Pain vs Pleasure

“They made their beautiful voices carry,

And my heart yearned to listen. I ordered my men

To untie me, signaling with my brows,

But they just leaned on their oars and rowed on.

Perimedes and Eurylochus jumped up,

Looped more rope around me, and pulled tight.

When we had rowed past, and the Sirens’ song

Had faded on the waves, only then did my crew

Take the wax from their ears and untie me.”

Throughout Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca, a specific binary is continually brought up—the choice between pain or pleasure. Odysseus is constantly having to decide whether he wants to continue his tedious odyssey—one he could possibly lose his life in—or stay at the place he has arrived at the given time. For the most part, whenever Odysseus encounters a new island, he is treated with much care and respect by all of those around him. From the Island of Aeaea, where he became a lover to the goddess Circe and his entire crew was cared for by her four maids, all the way to Ogygia, where he stayed for seven years under the love and care of goddess Calypso. And even shortly after, in Phaeacia where King Alcinous told him he wished “by Zeus, by Athena and Apollo” that Odysseus would stay there to marry his daughter, be called his son and given a house “filled with possessions.”

In all of those instances, Odysseus is in some level having to make the decision of whether he wants to give into his pleasures or return to his struggles. Of course his greatest desire is to ultimately reach the Ithacan shores and see his wife Penelope and son Telemachus after being gone for so many years. However, his journey has been so excruciating that it wouldn’t be surprising for him to have second thoughts on whether he should continue it—a possible idea reinforced by the fact that Odysseus remained in Calypso’s Island for seven years without even attempting to reignite his journey—the only reason he eventually ended up leaving is because the gods took matters into their own hands.

The binary becomes a bit confusing since Odysseus doesn’t display apparent signs that he wishes to stay at the given place and give up his journey. He never seems to show any interest in staying with the Phaeacians and is constantly bringing up his desire to reach home. Furthermore, when he is in Calypso’s island he seems to be miserable and does nothing but cry all day—at least for the last few years he was there. However, in the passage above, the binary can clearly be seen as Odysseus actually manifests that his heart “yearned to listen” to the sirens. He ordered his men to untie him for he wished, deep in his heart, to give into his pleasures and follow the beautiful voices. Although Odysseus is an epic hero, his mind is not strong enough to withstand the enchantments of the sirens and within minutes he wishes to abandon his ship, abandon his pains. However, given the ropes he has tied around him and the restriction of his crew, he is forced to stay on the ship and continue his arduous odyssey.

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Host-Guest Relationship

“You’re dumb, stranger, or from far away,

If you ask me to fear the gods. Cyclopes

Don’t’ care about Zeus or his aegis

Or the blessed gods, since we are much stronger.

I wouldn’t spare you or your men

Out of fear of Zeus. I would spare them only

If I myself wanted to…” (Book 9, Page 351, Lines 265-271)

A host and guest relationship is a binary that is seen throughout The Odyssey, especially during Odysseus’ long journey. There are certain responsibilities hosts and guests are counted upon to uphold. Typically, hosts are expected to allow strangers into their home, shower them with luxuries, and even give them a bath. Only during the feast would the host begin to question the stranger on their identity and purpose. A guest was likely to accept the gifts, to not abuse their privileges, and to convey to the gods of their superb stay, for the happiness of their host.

However, the hospitality between a host and a guest is not solely out of the goodness of their hearts, but rather for the gods. Since hosts have no way of knowing whether their guest was a mortal, or a god, by treating every guest like a god, they wouldn’t accidently treat a god differently, or wrongly. By not upholding the responsibilities in a guest and host relationship, ultimately one or both parties would earn a punishment and seal their fate in the process. The host and guest relationship in ancient Greek is kept on a fine line, out of the fear of the gods.

The binary breaks down, when either the host or the guest, is not afraid of the gods, nor their punishments. This can be seen in the excerpt of Polyphemus declaring he’s stronger than all the gods and fears no one. When Odysseus entered the cave of Polyphemus, he was relying on the expectation of hospitality. Thus, he and his comrades began to help themselves to food and shelter. However, when Polyphemus returns, he refuses to follow the rules of Greek hospitality because he feels no need to. Odysseus asks for Polyphemus’ hospitality, even invoking the name of Zeus, but the Cyclops believes that his race is stronger than all the gods. Polyphemus then eats two of Odysseus’ men, directly defying Zeus, and destroying the host-guest binary.

