So far in our reading (Books 1-4) we haven't actually met Odysseus. We have only others' statements about him, which are a mixed bag at best. Descriptions such as "excels all men in wisdom" (1.79), "mastermind of battle" (1.193), "godlike" (1.260), "great-hearted" (2.92), "hero" (3.159, 173, et. al.), "fearless" (3.303), "god-appointed" (3.778), and "excelled in every strength" (3.817) appear alongside descriptions such as "cunning" (1.312), "sheer cunning" (2.135), "wily" (2.181), and "crafty" (3.281).
Who exactly is Odysseus? A great-hearted, god-appointed hero? A wily and cunning human strategist? Both? Neither? Now that you've gotten further into the text and have actually "met" Odysseus, have your initial impressions of him changed? If so, to what extent and why? Be sure to defend your position with cited textual evidence (Page.Line #) as above.
Originally I was sure that The Odyssey would follow the trials of Odysseus, but I was pleasantly surprised that so far I have not actually met the man. However, through the stories of his family and friends I believe that Odysseus is a one of a kind man with a good heart, and the respect of the gods. One of the First mentions of Odysseus claims “his heart [was] set on his wife and his return…” (1.16) and to me this reads that he is a man that loves deeply and fully. When I think of an epic poem this is exactly the kind of character I want to dominate the story. After all these years lost at sea one would think that Odysseus has lost some of the feelings he once had for his wife and loved ones, but it seems to grow the longer he is away. I also feel that the way his old friends speak of him show that he is a rare soul. Menelaus speaks of Odysseus as his “dearest friend” (4.186) he remembers him as a hero and speaks of how they were “bound by love for each other…” (4.199). In this setting Odysseus’ disappearance would not bring him honor, nor would he receive it from being lost at sea; so the idea the Menelaus is praising him as a hero shows that he has a certain quality that puts him above the average man. Yes, he was brave in battle, no one has said otherwise, but many courageous men fought at Troy and not all are remember as heroes. The gods also hold a special place for Odysseus and his family. There were many men that have tangled with a god and ended up dead because of it, but even with the hate of Poseidon, Odysseus still lives with help from the other gods. He must hold some advantage that causes them to want help Odysseus succeed and return home. It is because of these points that I believe Odysseus is a one of a kind man to both man and gods with a strong heart.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the book “The Odyssey,” I have found that the reader has not been introduced to the character Odysseus unlike most literature. Due to the fact that I am a visual learner, I have been able to acquire an idea of the characters appearance through reading some descriptions of them and learning about their actions. After reading Books 1-4, I have not met the character Odysseus, therefore I have to rely on what the other characters have stated about him to create an image about this character that I will later meet. From the very beginning of the book, we are introduced to a description of Odysseus by Zeus stating that he is the, “Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too he gives the immortal gods” (1-78). Through this quote, we are already able create the idea that this man is wise and important enough that the gods know who he is as an individual. In life we sometimes hear the statement, “like father like son.” While reading this book I keep this statement in the back of my head. I found this to be useful when I read in book four when Menelaus states “Now that you mention it, I see the likeness too...”(4-163). Menelaus talks about the way Telemachus looks like his father comparing his hands, feet, and hair. After obtaining an image about Telemachus, it allows the reader to picture his father as well. From that concept, we can also gain an idea about Odysseus’s personality based off the way Telemachus acts. In Book 1 when Athena comes to the door Telemachus greets her politely and offers for her to come and be welcomed into the home. “Greetings stranger! Here in our house you’ll find a royal welcome…” (1-144). This line goes to show that Telemachus is a polite boy that could possibly resemble his father. All in all, even though we are not introduced to Odysseus in the beginning of the story, we can imagine his character based off the descriptions given about his actions and the way Telemachus is portrayed as a character.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus seems to be a hero from long ago when we first enter into the story of The Odyssey. He is a extremely mysterious man and we don't learn much about him for a while. We do get a few glimpses here and there of who he possibly could be and what he is like. For example, in Book One first line, it states "the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course." I see this quote as a very telling characteristic of Odysseus. I believe that his twists and turns are those of both a positive and negative aspect. Positively he was a hero in Troy and calmed the soldiers while they were in the horse (Book 4 Line 318). I see the negative side of him as a unloyal man and husband. He stays on Calypso's island for seven years! I am assuming but there had to be a lust or physical attraction to keep him on the island that long. Calypso even states that they are husband and wife in Book 5 Line 129-133, "scandalized when godesses sleep with mortals,openly, even when one has made the man her husband." To prove the point further In Book 5 Line 239 Odysseus states, "Look at my wife Penelope. She falls short of you, your beauty,stature."
ReplyDeleteI do not see Odysseus as a truly moraly driven individual as of right now in the story. He seems to put on the act of being a hero and a great leader but the things I have mentioned show us his true self.
I have to disagree with Erica. I am not sure if she perhaps misread the text or missed it but Athena has to intervene on Odysseus' behalf with Zeus because he is "held there by force" (book 5, pg153) and "he has no way to voyage home to his own native land". As soon as Odysseus has the okay to leave from the nymph Calypso, he secures a promise from her that she is not tricking him (pg 158) and he wastes no time to build his raft to cross the ocean with. In terms of Odysseus and his sexual relations with the nymph, I mean...she is a nymph and is immortal, which doesn't really give Odysseus that much strength to say no...the narrator tells us that "He'd sleep with her in the arching cave--he had no choice--unwilling lover alongside lover all too willing"(pg 157). This reinstates that Odysseus is being held against his will and is forced to have sex/sleep with this nymph because she thinks of him as her husband, who she even wanted to make "immortal, ageless" (pg 156). I think Odysseus shows great character by crying all day, longing for his wife and Ithaca, as well as "sucking up" to Calypso when he compliments her ageless beauty and how Penelope does not measure up to her (Book 5 Line 239). I'm sure it must not be the worst thing in the world to be bedded by a nymph every night but for Odysseus, it is or else he wouldn't be so adamant about leaving as soon as he can and risking his life to get home.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the first five books in The Odyssey waiting to meet Odysseus I must say that I was pretty disappointed with his character. Odysseus is described as god-like and a man greater than others, yet when we finally meet him he is held hostage in a cave where he spends the majority of his days crying about his misfortune and sleeping with a super hot goddess. What a life. Natalie brings up a good point when she states that maybe this is not the choice Odysseus would make normally, "He'd sleep with her in the arching cave--he had no choice--unwilling lover alongside lover all too willing"(5-171) Yet, after he is freed from Calypso he still has time for one last romp in the sheets, "And now, withdrawing into the cavern's deep recesses, long in each other's arms they lost themselves in love." (5-250) This brings up the question, just how trapped was he? In my opinion, Odysseus did not live up to the hype he was given.
