The section impressing me most lies in Book X, Page 448~449, Line 478~487.
Before reading this part, I regarded Circe as a “dread goddess” as Odyssey describes, who puts the insidious drugs into the wine and bewitches Odyssey’s comrades into swine. Nevertheless, what Circe says in this section display a kind and empathetic figure to me. When comforting Odyssey, Circe does not just express a feeling of sympathy for the past hardships of Odyssey, with words like “Lament no more”. Actually, the following lines “I myself know all that you have suffered” can exhibit she completely possesses the virtue of “empathy”, fully understanding other persons’ feelings and thoughts. She has the ability to associate herself with Odyssey’s pain vicariously, the “teaming sea”, the “losses” at enemies’ hands and the “spirit” he ever held when leaving Ithaca. In addition, Circe has been aware of that Odyssey now is not in a good state, directly penetrates his disguise of an energetic leader in front of his crew, and notices that he is “skin and bones” at present, ”hollow inside”. As if Circe has likewise experienced the misery of Odyssey herself, she realizes that “indeed”, Odyssey is suffering many woes.
Circe’s speech above can indicate she has the quality of empathy, which is essential to strengthen the relationship with others. In fact, it is inevitable that Odyssey is struck for he “took her words to heart” and “sat there for a year”. Days with “abundant meat and sweet wine” is so relaxing that he nearly forgets the major goal, until a member of the crew reminds him that it is time for them to set sail and return to the home. Hence, I do not think Odyssey is compelled to stay with Circe. On the contrary, to me, he lives there with his own willing.
However, looking back on prior words of Odyssey to Alcinous (Book IX, Page 427, Line 34), I find that he characterizes Circe with the label “the witch of Aeaea”, using the word “held” to express he is not voluntarily willing to stay in Aeaea for a year but instead, it is Circe who enforces him to reside in her halls. Besides, he compares Circe with Calypso that they are alike in yearning to possess him. Nonetheless, in Calypso’s cavern, Odyssey sits on the shore with “hollow, salt-rimmed eyes”(Book V, Page 387, Line 86), while in Circe’s hall, feasted with excellent wine and delicious dishes, Odyssey does not present a sign of deep sorrow as in Calypso’s island. Moreover, after Odyssey communicates his thoughts of leaving, Circe does not try to detain him or restrain his departure, answering “You need not stay here in my house any longer than you wish.” (Book X, Page 449, Line 510~511). In contrast, Calypso has ever tried to persuaded Odyssey to stay by comparing her beauty to his wife Penelope. These can indicate that although the two nymphs both have the intention to possess Odyssey, they are different in nature. Calypso does not understand the importance of the homeland to Odyssey and cannot perceive his great agony from the tears due to homesickness, regardless of the beautiful scene in her living place. But Circe can comprehend Odyssey’s pain and his attachment to Ithaca. Therefore, I do not agree with the message Odyssey conveys to Alcinous, which mistakes Circe for a malicious nymph. Instead, Circe is of complex personalities, and what she says in the part I select display that she is indeed kind, sensitive and compassionate.
Overall, the content in Circe’s words is the inducement that makes Odyssey stay with her for one year. Even though he still holds his sweet country Ithaca in the heart during the year in Aeaea, on my part, he actually a little enjoys the days on this island and views this period a chance to recuperate from languishment, recharge himself and gather strength again.
Hi Mingyue,
This is an excellent account of this passage in relation to other parts of the Odyssey–well-done! You are right to point out that Circe’s speech, here, is not in keeping with how she is elsewhere described by other characters and depicted by the poet. It’s a startling moment: after her extraordinary cruelty, she reveals deep knowledge of and sympathy for Odysseus’ plight. (I think you could take your point about empathy even further. It’s true that she knows what O has suffered, and feels his pain vicariously. I wonder, though, if this is intensified–or rendered LESS intense?–by her status as a goddess. How much empathy can immortals feel for mortals? And how does immortals’ superior knowledge of goings-on in the world elsewhere translate into empathetic–or indifferent–reactions?)
The comparison to Calypso is illuminating and well-handled.
Really good work overall!!
I love your meaningful insight on Circe as this dimensional character within the text. You really humanized her, in the sense that she is much more than this heartless or selfish nymph. Your analysis conveyed her ability to empathize, and more importantly feel emotions at all. I found this interesting since we can see throughout Homer’s text that women, goddesses or human, tend to be primarily objects–whether sexual objects or physical properties of husbands and fathers. It is refreshing to read a more in depth perspective of a female in this text.