“Hear me, Phaecian counselors and lords—Demodocus should stop playing his lyre. His song is not pleasing to everyone here. Ever since dinner began and the divine bard rose up to sing our guest has not ceased lamentation. He is overcome with grief.”
This passage is spoken in the form of an announcement. It is meant to inform the audience of the reason he wishes to stop the bard’s song. This passage holds in it many distinctive things such as the care that Alcinous takes in watching over his guest Odysseus. The passage is written in such a way that sets Odysseus as the center of this gathering. The fact that he says “our guest has not ceased lamentation” shows that although he doesn’t know the reason why he is lamenting, he can see the pain he feels. That is further reiterated by the fact that he says “he is overcome with grief.” He makes sure though to keep the importance of the Bard high as to not offend his God given gift of song. He repeats and says words like the divine bard and mentions his instrument the lyre, which raise the bard and put him in high regard. Clearly showing that he is not the reason for him stopping the song but rather his lack of knowledge as to why the guest has been disturbed this whole time. This all happens before Alcinous is told who Odysseus is.
This passage has great importance and similarity to the rest of the text. One of the aspects that are touched upon is the relationship of gifts and gods interacting with humans. Alcinous mentions the bard as being divine which relates him to the gods in his songs. Although it is not directly stated in the passage the bards across the text are held in high regard. For instance, the bard in Ithaca is known for his great song as well. Although not divine it is still mentioned. Another aspect that this passage touches upon is the importance of the guest. Although everyone in the feast is enjoying the bard Odysseus is not and that is reason enough to call off the great song. The guest is held in greater importance than the people of the land. That goes along with the idea that lasts throughout the entire text. For example when Penelope is overcome with tears from her bard he son tells her to go upstairs because the suitors who are “guests” like it. The final aspect that is touched upon in my eyes is the normalcy of crying for men. Odysseus cries often in this scene and throughout the epic, many men cry as well. One memorable example is that of Telemachus when he throws the staff upon the floor in his emotional stupor.
I agree this passage does show the importance of “guest” and the “host to guest” relationships. How during these times they value guest. Also when you state the guest are held in greater importance than the people of the land. I feel that initially the guest are held to a greater importance but once they know who the guest is and where they are from then that can be determined if they valued them more than the people of the land. I enjoyed your passage.
Your ideas about the guest/host relationship and the bard with his god given gift are intriguing. A good host makes sure his guest is looked after, and Alcinous’s treatment contrasts differently with the Cyclop’s treatment of Odysseus. You mentioned that the bard is treated with high importance, and I find that very important, because besides the librarians of old, they were the only others who keep history alive, through their songs and story.
You bring up an interesting point about the gender roles that are described throughout the epic. Although modern western gender roles often view men crying or being emotional as a weakness, that seems to be the opposite for the male heroes in ancient Greek literature. Further, on page 424 Odysseus’ grief is compared to that of a woman throwing herself over her husbands corpse after he falls in battle. Again, this outwardly feminine trait is linked to the hero. However, when we look at the scene you described with Penelope and her suitors she is asked to leave due to her grief. Though the suitors are technically guests, her cries are upsetting and she is excused from the gather – which seems to cast her in a lesser role compared to her male counterparts. Further, the suitors are there expressly to woo her, so it would stand to reason that if she feels sad they too should want the bard to stop.
I really enjoyed this analysis since it showed aspects of this book I didn’t notice before. It is very interesting how you explain the role of the songs as well as the interrelation between them and memories from the past.
Hi Abbas,
Your analysis offers a strong balance between attention to these specific lines, and to their thematic links to the text as a whole. In the close-reading paragraph, I am particularly struck by your sensitive reading of the *kind* of speech this is, and the myriad functions it has. It’s an announcement (a form of public speech, addressed to the whole gathering) but it also has two very important specific functions: expressing deference and care for the guest, and praise for the bard. This is a profoundly sociable speech, meant to nourish and maintain the bonds among the people gathered.
As a reader, I wanted to hear a bit more both about bards and about weeping–two topics you bring up (rightly!) but that are here handled more descriptively than analytically.
Very strong work overall.
Best,
Prof Kolb