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ReplyDeleteThroughout my reading of the first four book of The Odyssey I had developed very high standards for Odysseus as he had been explained so heroically, as Crystal Kirgiss pointed out in the question. Odysseus was frequently referred to as "that godlike man, and kindly as a father to his children" (5.12). From the descriptions we had gotten early on, I had Odysseus pictured as a strong man, not only in physical strength but in will and power, a provider to his family and land. Now that we have met him in book five and six I will have to agree with Brittany, I was extremely disappointed.
ReplyDeleteOur first impression of Odysseus in book 5 is when Hermes finds him "weeping there as always, wrenching his heart with sobs and groans and anguish." (5.93) He appears very vulnerable which does not seem to be a trait of a heroic godlike man who is honored by immortals and mortals alike. A few pages later, after setting out to sea, he finds himself in trouble and the sea god comes to the rescue with her scarf. In my opinion a heroic man would admit he needs help and take it but this is not what Odysseus does. Odysseus chooses to stay on board until there is no raft left saying, "it's what seems best to me" (5.397). He is too stubborn to admit he needs help and take it.
I am sure there are a few other instances where he has not shown very heroic behavior but these are two that stuck out to me. For right now I believe that the character of Odysseus is being presented as almost cowardly and weak. I look forward to his character developing further so I may understand what is so "godlike" about him.
Even though Odysseus has not been introduced in books one through four, the reader is still able to develop a clear idea of his character. Athena describes Odysseus as the “brave Odysseus” in book 3 while conversing with Telemachus (3, 405). In another conversation with Telemachus, Athena speaks of how Odysseus would take care of the suitors that are patronizing his mother and refers to him saying “as strong as the man I glimpsed the first time (1, 300). These descriptions are given not by a mortal, but by a god; this leads me to believe that Odysseus was a brave and strong man. I believe that we also get a sense of who Odysseus is through learning the characteristics of his son. Nestor tells Telemachus “you way with words- it’s just like his…” (3, 139). A statement like this makes me believe that we are able to see a glimpse of Odysseus’ character through Telemachus. In most cases Telemachus is described as “poised” (1, 397); this leads me to believe that Odysseus was also ready with a clever answer or statement. I agree with Amy that Odysseus is wise, and lines 78-80 in book 1 are proof. Zeus is speaking of Odysseus and says “Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too he gives the immortal gods who rule the vaulting skies?” (1, 78-80) Again, two gods have spoken highly of Odysseus; this leads me to believe that Odysseus is a respectable man and is wise. Athena makes the comment “Telemachus, you’ll lack neither courage nor sense from this day on, not if your father’s spirit courses through your veins- now there was a man, I’d say, in words and action both!” (2, 302-305) Athena’s description of Odysseus not only leads me to believe that Odysseus is brave, but also that he takes action and is eloquent with his words. Even though we were not introduced to Odysseus in the first four books, we are still able to be acquainted with Odysseus’ character.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus is a complex character introduced to us through the opinions and stories the other characters tell of him. Descriptions of him include “godlike” (1.260), “cunning” (111.136), and excelling all men in strategy (111.135) wisdom, and offerings (79.79). Obviously, Odysseus is highly regarded by the majority of the characters in the story, including Gods. As it is stated that he is given extra attention from the immortals in the story (114. 251,252). This indicates to me that Odysseus is a brave, courageous man who has fallen into rotten luck.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately when the reader is actually introduced to the “great” Odysseus, he is weeping on a beach, submitting (reluctantly?) to Calypso with longing thoughts of home, but no real hopes of returning. Later on, when his hope of being reunited with his wife, son, and land are returned, a spark of the assumed “true” Odysseus comes to be. As he sets off on his sea journey he shows courage and bravery. Later on while talking and persuading Nausicaa to help him to the city, he shows his cunning personality and charm. So, although my initial impression of Odysseus was somewhat anti-climactic, I predict he will prove himself in the story to come.
