Author: hconcepcion

In the texts covered in class there are many things that interest me (although, not enough to write a five page paper about). First, I would like to expand and further elaborate on assignment number three “How did the lack of Odysseus’s presence affect Telemachos’s growth?” I can personally relate to this topic because I grew up without a father and know what it is like; I had to learn from my mother or on my own. Secondly, I would like to write about Greek Mythology in general, as a whole. I want to write about things like; why did the Greeks invent “Greek Mythology” and why do they believe what they do? As well as, the origins of Greek Mythology; and topics of that nature.

Webster’s dictionary defines a tragic hero as a literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy. In Medea by Euripides the question is, is Medea a tragic hero? I feel that Medea is a tragic hero because her downfall was caused by her own doings.

 

From the very beginning of the story one can tell that Medea is doomed. She betrays her father and kills her own brother to help Jason, her husband to be, steel the Golden Fleece. She then convinces Pelias’s daughters to kill their own father, so that Jason could become king. All of these acts might not seem rational but to a woman in love they are. The nurse makes a reference on how strong Medea’s love for Jason is; she said, “Her heart on fire with passionate love for Jason.”(Euripides, 8 ) The nurse is trying to give an explanation of why Medea behaved in the manor that she did, betrayed her father and brother, and plotted to have the king of Iolcos murdered.

 

Medea’s story arouses empathy; one cannot help but feel sorry for all the pain she is enduring. For the first time Medea speaks, she says, “Ah, wretch! Ah, lost in my suffering, / I wish, I wish I might die.”(Euripides, 96-7) one can only feel sorry, for here is this woman who gave up her family and her home to be with a man who betrayed her and her pain is so deep that all she wants is to die.

 

However, Medea’s own actions sealed her fate. Her suffering could have been avoided if she had chosen to give up her vengeance. Once she was betrayed by Jason, she chose to kill the princess and the king with the poison dress. She also chose to get her children involved by making them deliver the poison dress, knowing what the outcome would be; if she did not kill her kids they would be hunted by the king’s men. Finally, Medea was the one who chose to kill her own children so that they would not be hunted by the kingdom and to make Jason suffer. All of her choices added to her misery.

 

Medea displayed excessive pride which is a common characteristic amongst tragic heroes; she chose her vengeance over the life of her children. I think that Medea wanted Jason to loose everything that she did; her family and her land. (This story is a perfect example of an eye for an eye.)

A father figure is instrumental to the development of a child; it does not matter whether it is in ancient or contemporary times. A father is a provider and a protector of the household. In the time of The Odyssey, I think a father figure is extremely important, because of their lifestyle, the men live for honor and glory and if a young boy did not have a father to teach him the ways of manhood he might be lost.

 

From the very beginning of the story the author, Homer, alludes to the skills of Odysseus. “Tell the story/ of that man skilled in all ways of contending.”(Homer, I.1-2) this is the beginning of the story and Homer already paints the picture of how great and skillful Odysseus is; the praise that he receives from the first time they mention him.

 

The same cannot be said of the first time Homer refers to Telemakhos, Odysseus’s son. Grey-eyed Athena said, “I shall visit Ithaka / to put more courage in the son.”(Homer, I.110-111) this shows that Tlemakhos has all the makings of his father courage and valor; he just has not developed his potential. However, it is interesting that grey-eyed Athena feels that it is her responsibility to instill courage into Telemakhos and not Odysseus. Homer shows the distinction in character from father to son. It raises the question, is Telemakhos’s lack of courage a direct result of Odysseus not being there to help raise his son?

 

I guess you can say that from the moment of his birth Telemakhos was cursed because he was born Odysseus’s son; he had to live-up to the reputation of Odysseus, son of Laertes and the gods of old, great captain, commander of the sea, master mariner and soldier, the great tactician, and the great master of invention, strong and wise; and no one to teach him how. The absence of his father also prevented him from going out into the world on his own journey to learn and make a name for himself because he had to stay in the house and protect his father’s house and wife. This also contributed to his slow development to manhood.

 

Telemakhos did not live a traditional childhood; instead of having his father home allowing him to be a child playing and learning the lessons of manhood from him, he had to learn on his own. He also had to assume the responsibilities of being the man of the house without being ready. He had to protect his father’s house and wife from the suitors. Here you start to notice how infantile Telemakhos is. He is unhappy about the suitors coming and going as they pleased, eating the live stock of his father, and trying to marry his mother; and yet he does nothing, except daydream about the day his father will come and save them, instead of him doing something and saving himself. He has shown that he does not posses the same leadership abilities as his father. He then expresses his feelings;   Telemakhos tells grey-eyed Athena, “I wish at least I had some happy man / as father, growing old in his own house.”(Homer, I.254-255) to me this shows evidence of how he longs to benefit from a male role model and how he is not ready to assume the role of the man of the house and protector.

