Introduction
The “Odyssey” is an epic poem depicting Odysseus’s ten-year journey after the fall of Troy. The narrative has more than one perspective, following both Odysseus retelling his story and the view of his son, Telemachus. The “Odyssey” is an example of ancient poetry that had a despicable influence on global literature. Various themes have been incorporated into the poem, as it touches upon such topics as hospitality, punishment, mortality, and more. The epic also contains multiple depictions of everyday life in the ancient Greek world, including women’s societal roles. However, despite ancient Greece’s patriarchal society and the predominantly male perspective of the epic, the “Odyssey” contains numerous cases of women presented equally influential as men. Overall, the “Odyssey’s” modernity is revealed in the overarching themes explored in the text, the use of symbols, the complex characters, and the poem’s representation of women.
Themes
The use of themes in the “Odyssey” gives the epic the feeling of a more modern text. One of the main themes present in the “Odyssey” is that of hospitality towards guests. The entire narrative arc of the “Odyssey” is about Odysseus’s delayed return after the Trojan War, creating a degree of tension regarding how he will be received at his home. Hospitality is intertwined with a religious meaning through Zeus, who, in the text, acts as a protector of travelers, often reliant on others’ helpfulness. Zeus punishes those mistreating and ignoring strangers and travelers who come to them and rewards those treating newcomers well. Zeus is often seen as the greatest of the gods, so it is significant that this specific action, hospitality, falls under his jurisdiction.
Another important theme is that of community, as the text emphasizes the importance of a greater good over individual glory. One of the main points of view characters in the epic is Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, reinforcing family importance. Indeed, the entire epic’s plot revolves around Odysseus’ desire to return home after the Trojan War, instead of seeking out new adventures for personal glory. The “Odyssey” depicts everyday life among the ancient Greeks, particularly the polis or city-state. The text contains many examples of the dangers of selfish or uncivilized behavior presented as an affront to both gods and humans. The epic argues for every mortal knowing their place and working towards the good of the group they are part of, whether family unit or city-state. Odysseus’ trials during his attempt to return to his family are, in the end, presented as an acceptable price to pay to be back among them.
Another vital theme in the “Odyssey” is the concept of mortality, contrasted with the gods’ immortality. The legendary Achilles, after his death in the “Iliad,” says to Odysseus, “Better to be a hireling of a stranger, and serve a man of mean estate whose living is but small, then be the ruler of all these dead and gone” (Homer 179). This emphasizes the importance of actions taken while still alive and also highlights the emptiness of the immortality post-life. Odysseus himself rejects stagnant immorality in the text, choosing to continue his voyage home. Mortals are encouraged to strive to achieve greatness during their lifetimes, as gods’ unethical behavior is presented as static and undesirable. Overall, these various themes reflect the modernity of the “Odyssey”. The narrative feels less linear and more diverse as the author experiments with the representations of ideas and values.
Symbols
The use of symbols and symbolism also helps the “Odyssey” resemble a modern text by ascribing deeper meanings to mundane items and actions. One of the most important symbols in the “Odyssey” is food consumption, which has negative implications. Throwing a feast for a visitor represents traditional hospitality; however, eating food frequently has adverse associations in the “Odyssey.” It portrays a lack of control or submission to temptations, especially during the scene where Odysseus waits in the Cyclops’ cave and observes his men consume the lotus’ fruit. The other negative characters from the story, suitors, are also continually eating. Thus, whenever Telemachus and Penelope describe their unwanted visitors, they notice how the suitors kill the palace’s cattle. Therefore, eating is shown in the unique light, as instead of representing hospitality, it usually symbolizes a lack of discipline.
Furthermore, another crucial symbolic element in the text is the use of ships as the primary means of transportation. While common in the Greek world, among the islands and peninsulas around the Mediterranean, ships also have a symbolic value in the “Odyssey.” Firstly, going on a journey to the sea means putting oneself in god’s realm, in this case, Poseidon. This represents the Greeks’ worldview regarding gods, where mortals should always be aware of and honor the deity. A ship during a storm is at the mercy of the gods, meaning no amount of human ability can save you. Ships also represent craft technology, hallmarks of a civilized person. Odysseus himself is described as a skilled ship maker, as the text says, “He made a mast and sail-yard fitted to it; he made a rudder, too, with which to steer” (Homer 79). This identifies ships as a source of pride for the Greeks, both as a representation of their technology and skill, as well as a symbol of freedom. Ships give their crew the ability to go wherever they want if they are brave and adept.
Characters
Constant character development presents the “Odyssey’s” modernity, as it was not particularly common in other ancient texts. The epic poem is especially notable due to its memorable characters. First, Odysseus is the protagonist of the “Odyssey” who has the defining characteristics of a leader, including strength, bravery, dignity, a longing for glory, and faith in his authority. However, his most distinguished trait is a sharp and profound intellect. This quality is especially visible during his encounter with Cyclops, where Odysseus tricked him by lying about his name, “My name is Noman. Noman I am called by mother, father, and by all my comrades” (Homer 140). Consequently, apart from the traditionally recognized features of a conventional ancient hero, Odysseus is famous for his intelligence. Overall, Odysseus’s cunning thinking saves him in various challenging situations. Interestingly, Odysseus is regarded to be such a well-known protagonist due to the character growth he undergoes. Therefore, he is incredibly unique due to his intellectual abilities and personal development, resulting in patience and maturity.
