Oops. accidentally posted that without actually writing anything. Anyways...
How badly did Odysseus actually want to get home? Odysseus begs and pleads with the Phaeacians to let him go home in scenes like the sports competitions where he says, "Why do you taunt me so with such a challenge? Pains weigh on my spirit now, not your sports-- I've suffered much already, struggled hard. But here i sit amid your assembly still, starved for passage home, begging you king, begging all your people" (196). Yet he seems to spend a large amount of time on unnecessary undertakings, particularly his sexual relations with such people as Calypso and Circe. He keeps his dear Penelope waiting at home while he is running around doing what he pleases. In one passage, Odysseus and Calypso "lost themselves in love" (159). This does not sound like the behavior of a man in any hurry to get home.
I believe Odysseus wished to get home eventually, but it wasn't on his top priority list. For example, he stayed with Circe for a year, but then goes and says it's time to continue going onward. However if he REALLY wished to get home to his wife and son, he would've left Circe on the first day instead of dwelling there on account of her sexual temptation. So, in my opinion, again, I think Odysseus had intentions of going home, but never really thought too deeply about it. For he doesn't even once I don't think talk about Penelope in a dear way or even mention his son Telemachus.
I asked myself this question when I had to do a project on the book for English class. In those days, it didn't matter whether men slept around or not. Men were considered the higher gender and since it had been 20 years, he would have been expected to have a couple affairs. He says that line to Calypso to persuade her to let him off her island. He sleeps with Circe because, as they say, "men have needs." (This is not my opinion, it is a fact).
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ReplyDeleteOops. accidentally posted that without actually writing anything. Anyways...
ReplyDeleteHow badly did Odysseus actually want to get home?
Odysseus begs and pleads with the Phaeacians to let him go home in scenes like the sports competitions where he says, "Why do you taunt me so with such a challenge? Pains weigh on my spirit now, not your sports-- I've suffered much already, struggled hard. But here i sit amid your assembly still, starved for passage home, begging you king, begging all your people" (196). Yet he seems to spend a large amount of time on unnecessary undertakings, particularly his sexual relations with such people as Calypso and Circe. He keeps his dear Penelope waiting at home while he is running around doing what he pleases. In one passage, Odysseus and Calypso "lost themselves in love" (159). This does not sound like the behavior of a man in any hurry to get home.
I believe Odysseus wished to get home eventually, but it wasn't on his top priority list. For example, he stayed with Circe for a year, but then goes and says it's time to continue going onward. However if he REALLY wished to get home to his wife and son, he would've left Circe on the first day instead of dwelling there on account of her sexual temptation. So, in my opinion, again, I think Odysseus had intentions of going home, but never really thought too deeply about it. For he doesn't even once I don't think talk about Penelope in a dear way or even mention his son Telemachus.
ReplyDeleteI asked myself this question when I had to do a project on the book for English class. In those days, it didn't matter whether men slept around or not. Men were considered the higher gender and since it had been 20 years, he would have been expected to have a couple affairs. He says that line to Calypso to persuade her to let him off her island. He sleeps with Circe because, as they say, "men have needs." (This is not my opinion, it is a fact).
ReplyDelete