Passage Analysis: The Odyssey Essay

Essay 1 Passage

The Odyssey

This passage relates to The Odyssey very well from the beginning of the book to the very end. The passage and the book as well contain information in which the characters bring disaster on themselves and blame it on higher powers or something else such as the gods. Two of these examples occur in the passage.

One example is when Odysseuss mother, Anticleia daughter of that great heart Autolycus- was speaking to Odysseus at the Kingdom of the Dead. She explains that out of her grief she died. She says she did not meet her fate by showering arrows with painless shafts nor some hateful illness but by her longing for her son when he was gone. From my point of view If Anticleia would have had more faith and hope for her son to return and did not focus on the tragedy of Odysseus being gone she may have lived to see him return. Other characters such as Odyseuss, Penelope, Telemachus, and Argos had the faith that was needed to achieve their goals and prosper.

Another example of the passage was how Odysseus was suffering from not being able to embrace his mother. Odysseus is explaining how the grief was cutting into his heart sharper and sharper, how he wished she would have just waited for him, and how he longed to hold her. If Odysseus would have listened to his father, mother, and wife he would not have felt as much grief or missed them so dearly. So therefore Odysseus brought his grief upon himself when he decided leave Ithaca. From my point of view the gods gave the characters of this story what they deserve and believed in. So they both are to be blamed.

This passage also relates to the story in many other ways. I believe that the feelings his mother expressed in the passage are how many people that truly loved Odysseus felt. The ones who loved, cared, and honored Odysseus were sharing the same grief that his mother died from when he was gone.

Penelope was grieving by hiding and crying day and night for her king and husband. She did not die because he did finally return but while he was gone homer makes us feel as if she would have rather been dead. She was also being told by the suitors that Odyseuss would not return and that she had to choose another husband. So for Penelopes case in relation to the passage she was also longing for his love, gentle ways, and sweetness while being forced to replace it. Because Penelope still loved Odysseus and was not sure if he would return she was unable to control her emotions and feeling the same way that Anticleia described in the passage.

Telemachus relates to how his father felt in the passage. Throughout the story Telemachus is in search of his father like Odysseus was in this passage for his mother. It was Telemachuss dream for his father to return to Ithaca. Just as much as Odyseuss rushed after his mothers spirit and was desperate to hold it; Telemachus was in search of his father and just as desperate. Telemachus and Odyseuss went through many trials and battles in search for what they wanted most. Neither of them wanted to settle for anything less. Both Odyseuss and Telemachus had the wisdom and patience to get through the rough times. I believe they both were not ever worried at what the future held for them and Ithaca. The story shows how they wished that everyone else had the wisdom, patience, and faith that they had in both this passage and many times throughout the story.

The Suitors relate more to Anticleias part of the passage. The disappearance of Odyseuss led to both the death of his mother and the death of his suitors. Without Odyseuss around the suitors lost respect for the gods, their king, their palace, and themselves. The suitors became more selfish. With Odysseus gone and unable to punish them for their wrong they felt as if they were kings and possibly even the future king. The suitors slept with Odysseuss wife, dirtied his palace, partied in his palace without him, drank his whine, ate all his food, tried to kill his son, turned away guest, and worst of all lost all faith in the return of their King. The suitors also lost respect of the gods which they believed determined their fate. Just as I described in the beginning of this essay the gods were always blamed for what happened to the people. When the suitors lost respect for the gods and their king they lost respect for themselves. This disrespect led to a gruesome death for all of them. The suitors relate to Anticleias part of the passage by exactly opposite. Anticleia wanted her son back so bad and because it did not happen the grief lead to her death. The return of Odysseus and his grief of the suitors disrespect made him the sharp-eyed hunter approaching them with showering arrows through the halls.

Argos is a very unique character to me. Argos was Odysseuss dog. The reason he is so unique is because just his short presence in this story relates to both parts of the passage and the whole story very well. First of all a dog is supposed to be a mans best friend and this is a perfect example of that. Argos was the best dog of all in his prime and was always by Odysseuss side. Argos also shows the same feelings in this passage as both Odysseus and Anticleia. Like Anticleia Argos missed his master dearly and suffered through a lot just to see him once again. Well past Argoss time Odysseus still meant the world to the dog. Argos relates to both Telemachus and Odysseus with his faith. For this the gods blessed him. The way Argos relates to Odysseuss part of the passage is how just like the way Odysseus wanted his mother to wait for him, Argos wanted to see his master once again before he died. Argos got his way and with his hateful illness draining his limbs of power his wish came true just before he passed away. Argos was there the whole story seeing everything unfold and he longed for his master to be home in order for him to die peacefully. Argos knew his master was coming and stayed alive just to see him return. For this the Gods rewarded him his peaceful death.

Odysseuss faith, wisdom, and loyalty stayed true throughout the whole story. He never forgot his purpose for creation or the power the Gods had over him. He stayed true to the principles he was taught and that he believed in. Through his faith, humbleness, and the actions of carrying out what he spoke not only in the passage about his mother, but to all his people the gods made true. The ones who believed in him and the Gods were not denied what they deserved.