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Themes in Homer's Odyssey

Homecoming

An important factor to consider about Odysseus' homecoming is the hint at potential endings to the epic by using other characters as parallels for his journey. For instance, Agamemnon's homecoming versus Odysseus' homecoming. Upon Agamemnon's return, his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus, kill Agamemnon. Agamemnon's son, Orestes, out of vengeance for his father's death, kills Aegisthus.This parallel compares the death of the suitors to the death of Aegisthus and sets Orestes up as an example for Telemachus. Also, because Odysseus knows about Clytemnestra's betrayal, Odysseus returns home in disguise in order to test the loyalties of his own wife, Penelope. Later, Agamemnon praises Penelope for not killing Odysseus. It is because of Penelope, Odysseus has fame and a successful homecoming. This successful homecoming is unlike Achilles who has fame, but is dead and Agamemnon who had an unsuccessful homecoming resulting in his death.

Wandering

An important note about the wanderings of Odysseus is that only two of his adventures are described by the poet. The rest of Odysseus' adventures are recounted by Odysseus himself. The two scenes that the poet describes are Odysseus on Calypso's island and Odysseus' encounter with the Phaeacians. These scenes are told by the poet to represent an important transition in Odysseus' journey: being concealed to returning home. Calypso's name means "concealer" or "one who conceals," and that is exactly what she does with Odysseus. Calypso keeps Odysseus concealed from the world and unable to return home. After leaving Calypso's island, the poet describes Odysseus' encounters with the Phaeacians -- those who "convoy without hurt to all men" -- which represents his transition from not returning home to returning home. Also, during Odysseus' journey, he encounters many god-like or beings that are close to the gods. These encounters are useful in understanding that Odysseus is in a world beyond man and that influences the fact he cannot return home. These beings that are close to the gods include the Phaeacians who lived near Cyclopes, whose king, Alcinous, is the great-grandson of the king of the giants, Eurymedon, and the grandson of Poseidon. Some of the other characters that Odysseus encounters are Polyphemus who is the cyclops son of Poseidon, Circe who is the sorceress daughter of the Sun that turns men into animals, Calypso who is a goddess, and the Laestrygonians who are cannibalistic giants.

Guest-Friendship

Throughout the course of the epic, Odysseus encounters several examples of guest-friendship which provide examples of how host should an should not act. One example of good guest-friendship is the Phaeacian. The Phaeacians feed Odysseus, give him a place to sleep, and give him a safe voyage home which are all things a good host should do. He also encounters some bad host. For instance, the cyclops "gift" to Odysseus was that he would eat him last. He was not a very good host. Another host that was not well versed in guest-friendship was Calypso who did not allow Odysseus to leave her island. Another important factor to guest-friendship is that kingship implies generosity. It is assumed that kings have the means to be a generous host and is more generous with his own property. This is best seen when Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, begs Antinous -- one of the suitors -- for food and Antinous denies his request. Odysseus essentially says that while Antinous may look like king, he is far from a king since he is not generous.

Testing

Another theme thought the Odyssey is testing. This occurs in two distinct ways. Odysseus tests the loyalty of other's and other's testing Odysseus' identity. An example of Odysseus testing the loyalties of others is when he returns home. Instead of immediately revealing his identity, he arrives disguised as a beggar and then proceeds to determine who in his house has remained loyal to him and who has helped the suitors. After Odysseus reveals his true identity, the characters test Odysseus' identity to see if he really is who he says he is. For instance, Penelope tests Odysseus' identity by saying that she will move the bed into the other room for him. This is a difficult task since it is made out of a living tree that would require being cut down, a fact that only the real Odysseus would know, thus proving his identity. For more information on the progression of testing type scenes, read more below.

Omens

Omens occur frequently throughout the Odyssey, as well as many other epics. Within the Odyssey, oems frequently involve birds. It is important to note who receives the omens and what these omens mean to the characters and to the epic as a whole. For instance, bird omens are shown to Telemachus, Penelope, Odysseus, and the suitors. Telemachus and Penelope receive their omens as well in the form of words, sneezes, and dreams. However, Odysseus is the only character that receives thunder or lightening as an omen. This is important to note because the thunder came from Zeus, the king of the gods. This direct relationship between Zeus and Odysseus represents the kingship of Odysseus.

Type Scenes in Homer's Odyssey

Finding Scenes

Finding scenes occur in the Odyssey when a character discovers another character within the epic. Finding scenes proceed as followed:

1. The character encounters or finds another character.
2. The encountered character is identified and described.
3. The character approaches and then converses with the found character.

These finding scenes can be identified several times throughout the epic including when Telemachus and Pisistratus find Menelaus, when Calypso finds Odysseus on the beach, and when the suitor Amphimedon finds Agamemnon in Hades.

Omens

Omens are another example of a type scene in the Odyssey. Two important parts of an omen type scene is the recognition of the omen and then the interpretation. In the Odyssey specifically, there are several omens involving birds. All of the bird omens -- with the exception of the first one in the epic -- show large birds attacking smaller bird. Accompanying each omen is a wish; this wish can be either explicitly stated or implicitly implied. For example, Telemachus wishes for vengeance and for Odysseus to be home, Penelope wishes for Odysseus' return, and the suitors wish for the death of Telemachus. The omens seen in the Odyssey are also a recurring theme throughout the epic.

Testing

While testing is a theme with the epic, it also has a very specific type scene that accompanies it as well. Throughout the epic, the testing of others follows a typical pattern. This pattern is:

1. Odysseus is hesitant to question the loyalties of others.
2. Odysseus then test the loyalties of others by questions the characters.
3. The characters reply to Odysseus' questions.
4. Oddyseus proceeds to reveal his identity.
5. The characters test Odysseus' identity.
6. There is a rise of emotions associated with Odysseus' recognition, usually lament or joy.
7. Finally, the reconciled characters work together.

Guest-Friendship

Guest-Friendship is also a theme in the Odyssey, but it too follows a very specific pattern. This pattern is:

1. The arrival and the reception of the guest.
2. Bathing or proving fresh clothes to the guest.
3. Proving food and drink to the guest.
4. Questions may be asked of the guest and entertainment should be provided by the host.
5. The guest should be given a place to sleep and both the guest and host retire for the night.
6. The guest and host exchange gifts, the guest is granted a safe journey home, and departs.

Another important factor of guest-friendship is not kept the guest longer than they wish and also promising their safety while they are a guest within the host's home.

References