Unlike a good host, Polyphemus does not think of his guests, but only of his own pleasures and gluttony. Eventually, Polyphemus ends up paying for his lack of hospitality as he is left blinded by Odysseus.

Through this excerpt, we can sense that if one refuses to be a good host, or guest, one will suffer the repercussions, even if one believes they are above all. Therefore, we can foreshadow a terrible fate for the suitors who have overstayed their welcome.

 

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Blog Post #3, Book XII: Winners and Losers

(Eurylokhos addressing Odysseus in front of the entire crew.)

“Are you flesh and blood, Odysseus, to endure

more than a man can? Do you ever tire?

God, look at you, iron is what you’re made of.

Here we all are, half dead with weariness,

falling asleep over the oars, and you

saying, ‘No landing’–no firm island earth

where we could make a quiet supper. No:

pull out to sea, you say, with night upon us–

just as before, but wandering now, and lost.

Sudden storms can rise at night and swamp

ships without a trace.”

The Norton Anthology of World Literature Second Edition Volume A. Book XII: 331-341

Some like to say that, in life, there are winners, and there are losers. Eurylokhos is a loser. Though cautious and compelling, he makes a grave mistake questioning the authority of the hero and gathering the troops against him. Eurylokhos’s ambition (but ultimate failure) arouses the thoughts of of hero v. layman binary in the Odyssey. It seems clear that Odysseus is the leader as a result of his tactical skills, fighting abilities, and abundant confidence. However, it is apparent that Eurylokhos is not the leader because, well, he does not embody these qualities. Yet–and his trepidation directly opposes Odysseus’s might–he publicly denounces Odysseus for his relentlessness in continuing their journey while all the men are “half dead with weariness, falling asleep over the oars…” It appears that this is a fatal  mistake for everyone, except our hero Odysseus.

Through 11 books of the Odyssey, the reader wonders how Odysseus came to be alone on the sea, and it is here that we unearth that mystery. The rebellious Eurlokhos causes the death of the entire crew because he spoke out against Odysseus. Odysseus is hesitant to anchor near the island of the Sun because of the temptation of eating from the Sun’s animals. He is well aware of the dangers of slaughtering the Sun’s animals. Yet, hunger overtakes the entire crew when they chanted “Aye!” to Eurlokhos’s suggestion that they defy Odysseus’s order and slaughter the animals while he sleeps.

This is not the first instance of Eurlokhos’s defiance. Earlier, in book X, he questions Odysseus’s instruction that the remaining crew member’s go to Kirke’s house. He ultimately joins the group, but Odysseus nearly draws his sword to kill Eurolokhos for disputing his word. Odysseus’s harshness is clearly warranted, since we understand what transpires when the hero’s authority is defied: complete destruction. Odysseus only agreed to have the company anchor on the island of the Sun because the majority sided with Eurolokhos. He had them all swear an oath that they would not eat of the Sun’s animals and they did so swear. Yet, again, Eurlokhos rallied the troops to defy Odysseus’s word, yet, this time it is while he sleeps, so there is no hope for order. All perish, all but our hero Odysseus.

There is an apparent progression in Eurolokhos’s defiance. From personal, to communal, to absolute treachery, he attempts to undo the order of leadership in the Odyssey, causing the obliteration of all. Only the leader, the hero remains.

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Blog Post #3: Analysis #2: Book 9, Lines 526-533

“Hear me, Poseidon, blue-maned Earth-holder,

If you are the father you claim to be.

Grant that Odysseus, son of Laertes,

May never reach his home on Ithaca.

But if he is fated to see his family again,

And return to his home and own native land,

May he come late, having lost all companions,

In another’s ship, and find trouble at home.”

