The End

I think it's interesting that the story doesn't resolve with Odyssseus, but rather with Athena. It's odd that Odysseus isn't allowed to resolve this great act of violence against the suitors on his own. Athena simply steps in, commands them to stop fighting, then "handed down her pacts of peace between both sides for all the years to come." It's such a simple solution, and made me wonder why divine actions like this weren't taken against the suitors in the first place. Maybe Homer was ending the story on the recurring idea that the gods always have the final say in mortal matters.

I commented on Sydni's blog.

A Woman's View on the Grief of War

"As a woman weeps, her arms flung around her darling husband, a man who fell in battle, fighting for town and townsmen, trying to beat the day of doom from home and children. Seeing the man go down, dying, gasping for breath, she clings for dear life, screams and shrills- but the victors just behind her, digging spear butts into her backs and shoulders, drag her off in bondage, yoked to hard labor, pain, and the most heartbreaking torment washes her cheeks." -pg. 208

It wasn't until reading this passage that I was able to feel the sorrow Odysseus experienced. I feel like in all previous writing, Homer showed the grief of war from a man's perspective, with the exception of Odysseus's slide. However, because of her character I was unable to sympathize with her. Yet, this undeveloped, vague, briefly mentioned, fleeting woman described in this short excerpt reeked more emotion out of me than any other excerpt thus far.

P.s. I commented on Jeremy Bearman's blog

Many times in ancient (and even some modern) texts, women are portrayed as property. Even goddesses are sometimes portrayed as property. However within the Odyssey we find the male character portrayed as property. Calypso's captivity of Odysseus until being ordered by the gods to release him would have seemed unfathomable to the people of the day. Homer's portrayal of men went against every common belief of the day, and has even caused many critics to question the gender of Homer.

Dinner Time

In books 5-10 of the Odyssey the reader encounters many scenes that involve eating. However, what people and monsters are eating, and how they are gathering their food, is very unique. A struggle appears when meal time comes around. In the Odyssey, is eating a good thing, or does the consumption of food serve as a convenient path to destruction? 

A good host immediately offers their guests a banquet, while a bad host immediately eats their guest and all of his dearest friends. This is a theme that is seen all throughout the Odyssey. However, why is consumption either the way to redemption or the way to destruction? This question is also something one can apply to the world today. Of course, there are not giants or monsters seeking people out for dinner on an ordinary afternoon, but there are many things that slowly chip away the structure of humanity. Consumption in the Odyssey, like consumption in real life, is either a tool to save someone or the means by which they are destroyed. 

P.S. I commented on Collin's Post 

On Athena

I love Athena. Throughout each book she seems to be the common thread, always present in some form or fashion. I admire how she works. She is very keen and stealthy as we see her disguised, working to manipulate mortals and stir situations for the good of the one she pities. The way her eyes are described is very interesting to me. The repetition of the phrase "the bright eyed goddess" conveys the keenness I referred to. The writer also refers to her eyes as "glinting." As I read, Athena's eyes reveal the story to me. They reveal that she sees the outcome, the hope amid the tragedy. Her eyes reveal her enthusiastic and willing heart as she is orchestrating and finalizing Odysseus's journey home.
P.S. I commented on Matt Henson's and Caleb Zessin's blogs.

Gods Among Men?

The entire concept of Gods walking among men is in itself interesting, but what makes it more intriguing is the fact that the Gods choose who to disguise themselves from. Coming from a logistical standpoint, I do not fully understand how they choose who they disguise themselves in front of. In book seven Alcinous tells of how the Gods always appear to the Phaeacians in their true forms becuase the Phaeacians have always been loyal. If I were in the position of the Greek Gods that would entice me to appear to the Phaeacians in disguise, and I would appear to the disloyal in my true form. I would use disguises as a way to ensure the constant loyalty from the Phaeacians. Appearing to the lands who do not hold favor in my true form would help me command respect with whatever punishment they deserve. In The Odyssey, though, the Gods do the opposite and it shows the lack of authority the Gods hold on those that are not as loyal to the Gods. If the Gods were to do as I have thought, it would send a form of negative reinforcement to the Greeks and ensure a Godly command over the domains. The logic of the Gods doing this just bothered me.

P.S. I commented on Kennedy's

Double Standards

I'm not sure if it is just because I am a girl or what, but the thing that stuck out to me the most in these books was the double standard that Homer introduces in books five and six. When Odysseus is offered his freedom from Calypso, he hesitates, thinking she might harm him if he leaves. I feel like he also has a small emotional tie to her because of the relationship they have made together. Homer makes it seem like Odysseus is doing no wrong by having romantic relationships with Calypso, Nausicaa, and Circe. However, when it comes to Penelope's lovers that she has acquired since Odysseus has been gone, she is looked at as having betrayed her husband. This presents a double standard that exists even in today's society: men are expected to be charming and have many romantic relationships, while women are expected to remain faithful to one man. I think this stuck out to me most because it almost made me feel sympathy for Calypso while she pleaded with the gods.

P.S. I commented on Kayleigh-Marie Ellison's post.