When we first began hearing stories of Odysseus, he is painted in our minds as some spectacular man. He is referenced in books 1-4 as nothing less than god-like and has traits that made him a great King. If he was not so great then why would the goddess Athena be so desperate to save him? Why would she put his sons life in danger to rescue his father if he was not someone worth rescuing? However, once we got into books 5-6 I saw a completely different side of Odysseus that he was not described to be in the previous books. For one, I do not believe he is a very faithful husband. If he was being held as the personal lover for Calypso I would feel sympathy for him and feel sorry for him, but I do not believe that is the case. He bashed his wife to Calypso even after she had set him free. Then they went back to the cave and made love even though he was no longer being held there against his will. Also, I learned that Odysseus is very stubborn. When he was offered the immortal scarf that would save his life, he refused to take it. I understand he was probably worried of being trapped again by yet another goddess but he was acting childish and irrational in that situation, definitely not god like qualities. Finally, at the end of book 6, he prays to Athena to help him "find some mercy and some love" which I took as him wishing to find a woman to love or make love to, again portraying him in my mind as a less than faithful husband. He could have prayed to go home to his wife and family. But he prayed to find some love. I felt for Odysseus in books 1-4; I was so very anxious for us to find out he is alive and trying to come home. Yet by the end of book 6 I am feeling very disappointed in the man I once viewed as a very good hearted man that was lost at sea desperately trying to find home.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this book "The Odyssey", you can make a pretty good assumption of who Odysseus is way before you actually meet him and read what he says. What I gathered in the first four books about Odysseus is "that seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long- far from his loved ones still, he suffers torments"(1-58,59). And, " luckless man- despite his tears, forever trying to spellbind his heart with suave, seductive words"(1-66,67,68). Or, "Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom"(1-78,79).How about, "I have traveled over a good part of the world but never once have I laid eyes on a man like him- what a heart that fearless Odysseus had inside him"(4-301,302,303). Even more, "Odysseus clamped his great hands on the man's mouth and shut it, brutally- yes he saved us all"(4-321,322). Odysseus for starters is a seasoned veteran, stranded with no hope, a wise man, a strategist (fearless), and a man leading with muscles. You know this man is very much like Sylvester Stallone was in "Rambo", suffering torments ect... But that is not the point that I am trying to make, we have not even really met him, so moving on. Now further in this book my impression of him changed, he might be a little down or stranded temporarily but not luckless, so we can scratch that. But for the most part we discover that he is "great" (5-258,338), is a "Master"(5-297), has a "heart"(5-94,328), oh and he thinks he knows things all to well, "Surely your plotting"(5-192), "I won't step foot until you show good faith"(5-197)ect... So the man Odysseus is most thing and some as you read and learn.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus is an interesting character to say the least. The first four books contain accounts of the great things about him, which will be discussed in greater detail later. But when he is directly mentioned in book 5, his vulnerability is displayed and despite all of his great attributes and deeds, he is a just homesick man who longs for his wife. He is simply human, which is sometimes overlooked when considering his accomplishments. When individuals perform larger than life feats, their reputation often precedes them and we tend to think of them as almost “super human.” While he occasionally receives aid from Athena, he is a normal man with some extraordinary traits, but he is not immune to misery and misfortune as revealed by his weeping (book 5, line 167) “…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.”
ReplyDeleteBut Odysseus is nonetheless a great man. Aside from being referred to as a “hero” numerous times, he is revered by Helen for both his cunning as he disguised himself as a beggar to sneak into Troy to spy (book4, line 274) as well as for his brawn as he defeated a troop of Trojans singlehandedly (4, 288). Menlaus also praised his cunning as the wooden horse was his scheme (4, 304). Prior to this, Nestor extolled Odysseus for his intellect, stating (3, 134) “And no one there could hope to rival Odysseus, not for sheer cunning – at every twist of strategy he excelled us all.” Even Zeus, the father of the gods, says that Odysseus “…excels all men in wisdom” (1, 79). As a king, Penelope recounts how fair he was in both word and deed to his people (4, 777).
Despite the attributes of great Odysseus, the theme of his bad luck is consistently repeated as Poseidon has set his will against Odysseus. Hermes refers to him as “…a most unlucky man…” (5, 117) and Menelaus says “But god himself… robbed that unlucky man, him and him alone, of the day of return.” (4, 201) Poseidon was outraged by his actions as he blinded the Cyclops, Poseidon’s son (1, 88). While he won’t kill Odysseus, he seeks to ensure that the king will never return to Ithaca.
It has been approximately 20 years since Odysseus left Ithaca and the journey home has been treacherous and disheartening for him. It is because of this that I believe he is still the courageous, cunning warrior and wise king. Anyone subjected to that level of heartbreak and turmoil would fold under the pressure and the fact that he has not yielded to Calypso’s desire to marry him and make him immortal is very impressive. While he certainly has his flaws, he is still the great man that his reputation would suggest.
The first four books of the Odyssey read like a strange yet interesting documentary combined with a reality show - the kind with the confession closet. Before we can meet Odysseus in person, he is introduced through stories - "confessions" if you will - told to Telemachus, his son, by kings with whom Odysseus fought at Troy. However, before we even hear the stories, we are told of the favoritism bestowed upon him by the gods, of the hardships he has suffered, and of his home now ravaged by young suitors.
ReplyDeleteThe first line of the poem introduces Odysseus as a "man of twists and turns" (1, 1). The line has double meaning. Is it referring to Odysseus' long, complicated, and wearisome travelling, or rather his own character within? Or is his travelling an outward projection of his inner self? Another outside image of Odysseus' true self is his son, Telemachus. Telemachus' "uncanny resemblance" is too often mentioned to ignore (1, 241). Through this comparison we see Athena's affection for Odysseus mirrored in her treatment of the warrior's son. It is also through Telemachus that we are introduced to the story-telling kings, sharing details of past adventures.
Through King Nestor we learn of Odysseus' talent on the battle field. Nestor speaks of his "sheer cunning" (3, 135). Later we meet the king of Sparta, Menelaus, and learn more of his battle presence and of his survival. According to the Spartan, no one "labored hard as Odysseus...or achieved so much" (4, 120). Through the story of Helen calling to the men inside the horse, we learn of Odysseus ability to be stoic.
Finally in Book 5 we meet the great king himself, Odysseus. The once powerful man has been reduced to tears, bent to Calypso's wants and whims. He "unwillingly" beds with the goddess (5, 172) and by day "wrench[es] his heart with sobs and groans and anguish" (5, 174).