 

In the Homeric universe, Fate and Free Will do not have the same meaning they have in our world. In our world, Fate and Free Will are antinomies, meaning they are logically incompatible and can never be reconciled. However, the Odyssey gives us the opportunity to see these two terms in a different context. We often take Fate as something already set in stone, conversely, in this Homeric universe, Fate is in a process of becoming and has not yet fully become. This is best represented by Penelope weaving her fate with a suitor by day, but then unweaving it herself by night, rendering her fate an endless process of spinning. The narrative has a fate of it’s own, it needs to bring the hero back home. But the hero has the potential of either creating this Fate or destroying it with the choices he makes (this is free will in the narrative). We have seen potential examples of destruction, such as the gods offering Odysseus to stay with them, but then Odysseus choosing to deny these offers preserves the narrative’s constructed fate of bringing him back home. In this moment between Odysseus and Polyphemus, we have an example of this process of becoming. Odysseus chooses to ignore his men and test Polyphemus’ hospitality. This ends by a prayer that sets up Odysseus’ fate of suffering in sea. We see here how Odysseus’s Fate is being generated by his own Free Will.

In order to collapse a distinction we must find a nexus between the two terms, in other words, an unstable third term that sublates them into a whole. Faith and Free Will can be sublated into their synthesis: Generation. Free Will cannot exist without Fate and Fate cannot exist without Free Will- the two coexist in this process of Generation. However, the reason why Generation is an unstable term is because there is no evidence yet that Fate and Free Will work in some sort of a balance. Fate, at first, seems to contain Free Will within itself: Odysseus’s acts of free will are being countered by prophecies, implying that Odysseus was suppose to act that way. We see this first at Polyphemus’ cave and then again at Circe’s house. So it can be debated if Free Will in this narrative exists at all.

 

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Week 2

but the gods
Stood in the doorway and laughed uncontrollably
When they saw Hephaestus’ cunning and craft.
One of them would look at another and snigger:

“Crime doesn’t pay.”
“The slow catches the swift.
Slow as he is, old Gimpy caught Ares,
The fastest god on Olympus.”
“Ares has to pay the fine for adultery.”
That was the general drift of their jibes.
And then Apollo turned to Hermes and said:

“Tell me, Hermes, would you be willing
To be pinched in chains if it meant you could lie
Side by side with golden Aphrodite?”

And the quicksilver messenger shot back:

“I tell you what, Apollo. Tie me up
With three times as many unbreakable chains,
And get all the gods and goddesses, too,
To come here and look, if it means I can sleep
Side by side with golden Aphrodite.”

The gods roared with laughter

The excerpt in book VIII that I chose is preceded by Aphrodite and Ares caught in bed, by Hephaestus, Aphrodite’s husband. Hephaestus snared the couple in unbreakable chains, and summoned the Gods to take a look. The Gods, perhaps not unexpected by Hephaestus, were laughing uncontrollably at the situation. Then, instead of condemning Ares for his wrongdoing, Apollo and Hermes discussed the sacrifices that one would make to be with Aphrodite.
The diction depicted a vivid imagery. In particular, the use of the phrase “shot back”, which meant “answered” by Hermes, showed that there was no hesitation in his response, that there was no room for moral debate. It would be worth it for Hermes, even if he has to suffer through humiliation of caught in chains and looked down by the pantheon of Gods and Goddesses, to be with Aphrodite. The repetition of “laughter”, in the beginning and the end of the excerpt, also helped paint the mood of the situation. The Gods were more so amused than disgusted by Ares and Aphrodite’s actions, and that what they did was not a deadly sin to them, as exemplified by the laughter that followed Hermes’ response.
From a larger perspective, fidelity is a major theme in Odyssey, and this excerpt presents the unique viewpoint of the immortals on the issue. Zeus and the patheon lamented the death of Agamemnon and the bloodshed that his wife’s affair had caused. Penelope wittingly dodged suitors to buy time for Odysseus to return, preserving her fidelity to her husband. Clearly, the mortals value of fidelity and are aware of the dire consequences of affairs. The immortals, however, seems to not value it so much. This is an outcome of being immortal, living forever long and able to experience in ways that mere mortals cannot. Perhaps monotonous relationships, fitting for relatively short-lived mortals, become boring for the long life span of the Gods. Perhaps the immortals have already experienced love, dedication, and commitment to a single person that they are seeking the thrills of being with someone else’s partner. This made me think about Odysseus turning down Calypso’s offer to become ageless. Perhaps Odysseus knew that being immortal is not as perfect as it seems, that maybe life is meant to only be lived in a limited amount of time.

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What’s in a “Gift”?

“The sad truth is that the gods don’t give anyone
All their gifts, whether it’s looks, intelligence,
Or eloquence. One man might not have good looks,
But the gods crown his words with beauty,
And men look at him with delight. He speaks
With unfaltering grace and sweet modesty,
And stands out in any crowd. When he walks
Through town, men look upon him as a god.
Another man might look like an immortal,
But his words are not crowned with beauty.”