Pride

As I read through the Odyssey, I began to notice that the only times the characters, such as Menelaus, cry out to the gods are when they encounter a life threatening situation. I think the cause of this can be tied back to a major fault that has been present since the fall of man: pride. These mighty kings cause themselves so much agony by not constantly seeking after the will of the gods. Instead, these characters set off to do things on their own, which soon delivers them into the hands of danger. They then cry out to the mighty, merciful gods to save them. No wonder the gods are always irritated with these mortals. They have accepted this misconception that they have the power to control things, such as the sea that only the gods can control. I love how applicable this struggle with pride is to humanity as a whole. The fact that this piece of literature still applies to the current state of man gives credit to its place in the foundation of Western civilization. 

P.S. I commented on Collin Suttle's post. 

Not All That Great

Everyone seems to think that Odysseus is some kind of hopeless romantic that longs for Penelope unendingly and will stop at nothing to get back to her. He is almost always portrayed as this man of great faithfulness. But when Kalypso was trying to tempt him into staying with her, he admitted without any hesitation that she was Penelope's Superior in "beauty and stature". He went on to say that he wasn't pining for her so much as "to go back to my house and see my day of homecoming". So, really, he cared nothing (or, very little) about his wife and son. He just wanted to be at his welcome home party and revel in the glory of his return. As heroic as he's supposed to be, I'm really not a huge fan of Odysseus. Maybe he'll redeem himself later but that would require a serious change of attitude and I don't see that happening.

P.s. I commented on Collin's post

Relations between natural and supernatural

My comment on Matt's blog is similar to this. I focus a lot on the relations between the gods and humans. You would think that the gods would only be satisfied with relations with other gods, because they are on the same cosmic level. However, we read about multiple relations between the gods and humans such as Calypso with Odysseus and Zeus with others in other stories. This shows the uniqueness of humanity; it is so unique that even the supernatural want to be involved in it personally.

Also I think we need to take note of how Odysseus is treated by the Phaeacians. He is treated almost as royalty. This follows ancient traditions, but specifically it exemplifies how humans should treat each other in general when we see one in need.  That isn't anything extremely deep, but worth noting. Oh, and it is biblical.

Interesting response

As I was reading, I found the response Odysseus gives to being sent home very interesting. I thought it was quite surprising that he would refuse any opportunity to leave. When Calypso tells him he can go home, he just assumes she is plotting against him. As grieved as he was to be away from home for so long, I would think that he would jump at any chance to go home. Even though his making it wasn't certain, he was miserable enough that getting away should have seemed worth the attempt. I do have to give him credit for changing his mind rather quickly once Calypso promised not to harm him, though, no matter how hasty he was in his mistrust.

It's very apparent the value the Greeks put on aestheticism and physical qualities, also to youth. You can see it in their feasting and dancing, and also in the way that they treat their guests. They bathe them, rub them with oil, and just like we discussed last week, don't even ask their guests' names before they load them down with gifts and food. In book 8, line 170 the noble prince challenges Odysseus in the sports of his people, "What greater glory attends a man, while he's alive, than what he wins with his racing feet and striving hands?" I'm finding it hard to make the connection between their idolatry with materialism and Odysseus' groaning and weeping to go home to hearth and wife. Sure any of us would be homesick if we were lost at sea, but Odysseus had all of the wealth, riches, and physical comfort he could ask for, (from Calypso especially).  Even amidst a culture like that, Odysseus is showing a deeper longing--a family and a home. Shouldn't the deepest longings of our hearts reveal that there is more to life than what we can see?

(I commented on Matt's post)

Sympathy for the Hero

I've read the Odyssey a few times before, and I never much liked Odysseus. I still don't, even though I still enjoy reading about him.

It's probably my wildly different moral/social compass, but I find it hard to really sympathize with Odysseus after he leaves Troy. The first thing he recalls in Book IX after the war ends is going to Ismarus, where he and his men proceed to "sack the town and put the people to the sword." They shamelessly steal the town's resources and their wives; when they leave, their only worry is their dead comrades, like it wasn't their fault that they died in the first place.

It's hard to really appreciate a guy who leads expeditions like that, especially as he's just coming back from another war. And I can appreciate that my values/priorities are very different to the ones of the Odyssey's contemporary audience; I feel like I should put my modern qualms aside and try to admire Odysseus as an ancient hero who is brave, intelligent, and, I suppose, honorable.

But it's really, really hard to appreciate this guy as a hero sometimes.

PS I commented on Sydni Holm's post.

The Nature of the gods

Something interesting about The Odyssey is the constant reminder the gods give Odysseus and Telemachus to be strong and keep going. Not only did Athena take favor on Odysseus, she then turns her favor on his son; a man who is in no way bold or daring as his father was before him. She encourages Telemachus to maintain a steady heart and press on when faced with adversity. Athena then bestows her graciousness upon Odysseus once more as he leaves Calypso's island. She keeps the winds at bay when he cries out and comes to him as a small girl in the land of the Phaeacian's. She guides him to the kings house, all the while doing her best to strengthen his morale.