Through second hand stories we can never learn nor fully appreciate one's true character, and so we, the readers are left to make our own conclusions. I believe that Odysseus is very much a complicated person. He is not constantly valiant and heroic; however, neither is he always wretched and immoral. Odysseus, like any human, has his strengths and weaknesses; without them, he would be entirely unrealistic as a character. The kings' stories are nothing if not at least slightly embellished. While Odysseus is no doubt a master of cunning and wit and hardly a novice at battling; no human could live up to the splendor painted in the accounts told by so many. This, however does not make him any less of man. Also, some would let Odysseus' time with Calypso sully his character; however, I feel his entrapment strengthens him. Regardless of his bedding with the nymph, Odysseus remains entirely faithful to his home. He is hardly in any spot to be contradicting a goddess, especially coming off years of torment and torture. For every night Odysseus spent in bed with Calypso, he spent a full day crying and never once accepted her offers for immortality, longing only for home and family. This fact makes Odysseus noble and honorable, weaknesses and infidelity included.
Odysseus: even though we don't get the privilege of meeting him until book 5, we are told enough about him that we already feel by the end of book 4 that we are fairly familiar with him. We get told about his many great adventures and conquests, and he is put on top of the highest possible pedestal as the hero above all mortal heroes.
ReplyDeleteAt the very beginning, we learn little about his actual character, but moreover his great stories, and also his suspected whereabouts: trapped by Calypso, the "bewitching nymph" and "lustrous goddess" (1.15) who is holding him capture on her island as her 'husband', a very unwilling one at that. It seems that this first introduction of Odysseus is an interesting change of the character in all of the brave and heroic tales that we hear in the first four books. Even though he is being held captive by a goddess, it would seem that the great Odysseus would be able to find some way out of it as he has done in many a situation before, and when we are told by Proteus in book 4 "I saw him once on an island, weeping live warm tears in the nymph of Calypso's house" (4.626), it is only confirmed that he may not be as great of a man as we think.
Despite all this, something from reading the first 4 books still makes the me think he really is as great as he is said to be. Maybe it's his fame around so many countries at the time, maybe it's the magnificent stories told of his adventures, and maybe it's all in my head. Whatever way, even though we have already met him in our reading it should be fun getting to know him a lot more.
Like many have said, my first impression of Odysseus was that of a mighty warrior, godlike, and nothing less than a hero who everybody looks up to and respects. Before he came into the picture, many described him as a “godlike man, and kindly as a father to his children,” (5-13) with “a spirit tempered to endure” (5-245) and “who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too.” (1-79) I had this image of him in my mind of this incredible man who is strong and nearly immortal like the gods. However, when we eventually meet him in book 5 when Calypso was told by Hermes to release him for his journey home, a contradicting image comes into play. Calypso finds him “weeping, his eyes never dry” (5-168) which makes my thought of him having incredible strength like a hero and god change. It says he was always crying every day. Then when he sleeps with Calypso one last time before he heads on his journey home my thoughts about him change even more like Brittany’s and McKenzie’s. It had talked about him being forced to sleep with her, but the text didn’t lead to that conclusion in this instance, so his faithfulness to Penelope became ruined in my mind. Also, I think a hero and godlike man, as people claim him to be, should be represented as humble, however, he comes off differently when we actually meet him. He doesn’t take the scarf immediately from Ino which would save his life (5-395) because he thinks he can do it on his own, then in book 8 when the games and contests are going on at Alcinous’ palace, he has to show off his strength and make it known that he can beat everyone there. He’s prideful and arrogant in these scenes, so his image is being redefined for me. The more we see of him, the more I dislike his character.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of Odysseus portrayed him as an extremely talented strategist which gained him "widespread fame" (3.91). In the first few books he is described as a "seasoned veteran" (1.58), a "noble father" (2.76), "cunning" (2.312), "flexible" and "wily" (3.181), and "fearless" (4.303). Even though the reader isn't introduced to Odysseus himself until much later, we are still able to obtain an image of him through the wanderings of Telemachus. For example, it is said that Telemachus wields an "uncanny resemblance" (1.241) to his father, bearing physical traits such as "fine eyes" (1.241) as well as skills such as good speech as shown here: "Not even an older man could speak and do as well. Your father's son you are--your words have all his wisdom" (4.228-29).
ReplyDeleteWhen we are finally introduced to Odysseus we see him "gazing out over the barren sea through blinding tears" (5.175). It seems that this diminishes his character in the eyes of readers as he has so far been built up to be an awesome force. It's true that this is somewhat anticlimactic however I would argue that he has been through a lot (being held prisoner by Calypso and whatnot) and in order to make him convincing as a human hero character--not a god--he should display weakness at some point in the story, and here it is.
As to his being accused of dishonorable conduct with Calypso, I think that too can be refuted. Calypso is introduced to the reader as a "bewitching nymph" and a "lustrous goddess" (1.78). This is a nonhuman goddess we're speaking of who bestowed her full attention/desire upon Odysseus; as cunning as Odysseus is he may have realized he was no match for Calypso's machinations. We're even given some evidence with: "unwilling lover alongside lover all too willing" (5.172). I suppose my point here is that yes, technically, Odysseus has been unfaithful to Penelope but there are some extenuating circumstances here, he's only a man fighting against the will of a goddess, and even though he does "sleep with her" (5.171) he makes up for that by crying his heart out everyday in his desire to get home (home meaning: wife, son, palace, warm welcoming, possessions; not all of those excluding wife). Yes, he praises Calypso when he leaves but to touch on something I mentioned earlier, Odysseus is cunning. He isn't going to do anything to mess up his chances of getting off that island. Let's not forget that he doesn't know that Calypso was forced to let him go; according to her, she's doing it out of her own kindness which could technically be retracted with a false step.
Overall, I like Odysseus and was not disappointed when we caught up with him in book five.
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ReplyDeletePrior to the appearance of Odysseus in Book 5, I perceived him as a man of great courage, strength, and wisdom. We originally get to know Odysseus through the perspectives of various characters. Telemachus describes his father as a noble and kind ruler (2, 49). King Nestor recounts, “no one there [at Troy] could hope to rival Odysseus…at every twist of strategy he excelled us all,” (3, 134). Menelaus states that no Achaean was as hard working or accomplished as Odysseus (4, 120), while Helen speaks of him as being fearless and achieving heroic feats (4, 271). Such descriptions develop the perception of a heroic individual, one whose traits separate him from all other men.
