Odyssey Themes Essays - Odyssey, Textiles In Mythology And Folklore

Odyssey Themes When Homer wove the characters of The Odyssey into a story, he undoubtedly left room for interpretation of their actions. The characters, most of whom are dynamic, colorful, and three dimensional, are used by Homer to give a fun but truthful commentary on the Ancient Greeks and their way of life. The actions of one figure, the man-eating monster named Skylla, are particularly interesting when viewed in the context of the rest of the story. Though her contribution to the plot is minor, Skylla's actions are important in that they are characteristic of several themes found throughout the poem. These themes include the role of the female in Odysseus's struggle, the hunger (figuratively and literally) of the characters in The Odyssey, and the commentary Homer makes on the individuals who live lawlessly. In The Odyssey, Homer introduces many female characters; some play significant roles, some are in the background. Regardless of their importance, distinctions can be made as to their roles in the story: that is, some put forth effort to help Odysseus and the other men--Arete, Athena, Nausikaa, and Eurykleia are examples--and others (whom he encounters on his voyages home) lead to the delay or destruction of them. Skylla plays the role of the latter, as do Kalypso, Kirke, and the Seirenes. Although none of these women actually harm Odysseus, each poses a deadly threat to him on his voyage. Odysseus's experience with Skylla is by far the most deadly and disturbing. Whereas the other women succeed only in enticing and delaying the crew, the encounter with Skylla has lethal consequences. Even though he decides to take the sea route that passes near her lair, it seeming to be the least dangerous of the three options, he wants nothing to do with the monster. Yet, instead of passing unscathed, six of his men are taken (XII, 294-7) as the boat sails through the channel. Homer uses an epic simile to help the reader visualize the macabre scene. He compares Skylla to a fisherman who "will hook a fish and rip it from the surface / to dangle wriggling through the air" (XII, 303-4). The crewmen are the fish, of course, and seem helpless as Skylla whisks them from the ship. Describing the attack, Odysseus says, "and deathly pity ran me through / at that sight--far the worst I ever suffered, / questing the passes of the strange sea" (308-10). It seems that he realizes that the losses were his responsibility and that he too could easily have been a victim of Skylla's wrath. Earlier in the story (Book V) we see that Calypso poses a similar, though not as deadly, threat to Odysseus's homecoming. Instead of literally grabbing for him as Skylla does, Kalypso tries to retain Odysseus by enticing him with the prospect of immortality and a life with a beautiful goddess. We are also told she has cast "spells" (198) on him to keep him docile and under her power. Kalypso says to Zeus, "I fed him, loved him, sang that he should not die / nor grow old, ever, in all the days to come" (142-4). Despite her efforts and hospitality, Odysseus still longs for home as he sits each day by the rocky shore "with eyes wet scanning the bare horizon of the sea" (165-6). He is quite happy when the day comes that he is set free by Zeus's will. Without Zeus's intervention, Odysseus would have been kept indefinitely. Book X, which contains the introduction of Kirke, provides another example of near fatal attraction. This time it is not a monstrous woman or an overly hospitable nymph that brings them near their downfall, but an immortal who entrances her visitors so that they forget their motives. Whether or not Kirke intended to eat Odysseus's men, as Skylla does, after she turned them to swine we do not know, though it is certainly a possibility. What is known is their flaw--they are men who fall prey to the desires of women. This fact is admitted twice by Odysseus in lines 440 and 503 and is the reason they end up "feasting long / on roasts and wine, until a year grew fat" (504-5). Only after Odysseus is reminded of his homeland does he go to Kirke and plead for their release, to which she agrees. A point to make is that in both cases, with Kalypso and Kirke, Odysseus plays the role of the mortal lover who has little resistance; and in all three cases, the females cause only pain or