Calypso and Hermes seem to know each other very well from their dialogue on page 155 from book five despite Calypso mentioning, “but it’s been so long, your visits much too rare,” (155). The reason for the lack of visits from Hermes becomes apparent later on. Hermes gives Calypso a lot of attitude, “Who would willingly roam across a salty waste so vast,” (155). Hermes just insulted Calypso’s choice in a home.
During Calypso’s dialogue when she was asking Hermes how she can help she said “I’m eager to do it, whatever I can do,” (155). It was very interesting that the word can was italicized. It seems as if she’s already warning Hermes that there are things she isn’t willing to do to help him. Does she already know the reason for his visit and doesn’t want to comply? Maybe she just does not feel like being very helpful. One of the first sentences on the page states “Immortals are never strangers to each other,” (155), if this is true than how well do they all know one another? Surely some other immortal has told Calypso what Zeus’ wish was and in that case she is just playing dumb with Hermes.
Throughout the poem Calypso is referred to as the “lustrous goddess”. Hermes could not track down Odysseus but how hard did he actually look? Was Hermes the one that cried? If so, why was he crying? Was he crying because he could not find Odysseus or because he failed Zeus? Later on, when Hermes explains his reason for visiting he says, “Zeus claims you keep beside you a most unlucky man,” (155). Why does he use the word “claims”? Does Hermes not believe what Zeus told him?