ReplyDeleteThe appearance of Odysseus in Book 5 is a stark contrast to the grand perception given in Books 1-4. According to my previous impression, I would have expected Odysseus to demonstrate his resilience by attempting to escape the island or devising a plan to return home; instead, he spends all of his days sobbing and groaning (5, 173). The story of Menelaus deceiving Proteus and escaping captivity proves that Odysseus eluding Calypso’s confinement was not an impossible task, yet there is no evidence of any such attempt. Odysseus’s reputation further deteriorates during his struggle to reach Scheria, for he exhibits a fearful and defeated attitude. When Poseidon unleashed his fury on Odysseus, we are told, “Odysseus’ knees quaked, his spirit too; numb with fear he spoke” (5, 327). Odysseus is also quick to accept death on several accounts, making defeated declarations like, “it’s certain now!” (5,337), “what a wretched death I’m doomed to die!” (5, 345), “I see no way!” (5,453). He continually foresees his death (5, 430) and is often bailed out by the gods. Calypso saved him and not his shipmates (5, 144) and Athena inspired him during his voyage to Scheria. A hero is one who refuses to accept defeat and retains the ability to overcome adversity, yet Odysseus lacks such qualities. Therefore, his heroic feats result not from the person he is, but from the gods favoring him more than others. Odysseus is perceived as fearless, heroic, and godlike by many, but the credit belongs to the gods, not the man.
Through the first lines of the book we get a glimpse of the character Odysseus, a famous war hero who is lost at sea. Immediately in the next few lines we learn that Odysseus was “fighting to save his life and bring his comrades home. But he could not save them from disaster, hard as he strove” giving readers the image of a great leader who is hard at work, fighting to save not only himself, but his men as well. (1, 6). From this explanation, I envisioned Odysseus acting towards his men like a father would to his son, hoping to guide them to safety. Odysseus’ character is one holding power and control and in some ways guidance.
ReplyDeleteLater in the text, the Gods are conversing about Odysseus and Zeus addresses him as “Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom” which leads the readers to believe that he is wise, and held above all other men (1, 77). As Kaitlyn noted, Athena explains Odysseus as the “brave Odysseus” which again is interesting to note because another God is justifying Odysseus, a human, with positive and magnificent features. Throughout the first four books through references from many characters, I painted the picture of Odysseus being a “perfect warrior.” Not only does Odysseus hold extreme power, strength, and wisdom, but he is highly respected by many humans, and even Gods.
In books 5 and 6 the image of our “perfect warrior” is shattered. Instead we see a vulnerable, weak human “sitting, still weeping, his eyes never dry” (5, 168). Any previous image that was created of Odysseus is put to a halt, and instead we are offered the exact opposite. Here, Odysseus’ soft side is shown which is unknown to most. In place of Odysseus protecting his own men, Calypso is taking care of Odysseus and helping him create a boat so that he can finally head home. After actually meeting Odysseus, his contradictory actions and the situation that he happens to be in does not completely change my impression of him. I believe that Odysseus’ condition is just as Allison stated, simply because he is human. Odysseus’ has hit a weak point in his life where he is longing to return to his family, and maybe most importantly to himself, his homeland.
Though we did not meet Odysseus until later in this adventure, many references were made early regarding Odysseus and what type of man he is. I have not decided exactly how I feel about his character but I can say that he seems like a very noble, strong man. A description in the text claims Odysseus is “excelling all men in strategy” (111. 135). That line alone told me that Odysseus is very wise and skillful when it comes time to plan for a battle. It also lead me to believe that he is very highly regarded by the people of Ithaca. Zeus even states that Odysseus “..excels all men in wisdom “(79. 79). Coming from the king of the gods himself, that was quite a compliment. The first four books depict Odysseus as a powerful, great man; and I feel that holds true after meeting him in the fifth book.
ReplyDeleteThough Odysseus is crying on the beach when we first meet him, I do not feel that that is an accurate representation of his character. Calypso has captured him and now Odysseus is forced to sleep with her (157. 171). Because Odysseus spends his days sobbing on the rocks (157. 174), I thought maybe he was a coward. What else could he do though? Calypso has been with him for a very long time now, and I can imagine Odysseus has been feeling very hopeless. If he really were a coward I feel that he would have expressed concern and fear when told he could be set free.
Athena has also played an important role in developing my own opinion of Zeus. We discussed in class how Athena acts as a father figure to Telemachus throughout the story. My understanding of this is that Athena must really care for Telemachus, but she also must respect Odysseus. I don’t think that Athena would be mentoring Telemachus if she did not want Odysseus, a father and a warrior, coming back into his life.
One of my favorite aspects about The Odyssey is that the main character is not introduced until book five. Homer gives the reader an impression of Odysseus through the opinions of the other characters, and then let's the reader compare those opinions to their own impressions of Odysseus. Many, if not all, of the opinions shared about Odysseus by the other characters were incredibly positive. Menelaus thinks highly of his best friend Odysseus when he calls him "the crafty one" (132. 282), "great" (133. 315), and compares him to a "mighty lion" (135. 375). Telemachus refers to him as "great-hearted" (110. 93), Nestor says "no one can compare to him in sheer cunning" (111. 134), and Pallas Athena, the goddess of wisdom, refers to Odysseus as "wise" (80.99). But, when we meet Odysseus for the first time, he is not necessarily portraying all of these characteristics like I had expected him to be. It is obvious that he is very upset about being trapped on Calypso's island when we first come upon him "sitting on the rocks and beaches, wrenching his heart with sobs and groans and anguish" (157. 173). I immediately felt pity for Odysseus. It wasn't until after Calypso set him free and "they lost themselves in love" (159. 251) that night that my opinion of him changed dramatically. Was Odysseus as miserable as he seemed on Calypso's island? Or was he more upset that he hadn't died an "honorable death" and instead had been lost at sea? Odysseus seems more worried about his claim to glory, instead of getting home to his wife and son. I'm sure he is still a great warrior and king, but I was rubbed the wrong way after my first encounter with Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteAs Telemachus makes his transition from adolescence to adulthood, a fatherly figure in his life is absent. While being in this same age group as Telemachus and trying to empathize with him, his father Odysseus really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Odysseus left his son while he was a newborn to go to war, and never came back, and left his son to clean up the mess. This move to me personally was sort of immature and childish, even though Ithaca was dependent on him so there really was no good choice for him. This was only while reading through books 1-4 though. Upon meeting Odysseus, I believe him to be a role model for many characters in the book, one being his son Telemachus:
ReplyDeletePg 86 lines 307-308 - Athena speaking to Telemachus "If only that Odysseus sported with these suitors, a blood wedding, a quick death would take the lot."