(Book VIII: Lines 183-192)

In this passage Odysseus is responding to Euryalus’ taunts about him not being an athlete. This passage stood out to me because Odysseus’ claim that the “gods don’t give anyone all of their gifts” (lines 183-184) can be interpreted in more than one way depending on how you define the word “gift”. Neither way means it in the very literal sense of a physical object that is presented to someone, however one interpretation can be considered more figurative than the other. The first one adheres more to what is actually written in the passage, that no mortal can ever have all of the “gifts”, or physical, mental, and social attributes, of a god. Here Odysseus shows a sense of humility, in saying that he may not possess the best looks or physical abilities, but also shows his strength in wittiness and wisdom. This was somewhat surprising to me as I would initially think that a hero would always be good at everything – or at least think of himself in that way. However it wasn’t too shocking as I was somewhat warned of Odysseus’ unconventional heroism in the second line of Book I, where he is described as a “cunning hero”.

The second way in which the claim can be interpreted is more figurative and slightly differs in it’s meaning of the word “gift”. No mortal can ever receive all of the “gifts”, or the full assistance of the gods. It seemed obvious to me that as powerful as Athena, or any other god who wishes for Odysseus to return home, is that she could have easily brought him home herself at any point in his journey thus far. As easily as Hermes traveled to Ogygia on Zeus’ behalf to command Calypso to set Odysseus free, is as easily as he could have transported him back to Ithaca. Even the goddess Ino, who gave him her veil so he would not die or be harmed while attempting to swim to Phaeacians’ Island, could have helped him when he was stuck between being smashed into stone cliffs by the waves or being cast back out to sea. While helping Odysseus in this way would make for a much less exciting tale, which is perhaps why the gods chose not to, it seemed to me that it was wholly within their abilities to do so as they were able to help him in various other ways throughout his journey.

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The Two Olive Trees

Page 396: Book V, Lines 480 to 502

Homer uses diction to create imagery that casts a sense of serenity to the reader. This passage stands in contrast to the rest of the book in the sense that it depicts a space of comfort and safety. Thus far, the tale has been made up of predominantly suspenseful, stressful, and treacherous imagery; Penelope’s and Telemachus’ home situation, snippets of the Trojan war, and many of Odysseus’ dangerous and/or saddening encounters. Here, Homer creates a literary landscape of a dense cover in a vast woods, lush greenery, and comfort in the form of nature. Although the temporary refuge would seem less than ideal for a normal individual, this words used in the passage assign a feeling of thankfulness to Odysseus. “The sight of these leaves was a joy to Odysseus…” simply shows the role that the impromptu nest plays in his state of mind, well-being, and the excerpt’s identity – peaceful.

Throughout, Homer also conveys a sense of comfort, and reassurance of Odysseus’ safety, to the reader by describing the spot and the environment around it with powerful adjectives. The trees; “intertwined”, the wind; “wild, wet”, the cover itself; “Impervious.” When accompanying such a bold, picturesque setting, the word choice and mood-setting descriptions infuse the passage with feeling and intensity.

As far as the passage’s role in the story’s plot, symbolism allows the reader a glimpse into Odysseus and the circumstances surrounding him. The two olive trees that created a natural roof for the “godlike survivor” represent, on a simple level, the idea of ending conflict. Odysseus has finally been set free by Calypso, and will ideally go home to his loving wife and son, no longer having to fight, or cater to the nymph’s desires as he has done for almost a decade. He will finally be able to live on his land with his family, and also, hopefully, a clean slate with the gods. They’re a symbol of peace, also, which is very fitting considering their aid to Odysseus – “[He] lay down in their midst and covered himself up.”

On a deeper level, the two olive trees, “one wild, one planted,” could be referring to the dynamic between humans and gods – gods being “wild”, and humans being “planted.” Whereas the gods have capabilities beyond those of humans, and humans have capabilities of much lesser power than those of gods, they’re able to coexist, mesh, and overall have a symbiotic relationship. Without one or the other, such a world of magic and peace, much like Odysseus’ refuge, would not exist.

