations I've had throughout the novel. Throughout the entire novel my expectation was first and foremost that Odysseus and his family would be reunited. My next important expectation is Penelope and Odysseus's reunion. Will he tell her of all the acts of adultery that he took part in? Will he be honest with his poor wife that has been waiting 20 years for him, or will he pull a total guy move and not mention it? I also was expecting that Odysseus and Telemachus would scheme together to drive out the suitors in some heroic and glorious way.
I found that these expectations were partly answered. Odysseus indeed was reunited with his family, which I was beyond happy to see. I have a big family of three siblings and my parents, so I'm huge on family. To see that Odysseus's family is finally reunited was a huge expectation filled for me. Odysseus and Telemachus surely did have an over the top battle to righteousness. The suitors were driven out, as they should be, and normal-ness was restored within Odysseus's home. As for truth between Penelope and Odyssues, well, we never heard him tell her about his sexual relations. However, I do have to think that that does not mean he did not tell her at some point after the novel has ended. There is no way to know for certain, however it seems likely that this did not happen.
Even though not all of my expectations were met, I can put the book down with satisfaction knowing that most of my expectations were met. Also, I am proud of myself as a reader to know that I overcame such a long and sometimes boring novel. The language, characters, and plot were challenging; but to know that I read this novel cover to cover is quite an accomplishment.
Because I had read excerpts of The Odyssey before in high school, I was not looking forward to reading the entire book for this class. However, I was happy to find that this book was completely easier to read than the translation of the excerpts. Once I started reading, I expected to be taken on a journey of one man's tale and all the twists and turns he may face. This is why I felt closure once I finished the book. I only expected to be told a tale and that's just what I got. With all the characters in this book and all the names that were dropped, I figured this time around I should just read through it without any expectations because it was so hard to keep track of things anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe only questions I still have are why did Odysseus cheat on Penelope with Circe and Calypso? This part of the book really irked me and I wanted to find out his reasoning for doing so. Also, why did Odysseus take his time to get home? I know he faced many troubles along the way because of different Gods and their wishes, but he didn’t have to stay with Circe so long. He also could have tried something to escape Calypso as well. Although he was crying on Calypso’s island for home in book 5, his actions made me feel that sometimes getting home wasn’t top priority anymore. However, I am glad that most things were wrapped up at the end. Penelope reuniting with Odysseus after so long and saying “if it’s the bed you want” (463.291) made me feel like after all these years, if she’s who he still wants, then she’s going to let him have her regardless of anything that’s happened. Also I was glad to see that Telemachus and Odysseus could finally meet each other and take on the suitors together in book 22. When I first started the book, I felt that Telemachus would never do anything about the suitors and all I wanted to see was the suitors get what they deserve. Even though not everything felt complete, I am happier than anything that I got through this book.
I do feel closure at the end of "The Odyssey". Also, having read "The Illiad" previously I feel like the entire story for me has closure. Before reading this novelization in full, I have actually seen most "attempts" to make a movie of this book and have read excerpts in the past so the broad resolution in the story is what i expected it to be and hoped it would play out. I do agree that there are still some loose ends in the story, but the only part of the storyline that I really thought mattered was resolved. This book was about Odysseus and his journey home to see his family. All of the side adventures I feel are only supplementary to the main plot line. Especially looking at events or future events like the dispute between the townspeople, I believe that the story should have ended where it did. For me, this compares directly to something similar to the ending of the "Lord of The Rings" books. In the storyline there, after all appears resolved and the Ring is destroyed, the Hobbits returned home only to have to fight another battle with the wizard Saruman. When I read this in the book I felt completely out of touch from the main story line. At that point, I felt like the story was dragging on and too much information was being given at that point. I could have easily seen "The Odyssey" ending in the same way, where the story seems to linger on despite having the major plot lines finished. I am glad that this story ended the way it did and do feel full closure from this story.
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing The Odyssey, an arduous albeit worthwhile task, I certainly feel a sense of closure, to a degree. That is, almost all of my questions were answered and all of my expectations were met. Questions regarding the reunion of Penelope and Odysseus, the destruction of all the suitors, and the backlash that would ensue once the rest of Ithaca and the surrounding countries found out about the massacre were all answered in some way, shape, or form. While the book itself certainly lived up to and surpassed all my expectations, the way in which closure came about was somewhat of a letdown.
ReplyDeleteOn a positive note, most of the questions that were important to me were answered. The suspense over how Penelope and Odysseus would reunite kept me flipping from page to page as fast as I could possibly read. The scene begins with disbelief, even after Eurycleia instructs Penelope to “wake up and see for yourself…Odysseus, he’s come home” (23.5). Penelope continues to stubbornly believe that “it must be a god” and “Odysseus...he’s lost and gone himself” (23.70-76). In the end, Penelope and Odysseus embrace after she tests him with a description of their royal bed (23.203-230). While this wasn’t necessarily a “Hollywood” ending, it certainly fulfilled my expectations.
The looming question throughout the entire book centered on Odysseus’ all but guaranteed return and his showdown with the suitors. From early in the story, one could see that everything was leading up to an epic clash, and The Odyssey certainly didn’t disappoint. From the dramatic slaying of the villains Antinous (22.15) and Eurymachus (22.85) to the torture of Melanthius (22.200), this scene was everything I ever hoped it could be. Unlike the Penelope and Odysseus reunion, the manner in which Odysseus and his gang ousted the suitors certainly added to a positive sense of closure in The Odyssey.
My third and final question about what would happen when the rest of Ithaca found out about the slaughter was definitively answered at the very end of the book, although it deeply disappointed me. In typical fashion of The Odyssey, the goddess Athena ends up stealing the show, calling for a truce and holding back Odysseus from another bloody battle (24. 584). While this ending to such a masterpiece as The Odyssey did provide a semi-satisfying end, it did not live up to my personal expectations. I was all geared up for another battle; my mind was fluttering with questions about the future of Ithaca and whether or not everyone would survive the battle. However, seeing how thick the end of the storyline already was with bloodshed and suspense, I can certainly understand how a calm ending such as this would be an effective way to juxtapose the action-packed chapters preceding it.
While I did have one lingering question regarding Odysseus’ fulfillment of Poseidon’s prophecy (23.283), it became clear that Odysseus was bound by fate to return home from this mission and die a “gentle, painless death…borne down with the years in ripe old age” (23.322). Much like the battle that never happened at the end of Book 24, there were just so many questions to answer and loose ends to tie up after the climax that some undoubtedly had to be left out. Taking this into consideration, I do feel a definite sense of closure with The Odyssey. Even though some of my expectations weren’t met in the fashion in which I hoped, I still feel very satisfied with the conclusion of this book.