When I read this I heard Athena saying to her son "Telemachus, don't you want to be like your father? Don't you want to be a great warrior and stand up and be the man of a family and make a respectable name for yourself?"
While Telemachus is on his journey, he needs nothing other than his last name to precede his reputation. This means that although we are unsure of who Odysseus is personally, through other character's narratives (such as when Helen calls him a "fearless hero" on page 132 line 271) we know he is a respectable almost god-like ruler of his country.
Or when Telemachus encounters King Nestor and asks about his father, he replies
"Your way with words-- It's just like his-- I'd swear no youngster could ever speak like you, so apt so telling." (page 111 line 137-140). This makes me think that upon meeting Odysseus, we will realize that he acts a lot like the character Telemachus. Up to the point in the book I am now, Telemachus is my favorite character. It is like the saying Like Father, Like Son in this case, I believe that when meeting Odysseus he will have the ability to completely win over the audience with his courage and good-heartedness.
As I read Books 1-4 of The Odyssey, I began to put a picture in my mind of who Odysseus was. Throughout these books Odysseus is said to be a godlike man, as well as a great leader. The quote “… and kindly as a father to his children” (2-262) is basically saying that Odysseus cared for his people. There was also a mention of Odysseus caring to his men at Troy. After I was done reading Books 1-4, I thought Odysseus would be this brave man, who was full of pride. But then when we meet him in the book five, my thought changed. I found him to be rather vulnerable and whiney, “weeping there as always, wrenching his heart with sobs and groans and anguish. (5-93)” This was not the image I had of this great leader. Ironically when we first meet him, he is crying like a child.
ReplyDeleteAs far as we have read through this great epic tale of Odysseus, we still have yet to find out the his personality through words of his own. So in order to dissect his personality in relation to his past, present, family, and relationship with the "bewitching nymph," (1.15) Calypso we must detect the clues that are used to describe Odysseus. Adjectives such as, "man of twists and turns,"(1.1) "Great," (6. 129) "worldly," (5. 238) "resourceful King," (4. 860), as well as many others are used to describe the personality of Odysseus. However, at some points in the epic tale, words such as "Un-lucky," (5, 480) and descriptions such as "veteran cursed by fate so long," (1. 58) "luckless man" (1. 66) and how "Odysseus longs to die," (1. 71) suggests a rather different tone about his persona.
ReplyDeleteAs Holland states above certain descriptions throughout the first stories suggest that, "the great Odysseus would be able to find some way out of it as he has done in many a situation before" and "it is only confirmed that he may not be as great of a man as we think" (Holland). This is an opinion I have been pondering since the beginning of the tale by having two very distinct descriptions of Odysseus that are in fact exact opposites of each other. For example, as I've stated above, "resourceful King (4. 860) and "luckless man" (1. 66).
In conclusion, the tales of Odysseus have not yet been strong enough to push me one way or the other in regards to his persona. However, I feel that as the book carries on, we will learn exactly who Odysseus is, exactly how he lived his earlier life and who he is upon his arrival home (assuming that this epic allows him to arrive safely home), and I look forward to finding out.
My initial thoughts of Odysseus were similar to many others in the book. They referenced him as being a "a good friend" (3.395), a man that never spoke "an unfair word, never an unfair action" (4.776), " excels all men in wisdom" (1.79), and a "godlike man" (2.261). In the accounts of several gods and characters throughout the first four books of the text, Odysseus is painted as a rare character. A man that almost seemed too good to be true. I was looking forward to eventually meeting this legendary man that I had heard so much about in the text, until I actually met him. I may be a bit of a "negative Nancy", but I found Odysseus to be quite unlike the man described earlier on in the text. His demeanor and actions spoke of a man contrary to the character he had long seemed to display in his glory days. He now spends his days weeping (5.93-94), he sleeps with the nymph Calypso (5.251), is rather prideful and stubborn (5.390-401), and seems to be negative and winey about his situation(5.515-523). I believe that these qualities may be evident due to the fact that Odysseus has been kept from home for twenty years, and in that time span he battled and was held captive. I believe that his character may have taken a toll due to all of the circumstance that he endured. However, I have hope that he will eventually come across as the Odysseus described earlier on in the text. I believe that his character, along with Athena and Telemachus, will grow as the journey continues in the text!
ReplyDeleteBefore we first met Odysseus in book 5, I had thought of him as a hero, idle, and godly. We learn about him through others’ stories and memories. He seems to be a strong and respected man. People looked up to him and were proud to know him. Book 3 refers to him as “great-hearted” (3.93). He was also a brave warrior. Many of the memories depicted him as a bold and heroic man. “What a heart that fearless Odysseus had inside of him” (4.303).
ReplyDeleteHowever, as I started to read book 5, my opinion of Odysseus changed. I was disappointed at how he had acted on the island. He did not try to escape or help his fate. Instead he cried every day. He also was not as brave as he is made out to be. He accepts the idea that he could die and is okay with it. He does not care about life the way he used to. I would have thought of him as thriving to live and get back to life he missed. He is not living up to be what everyone expects. I am, however, looking forward to see if he can turn his act around.