 

The biggest proof that Odysseus’s lack of presence affected Telemakhos’s growth was in their battle against the suitors; when Telemakhos inexplicably left the door of the storeroom open where the weapons were. This shows how inexperienced in combat the son of the great tactician was. It is ironic, on one hand you have Odysseus a great warrior who defeated anyone and anything he came across in his journey, and on the other hand his son who is completely the opposite of his father, with undeveloped battle skills. His father would have never made that mistake.

 

I feel that Telemakhos never really grew up because from the beginning of the story when he was daydreaming of the time his father will come and rescue the household, he himself never did anything to command honor and respect. When he tried to stand up for himself the suitors laughed at him and did not take him seriously. The only respect he had was because of his father’s name. Telemakhos never made a name for himself. And to the Greeks (I think) that is the definition of being a man.

This picture is a modern day depiction of Medusa, the Gorgon, from Greek mythology. It seems obvious that the image is intended to be sexy and displays a suggestive connection between temptation and the forbidden fruit (thanks to the model’s come hither look). However, if you look more closely and know a bit about Greek mythology the image is pretty accurate and ironic. Medusa was said to be covered with golden scales and lived on the farthest side of the western ocean, hence the gold metallic bathing suit and the poolside backdrop. Another interesting point is that in Greek mythology Medusa was one of three monstrous sisters. Two of the three were immortal, Medusa being the only one that was not; the only one that could be killed. Not knowing the background of this picture leaves everything open to interpretation but I personally feel it ironic that in Christianity the forbidden fruit was symbolic of Adam and Eve’s weakness, their demise, our end and in this picture, Medusa, the only one of three who could be killed is photographed with the same symbolic weakness. Perhaps it is a coincidence; perhaps not.

My Paradise

 

In thinking about my paradise I feel a little bit conflicted. It’s hard to say what my perfect place of beauty would be considering how little I have experienced and explored. I was born in the Dominican Republic and was surrounded by beaches so obviously to live by the beach in a beach house would be ideal for me. However, I love to try new things and am very adventurous. So for me, paradise is not one specific place; it’s a lifestyle. And the search for that lifestyle is what led me back to school after an eight year absence. The lifestyle I dream of is to be financially set, to live well and to be able to satisfy my every whim; do whatever I want, whenever I want.

 

 I would like to start by buying a big house in Alpine, New Jersey. This is the perfect location because I want to be close to Manhattan and Long Island just has too much traffic. I want the property to be at least five acres. The house itself would be of modern architecture and the most important thing would be a big kitchen. I love food and I love to cook for my wife and friends. The kitchen would include an island so I can have plenty of space, two stoves so I can cook for a lot of people at once, a bar with seating for at least ten and the most important thing is an old fashioned, brick pizza oven. The house would have five bedrooms and a game room. The game room would have all video game systems to be played on each of their own fifty inch, HD plasma television sets. It would also include a pool table, table tennis and an air hockey table. There would be a section for classic arcade games like Pacman, Asteroid, Pole Position and more. I would also have an in-ground swimming pool with a diving board and my backyard would be the size of a football field for my two dogs (they’re Shiba Inus) to run around and play and get plenty of exercise. I would also like a gym and most importantly, an indoor, hardwood floor basketball court as well as an outdoor court.

 

Aside from spending time in my mansion I would like to travel the world. Since I love food so much naturally I would go to all of the food and wine festivals around the world and experience the top chefs’ dishes. I would love to go to France as it is known to have the best cuisine in the world; and make my way all around Europe. I would love to experience all the culture, history and art that Europe has to offer; I would visit Rome and Greece.

 

To quench my thirst for adventure I would go scuba diving in places like Hawaii, Australia and the Caribbean. I would like to climb Mount Everest (but not to the top, I’m not crazy). I would like to learn all of the extreme sports like snowboarding and downhill biking and more. Down time would be spent at a beach house with my wife, just taking in the sun.

 

Even though it sounds like a hectic way of living my paradise would be having new fun and exciting adventures with my wife everyday. It’s spontaneity that excites me!

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