For all the work Athena has put into building up Telemachus and Odysseus, I can't help but wonder why she waited so long to intervene. The thought crossed my mind that she may have been waiting on Telemachus to mature some. Even if that is the case, she could have spent some time before now helping him realize his potential. I suppose in this aspect Athena is like a portrayal of God in a sense. God waits until he feels the time is right to act in our lives; never on our command or call. I have taken this to be the nature of the gods. They do what they need to do when they see fit. No sooner no later.

P.S. I commented on Sydni Holm's post

Honor & Morality

What I found interesting about the Odyssey so far is the ambiguity of morality in their culture. Particularly in the ay Odysseus responds to different situations. He is so careful to be respectful to the Phaeacians, and to respect the expected behaviors when he imposed on them, even accepting physical challenges to competitions. However, when he is faced with a real challenge (Troy, Polyphemus), he resorts to underhanded tactics instead of facing his enemies head-on. At Troy, he comes up with the idea for a wooden horse to sneak into the city and attack his unsuspecting opponents. With Polyphemus, he hides under the sheep to escape. Does this make him clever or deceptive? Intelligent or under-handed? For me, it raises the question as to the definition of courage and bravery. Is it honorable to gain victory through deception?
-Sydni Holm
P.S. I commented on Abbey Griffin's post

Playing the lesser god's advocate

Calypso is banished as being Atlas's daughter to an island for eternity. Zeus has already claimed much, though Calypso did no wrong other than being the daughter of the enemy. So, when Hermes comes and she calls them "jealous gods", I can't help but compare all of Zeus's (MANY) children he fathered through numerous women. If the comparison could be made, Zeus demands Calypso's one chance at a heritage. Culturally speaking, this was worse than death. What restitution do lower deities receive?

(Commented on Matt's)

The (Mortal) Gods

I don’t know about y’all, but growing up as an older sibling, my mom often reminded me to be a good influence on my younger siblings, because they looked up to me, and because it’s a natural thing to look to someone you look up to for direction.  If we apply this concept to Greek behavior, it’s not hard to realize how a people following a flawed view of perfection turned out a far cry from perfect.

I always find it fascinating how the gods in ancient mythology constantly fight with each other and never come to full agreement. In most cultures, the god figure is generally what a people group is taught to imitate. And in the case of the Greek gods, if you strive to become more like them, that which you strive to gain is generally worthless. You are taught to strive for power. To long for Immortality. To gain material profit.  It seems fitting that the more authority and power you gain, and the more you become like the Greek gods, the less “good” you become.

In the Greek god system, there is no such thing as security. Even the gods themselves have to worry about each other’s wrath. Take for example in this weeks reading, where Athena will only come out and help Odysseus once Poseidon leaves the scene, and still doesn’t reveal herself. Obviously, there is no constant level of perfection, or even security amongst the highest authorities, and they aren’t worth modeling one’s life after. The Greeks modeled their gods after what they knew and understood: mortal man.

Given this observation, it honestly shouldn’t be surprising that the Greeks didn’t always live morally. When your life’s ideals are based off of striving to model yourself after a flawed being, that’s exactly what you will become. It is only when we strive to model our own lives after someone who is perfect, the true God, that our lives can be radically changed.

P.S. ~ I commented on Caleb Zessin's post.

Human Nature

I think it's interesting that the gods are portrayed as behaving more like humans than gods. This is especially prominent in the way the gods interact with one another. It seems as if they would be able to work together cohesively to rule mankind, but they appear to be working against one another. Poseidon tries to kill Odysseus several times when he is sailing, but Athena works to keep him alive. This is unfortunate for men like Odysseus, because their fate is determined by the conflicts of the gods. They have to accept these experiences as everyday life.

Immortality

This reliance on fate and destiny. No one, not even the deathless gods can resist it's draw. The gods are constantly at work in the world, the constant mention of Dawn with her finger tips. The lustrous goddess Calypso must tie a scarf on her head to shield her brow. The gods are so like humans. They constantly mention things like their immortality that set them apart from man. And yet, many men are labeled god-like. Not much separates them and that's something that I suppose kind of scares the gods. They have so much power. It's so easy for them to toss men about according to their, or rather, Zeus' whim. Yet it would appear that even they must abide by the laws of Destiny and Fate as they are used as an excuse for releasing Odysseus. Hermes states that his fate is not to die on the island. Surely Zeus could leave him with Calypso as long as he pleased, unless he has to abide alongside the powers of Destiny and Fate.

P. S. I commented on the posts of Kelli and Matt.

Identity

One thing that caught my interest as I read the next few books of The Odyssey is the strong belief in one's identity. Each god has specific phrases that identify them and their achievements. "The nymph with lovely braids", "the giant killing guide", and "Zeus who marshals the thunderheads" are all specific descriptions used to reference an individual, and they are commonly used throughout the text. When Odysseus is guest of the Phaeacians, prior to them knowing his identity, he refuses to let them insult him and proves himself in their games. Odysseus finally reveals himself to the Phaeacians, but not without adding that he is "known to the world for every kind of craft". A strong sense of identity is crucial to a mature character, but it may also ultimately be their downfall as when Odysseus recklessly reveals himself to Polyphemus.

P.S. This is where you should put that you have commented on another blog - which I will do as soon as there is another. (Commented on Abbey Griffin's)