Through the early books (1-4) of The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed second-hand as a perfect man. Many characters in this epic poem idolize Odysseus, and are quick to sing his praises.
ReplyDeleteMenelaus describes him as a courageous warrior, saying “…what a heart that fearless Odysseus had inside him!” (Page 133 Line 303). Through Penelope’s lamentation, “How I long for my husband¬—alive in memory, always,” (Page 88 Line 395) it is obvious that Odysseus was a devoted husband. Since Nestor helps Telemachus on his quest because he is the son of his “good friend Odysseus” (Page 118 Line 395), we know that Odysseus is a warm-hearted comrade. Helen exclaims at the likeness between Telemachus and his father (Page 128 Line 156), giving the reader hints as to Odysseus’s handsome stature. In addition, Odysseus can be considered wise. Zeus himself exclaims “Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom” (Page 79 Line 78-79).
He is a leader, king, and often compared to a god. Yet there is a darker side to Odysseus. The first line of the poem describes him as “the man of twists and turns,” which is quite a different portrayal than the other characters give. While trapped in Calypso’s lair, he gives up hope and even “longs to die” (Page 79 Line 71). Odysseus is cunning, vicious, and full of duplicity. Odysseus schemes by disguising himself as a beggar to infiltrate Troy (Page 132 Line 276). Yet he controls these traits, and uses them as a last resort, in the most tenacious of situations. The use of cunning and duplicity to ultimately achieve his goals shows that Odysseus is above all a survivor. While Odysseus may not be as perfect and pure as the earlier text describes, it is my opinion that these imperfections make Odysseus a full, rich, and relatable character.
Before I got to "meet" Odysseus in the fifth book, I felt as though he was someone great. He appeared to be a legend with heroic qualities. He was a man held captive by a goddess with "his heart set on his wife and his return" (78. 16). Initially I got the feeling that Odysseus was someone with a commanding presence who wanted nothing more than to be home with his family and people. Every God took pity on him except for Poseidon (78.22), so I accepted him as a noble man.
ReplyDeleteSomeone mentioned in class that we might have an insight into what Odysseus is like through the actions and speeches of his now grown son Telemachus. When Telemachus did have to courage to say what was on his mind, people would comment on how his words had a presence. When Telemachus was talking with Menelaus trying to decipher what happened to his father, Menelaus commented on Telemachus's speech saying "Good blood runs in you, dear boy, your words are proof." (143. 687). Again I assumed that Odysseus was an honorable man.
In book five I realized that Zeus gave permission for Odysseus to be released from his captor Calypso. I thought it peculiar that Odysseus's capture was blamed on Calypso at the beginning, but suddenly Calypso claims to have saved Odysseus and it was Zeus who almost killed him (156. 144). Calypso may have had the crazed idea that Odysseus belonged to her, and that she had a right to him for saving his life. What conflicts with Odysseus being such a noble man for me is how he and Calypso wind up "withdrawing into the cavern's deep recesses, long in each other's arms they lost themselves in love." (159. 250). If he loved his wife so much that he wept every day for seven years (157.174) while forced to spend the evenings with Calypso, why did he willingly reside in her cavern one last night before venturing home? He appears to have formed some sort of intimate relationship with her because even in his final speech he states how his wife falls short of Calypso in several ways (159. 239). Maybe he spent his days sobbing because he felt guilty for forming this relationship with Calypso with a wife and child at home.
The fifth book made me question Odysseus's character, but also made me question what I would do in his situation. He was gone for nearly 20 years, and was possibly caught up in temptation. Maybe this event exposed his one weakness, and one mistake does not necessarily make a great man a terrible one.
My initial impression of Odysseus was that he was a man of great power, intelligence, fair to his people, and well-respected. These ideas developed after hearing the thoughts and feelings of his comrades and friends of the Trojan War. King Nestor said, “And no one there could hope to rival Odysseus, not for sheer cunning- at every twist of strategy he excelled us all” (111. 134). In addition to this description by King Nestor a number of different characters referred to Odysseus’s kindness as similar to that of a father to his child. Despite the power that Odysseus held, he was obviously a person who made himself available to his people in times of need. King Menelaus supports this idea when he said, “Yes, and just now, as I was talking about Odyssesus, remembering how he struggled, suffered, all for me, a flood of tears came streaming down his face…” (129.167). The first time we actually meet Odysseus he is shown in an extremely weak and vulnerable position. While we have pictured Odysseus, up until this point, to be a large, powerful man, our first encounter actually showed him crying, longing to return home. This vulnerability continued when Odysseus said, “I won’t set foot on a raft until you show good faith, until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath you’ll never plot some new intrigue to harm me” (158. 197)! At that point in time Odysseus’s fate had been roughly handled by the gods one too many times, and his fear of what the gods were capable of doing was clear. The all-powerful man that we had been expecting to meet was altered after being held captive for so many years, far away from his home and family that he loved. While this was a change from my initial impression, I found myself to be quite understanding and sympathetic towards him.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can discern from reading the first four chapters, Odysseus is a larger-than-life, ultra masculine character--reflective of a model Greek citizen. According to Zeus, he is a man "...who excels all men in wisdom, excels in offerings too..." (79.79-80) And this is coming from highest of all Gods--an expert on the subject, no doubt. The worst part of his exile, to me, is not the physical separation from his family, but the fact that it is marring his good name back home--no one recognizes his heroic deeds as they all falsely believe he died in obscurity. There on the island he is (mostly) forced to be unfaithful to his wife--another scar on his incorruptible honor. Poseidon is destroying his outstanding reputation. As Telemachus searches for news of his father, people do nothing but sing his praises. Especially important are Odysseus's orating skills. Whenever Telemachus has an inspired or brazen speech, people say that he reminds them of his father. Nestor says after hearing Telemachus speak, "Your way with words--it's just like his--I'd swear no youngster could ever speak like you, so apt, so telling" (111.139-140). In conclusion, Odysseus is a man with god-like characteristics; he is brave, strong, scrupulous, an excellent speaker, and leader--he is projected more like a god than a man.
