“I don’t know what kind of send-off you have in mind,
Goddess, telling me to cross all that open sea on a raft,
Painful, hard sailing. Some well-rigged vessels
Never make it across with a stiff wind from Zeus.
You’re not going to catch me setting foot on any raft
Unless you agree to swear a solemn oath
That you’re not planning some new trouble for me.”
(Book 5, Lines 172-178)
As I read book 5 to book 8, this passage stood out to me the most. Perhaps not the most distinguishable in terms of how it varies from other passages, the feelings that it evokes have been absent throughout the previous four books. There is an undertone of mistrust and anger that hasn’t been heard of, especially towards a god. Odysseus is very straightforward with his uncertainty and the choice in diction shows this. He does not mask anything with figurative language because he doesn’t need to. He is not afraid of Calypso or how she will react, which brings us to the topic of the relationships between mortals and gods.
First of all, these are the first lines we heard coming directly from Odysseus’ mouth, after four books. We have heard many tales of this cunning hero and what he’s done and said, but these are his first direct words. That already brings a strong sense of importance to the passage.
This passage is very much about the relationship between mortals and gods, but it is very different because it’s between Odysseus and the immortal goddess that has kept him “prisoner” for nine years. We have seen this relationship unfold many times, throughout the book, in the form of worship and offerings. It’s a very one-sided relationship, where the mortal must please the immortal in order to gain protection and kindness from said god. This is the first time in the story that we hear a mere mortal talking to a god in such away, and more importantly, a goddess accepting his tone and even smiling and teasing him about it. Odysseus’ words are harsh, and the mistrust is very much present, but at the same time, no one can really blame him for it. Even Calypso accepts that he has the right to ask that much of her and makes the promise to him.
His anger and mistrust are very much prevalent through these lines. He questions the goddess, something that has been unheard of yet. From what we’ve read, mortal simply accept what the gods suggest because they believe that the gods want the best for them. This is very different from how Odysseus perceives gods; to him, they can be cunning and do not wish him the best. He has seen this through his relationships with Poseidon and even Athena before she grew a liking to him.
Hi Delsy!
I enjoyed reading your analysis of the passage. It definitely was shocking for me when I read these lines. For a mortal to reject a God’s act of help is definitely surprising. However, after suffering misfortunes from God after God, I’m sure Odysseus has had his fair share of God’s controlling his fate, that he has decided to choose his own actions and make his own decisions for once. So, I agree with you, that no one can really blame him for acting up. Ultimately, Odysseus still ended up following the orders of the God. But the first initial refusal was incredibly shocking, especially for Odysseus’ first lines.
– Kimberly Chang
Hello!
I completely agree with you about this particular passage. So far, we’ve seen other characters who continually demonstrate respect and sacrifice for the gods, but the first time we meet Odysseus, he is challenging one. I liked how you said the relationship between mortals and gods seemed to be one sided, but we can see that this is clearly not always the case. Not only is Odysseus talking on the same level to a goddess, but also we see how the gods and goddesses rely on the humans for entertainment. We are only able to see the abilities and influence of the gods when the humans are around to bring that out of them. It is, after all, the humans who are sharing these stories. In any case, I loved how you mentioned the significance of these lines as Odysseus’s first, and it makes me look forward to reading more about him. Great job!
I really enjoyed your analysis of this passage. This relates a lot to some of the binary elements of the story, particular the binary theme of mortal and immortal characters, and the theme of fate versus free will. Here, Odysseus shows fear of fate and acknowledges how powerful fate and the gods themselves can be in shaping the course of his mortal life. Odysseus fears and mistrusts that Calypso might retaliate against him for leaving her and her island behind, after how well she thinks she has treated him. Next, this passage hints at Odysseus fearing Poseiden, the god of the treacherous sea that Calypso is suggesting he travel through. Also, this moment forces Odysseus to recall his past tribulations at sea prior to his time at Ogygia and causes him to confront the imminent reality of having to make another sea journey, along with all the possible perils that he may again face.