 

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Post 2: Be My Guest

You should come forward, too, as our guest,
And try your hand at one of the sports,
If you are skilled at any, I’m sure you are,
For there is no greater glory a man can win in life,
Than the glory he wins with his hands and feet.
So shrug off your cares and give it a try.
It won’t delay your journey. Your ship
Is already launched and the crew is ready.
(Book 8, Page 415, Lines 158-165)

The Odyssey was originally written (spoken) in an archaic Greek language, so sometimes it may be difficult for me to read without stopping to decipher and absorb the text. This passage drew my attention because I understood it quickly and easily. As the son of the King Alcinous and the winning boxer of the Phaiakians, Laomadas is the first to speak to Odysseus about joining the games. He casually challenges Odysseus to a participate in the sporting events by using an over-confident tone that ends up provoking the god-like Odysseus. Laomadas sarcastically says, “If you are skilled at any [sports], I’m sure you are.”

The diction Loamadas uses pressure Odysseus into joining the Phaiacians. Laomadas reminds Odysseus that he is a guest and in ancient Greek culture, one should be good guest if they are treaty with proper hospitality, such as shelter, transportation, and baths. At the end of the passage, the prince once again reminds him that the ship and men were prepared for him to take his journey, so a little sports action is not a big favor to ask of in return. Also, by using the term ‘glory,’ Laomadas challenges the power of the heroic Odysseus.

As a whole, this Passage shows the relations between a guest and a host. Even though the host, Alcinous and his family, must provide Odysseus with lavish gifts and proper treatment, Odysseus is also expected to respond by partaking in events the Phaiacians excel at. This event supports the idea that he can act as a good guest. He previously shows this by acting thankful to Calypso, who provided him with food and shelter despite holding him captive.

This passage also brings up a question of identity. Since Odysseus never revealed his true identity, the Phaiacians do not know that he is a hero of the Trojan War or that his home is filled with suitors, and that he has not been home in 20 years. However, in this short passage, Laomadas mentions each sensitive issue because he did not know the identity of Odysseus. If he did, he would not have challenged Odysseus and delayed his journey that he has been on for 20 years.

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Post #2: Odysseus’ Mistrust

“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.

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The weathered mountain lion – blog #2

“A weathered mountain lion steps into a clearing,

Confident in his strength, eyes glowing.

The wind and rain have let up, and he’s hunting

Cattle, sheep, or wild deer, but is hungry enough

To jump the stone walls of the animal pens.”

 

On the first two lines of this short passage, Homer refers to god-like Odysseus by comparing him to a feral mountain lion. In doing so, he indirectly depicts Odysseus’ s solid character. He has shown to be not only physically but also mentally strong. At this point in the reading, he had recently swum for two entire days and spent a night in the middle of the woods, filthy with mud and hidden in a pile of leaves. Like Odysseus, despite all his troubles, the mountain lion’s eyes are glowing, indicating that his spirits are still high and that all the suffering he endured did not discourage him from eventually achieving his objective. Odysseus is confident in his strength, and just like the mountain lion, even though he is “weathered,” he is nonetheless a lion—a fearless creature, one able to resist many challenges. His persistence is further portrayed by the last three lines of the passage, although he is patiently searching for a solution, he is willing to do whatever may be necessary to obtain it as soon as possible. He is determined to get what he wants and no one is stopping him.

I believe this passage embodies the concept of perseverance—a thematic idea continually seen throughout The Odyssey. The formal definition of perseverance states that it is “a continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.”  Without perseverance Odysseus would have never been able to make his journey across the ocean, courageously confront his obstacles, and ultimately reach his native land and see his loved ones again. Aside from Odysseus, some of the characters we have read about so far have also shown traits of determination and purposefulness. Penelope has displayed perseverance by remaining faithful during all the years Odysseus has been gone. She has been determined to finding ways to delay her marriage to one of the suitors no matter how long it has been or what she may have heard about Odysseus’ whereabouts. Penelope and Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, has also shown to possess perseverance despite his young age and lack of manhood. Although he gets belittled by the suitors when he attempts to throw them out of his father’s house he does not give up his ultimate goal. The suitors refused to leave but that didn’t stop him from embarking on his journey and pursuing news about his missing father. Overall, the entire Odyssey is based on the idea of remaining strong and determined, the same way the mountain lion in the passage above remained confident in his strength and actively pursued his needs despite the difficulties the rain and wind may have brought on.

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