ReplyDeleteFrom reading the first few books I thought that Odysseus would be a strong warrior that was fighting his way back home. Then when we meet Odysseus he’s stuck on an island and isn’t doing much to change his situation. He cries everyday he’s on the island but doesn’t really do anything to try and get away. He has been trapped by the goddess Calypso and has maintained a romantic relationship with her, still while saying how much he misses his wife and son. I might’ve believed that he did actually care about his wife and son as much as he said he did if he actually left as soon as Calypso released him, but he didn’t. Instead, he chose to stay and ends up “withdrawing into the cavern’s deep recesses, long in each other’s arms they lost themselves in love.” (159. 250.). If he really loved his family so much he would not have done this.
ReplyDeleteI was also surprised at how weak he seems even when Calypso gives him a raft. He seems to think that she’s still trying to harm him. He says “I won’t set foot on a raft until you show good faith, until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath you’ll never plot s me new intrigue to harm me” (158. 197.). It just seems silly that a man that’s supposed to be so strong and heroic is afraid to get on a raft. Odysseus receives an “immortal” scarf that guarantees he’ll be safe from harm out at sea. Yet, he refuses to wear it as if he’s trying to prove himself again. This seems futile because the reader has already seen him as afraid and whiny and refusing to wear the scarf at this point just seems mildly pathetic. Whether Odysseus is actually a heroic warrior or a whiny man he’s developing quickly as a character and I’m looking forward to seeing the other parts of his personality.
In the beginning of the book Odysseus I would assume Odysseus is a great warrior and a wonderful husband and father, intelligent and god-like also. But he is also described as a "luckless man" due to the fact he is being held captive(1.66) then a little further down Zeus describes him as the Great Odysseus who excels all men in wisdom (1.79) At this point in time I feel as if Zeus really cared for Odysseus he would not have let him be held captive for so long. Why would Zeus have waited for a Athena to come up with a plan? As we read along we find out what his son Telemachus thinks of him which he says he thinks his father is not an honorable man because he was lost at sea and not died during combat or at home in a loved ones arms (1.275) so now we are seeing through his sons eyes. King Menelaus sees Odysseus as a man who performed hundreds feats of arms for him and saw him as a hero and wanted to welcome him home with a heroes welcome (4.188) so he was a hero to the king. So there are mixed feelings I received during the first few books but as I get into the fifth book I see a different man. A man who truly loves his family and is being held captive against his will by a beautiful Calypso. I feel sorry for him. I think he has to do whatever he feels is right so he can get back home to his family but truly I think he feels that without the help of another God like Zeus he will be trapped forever and is just trying to make the best of a bad situation.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I first read about Odysseus, I pictured him to be a very strong and touch, frealess leader, kind of guy. After the suffering he'd been through (1.5), he didn't seem like a guy that would give up easily. He seemed like a guy thaat always knew what he was doing and didn't get discouraged when things didn't go how he had planned (1.7-8). He seemed like a guy who couldn't get any closer to god-status without just becoming immortal. He has a devoted wife and loving son who are still faithful and look up to him even though he's been gone for 20 years.
ReplyDeleteWhen we finally meet him in Book 5, he doesn't seem as god-like I was thinking he would. It makes him more relatable actually. he is in captivity in the lair of Calypso and seems to have lost all hope of ever leaving. He seems so weak when we see that all he does is cry (5.93/168) and unwilling sleep with Calypso (5.172). We especially see that he has lost all hope of leaving when he doesn't even believe Caplypso when she says he can go (5.190). It almost seems like he doesn't know what to do with himself so that's why he stays and sleeps with her one last night (5.251). He's sticking with what he's known for the last 7 years before he heads out in the world of total unknown. He still seems like a guy that is on top of his game (like what my first impression was) but he's just been out of whack for a while and needs to get back on his feet.
Odysseus, who appears to be very masculine, and perhaps somewhat of a heroic mortal by others definitions, changes my mind later on in the story. After finding out about Odysseus once he actually enters the picture, I find myself wondering what he did to receive such an introduction. Although being held my force in many instances, all he can do is cry about his many misfortunes(4.610). Not that masculine men can never cry, but Odysseus' theatrical act seems to be more full of drama than of actual feelings for missing his wife, son, and land. Speaking of his wife and son, Odysseus on more than one occasion forgets them completely, lamenting instead upon his material possessions that he so longs for. This is shown by the line "...Oh just let me see my lands, my serving-men and the grand high-roofed house--then I can die in peace."(7. 258). The standards in the Odyssey of a heroic and reputable man seem to be much different than a heroic and reputable man of this day and age. I'd like to think that family and morals would rank much higher on the list today than they were ranked for Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteAfter meeting Odysseus on his journey, my thoughts have changed. We are first introduced when Helen describes his battle at Troy and how cunning he was. But when Ino tries to warn him to rest before continuing, Odysseus shows his true colors. He is very stubborn and will do things his way. Even if it puts others at risk, he thinks that he knows all. They pray for the help of gods yet Odysseus declares “I fear another immortal weaves a snare to trap me, urging me to abandon ship! I won’t. Not yet….No, here’s what I’ll do, it’s what seems best to me” (5, 393). After proclaiming this about the immortals and then arriving in Phaeacia he prays to Athena “Hear me, daughter of Zeus whose shield is thunder—tireless one, Athena! Now hear my prayer at last, for you never heard me then, when I was shattered, when the famous god of earthquakes wrecked my craft. Grant that here among Phaeacian people I may find some mercy and some love!” (6, 355). First he says he is going to do things his way, taking responsibility. But then blames the gods, he claims to distrust for not helping him in hard times. He is too proud and cares only for himself.
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