The other essential character in the epic poem is Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and Penelope. He is another character in the story that experiences character development, as the audience can witness his presence since he was an infant. Telemachus is particularly interesting because he matures due to the life-changing events occurring in the palace. Moreover, he is dutiful and loyal to his family by continuously anticipating the return of his father. Telemachus’ adventures are intertwined with protecting his mother and learning more about his father’s departure, which helps him obtain Athena’s goodwill. Overall, Telemachus is an important character, as part of the story is told from his perspective to represent the young and emerging hero of Ancient Greece. He is not merely as strong and intelligent as his parents, but also has inherent positive qualities, including loyalty and stamina.
Apart from the central character resembling epic heroes of the era, the “Odyssey” is filled with Greek gods remarkably relevant for the audience. The central goddess of the story is Athena, as he assists both Odysseus and Telemachus throughout their adventure. As goddess of wisdom and battle, Athena’s guidance and support are necessary for developing the story. The original audience can understand the mightiness of the protagonist because of his close relationships with gods. Thus, even though Odysseus is a strong hero capable of various positive deeds, he would not be able to succeed without gods’ help, which is an essential narrative for the Ancient Greek culture. Therefore, Athena’s constant occurrence symbolizes the idea that people can never be more robust than gods, as divine guidance is essential for their achievements.
On the other hand, Poseidon is the central antagonist of the story, as he is continuously attempting to interfere with Odysseus’s adventures. The polytheistic beliefs of Ancient Greeks suggest that different gods can often conflict with one another. Therefore, another critical character Zeus often steps in as a mediator in various situations. Moreover, Odysseus cannot battle god of the sea on his own, as he consequently gives up the idea of winning the divine creature. Athena and other gods help Odysseus to overcome the threat coming from Poseidon, which also reassures the concept that a mortal cannot conquer gods.
Gender Roles
In the “Odyssey,” women, relegated to the position of a wife in the “Iliad”, are at times presented as more intelligent than their husbands, representing the modernity of the poem. Helen, the cause of the entire Trojan conflict, comes off as more astute than her husband, Menelaus, king of Sparta. Despite the suffering and friction caused by her elopement with Paris of Troy, she seems to hold a position of respect in Sparta and with her husband. Helen easily recounts episodes from Troy’s siege, speaking freely and as an equal to her husband and the audience in front of Telemachus. This indicates Helen’s ability to maintain her position as queen despite various reasons many Greeks might have to hate her. Moreover, Clytemnestra successfully removes her husband Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, conspiring with her lover Aegisthus to murder him. This can be seen as a successfully enacted revenge for Agamemnon sacrificing their daughter, Iphigenia, for favorable winds. While morally dubious, it does present women with agency and the cunning to enact their plans. Both episodes show women interacting and changing the world around them, as equals in power to men.
Furthermore, women in the “Odyssey” are portrayed not only as men’s equals but at times as being more perceptive. Odysseus describes Penelope as “Lady, a heart impenetrable beyond the sex of women the dwellers on Olympus gave to you…For certainly, the iron is the heart within her breast” (Homer 363). The description of his wife Penelope is filled with the consistent respect, as she is continuously described as his equal. This description is particularly important, as the “Odyssey” focuses on representing the main protagonist Odysseus as a great hero of the story. He is presented as brave and strong, because gods frequently communicate to him, which symbolizes great honor. Thus, when the protagonist compares his wife Penelope to himself at the end of the story, the audience has a greater understanding of women’s role in Ancient Greece.
Apart from Penelope, other female characters in the story are portrayed as more influential. For example, Phaeacian king Alcinous is presented as less significant than the queen Arete. When Nausicaa is guiding Odysseus to get the appropriate help, she suggests he find a royal residence, where the king resigns and then “passing him by, stretch out your hands to our mother’s knees…If she regards you kindly in her heart, then there is hope that you may see your friends” (Homer 98). Thus, this situation indicates that the queen Arete is the one to make decisions on whether Odysseus deserves help from their kingdom. Therefore, the audience can conclude that the queen was commonly considered more influential than the king in Ancient Greece, elevating the understanding of the perception of females.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the “Odyssey” has some hallmarks of a modern text, including the use of themes, complex characters of both genders, and symbols. The themes of hospitality, mortality, and community, among others, help tie the narrative of the “Odyssey” together and connect it to the lives of its original audience, the ancient Greeks. It also ascribes symbolic meaning to items such as ships to deepen the implications of the various actions that take place during the story. The text has numerous complex characters, from Odysseus and his son Telemachus to the multiple gods of the Greek Pantheon. The female characters are as well developed as many male characters and are often portrayed as equals, if not superiors. All these elements work together to give the “Odyssey” the atmosphere of a modern text.
Work Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by George Herbert Palmer, The Riverside Press, Cambridge, 1891.