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The Odyssey
The Odyssey
Who and why?
Who and why?
The Odyssey is an epic poem written in ancient Greek by Homer around the eighth century B.C. The epic poem is the sequel to The Iliad which follows the story of the fall of Troy. The Odyssey follows the story of Odysseus, who fought alongside the Achaeans, and his journey home to Ithaca after fighting against the Trojans.
Plot
Plot
The Odyssey covers Odysseus's long journey home to Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War. While Odysseus has been gone for ten years at war, his wife, Penelope, is continuously being bombarded by suitors at the palace. Penelope remains faithful to her husband, but entertains the suitors to protect her son, Telemachus, who will become King of Ithaca after Odysseus. After being at war for ten years, it also takes Odysseus ten years to return home to Ithaca. Although he is met with many obstacles when returning home, he is accompanied by the goddess Athena who helps him whenever he is in need and acts as his guardian angel. Odysseus is trapped by Calypso, a nymph who is in love with Odysseus, then he is shipwrecked and stuck with the cyclops Polyphemus and then meets Circe who helps him return to Ithaca.
Introduction of Circe and her relationship with Odysseus
Introduction of Circe and her relationship with Odysseus
Circe is introduced in Book X of The Odyssey. Circe is a beautiful witch goddess who lives on the island of Aeaea. Using her magic powers, she turns Odysseus's men into pigs when they land on her island. The help of the god Hermes, Odysseus is able to outsmart Circe and not turn into pigs like his men. Circe begins to befriend Odysseus and invites him to bed, bathes him, feeds him and then releases his men from her spell. Odysseus happily enjoys his time with Circe and begins to forget about his goal of returning home to Ithaca. After staying with Circe for a year, she tells Odysseus that he must first visit the Underworld, which no mortal has done, so that he can gain knowledge about how to gratify the gods so that he can return home safely. Circe helps Odysseus by giving him information on how he can achieve his task. When Odysseus returns from the Underworld, Circe gives him possible routes home and tells him about dangers that he would encounter such as the island of sirens and Scylla on his journey home.
Interpretation
Interpretation
Depending on how one reads Circe's character in The Odyssey, they can either see her as a powerful goddess or the cause of Odysseus's long journey. Odysseus is on a quest to return home and rule his kingdom, and most people see Circe as one of the main distractions for Odysseus to fulfil this quest. When Odysseus and his men landed on Aeaea, Circe quickly turned Odysseus's men into pigs. Odysseus outsmarting Circe results in admiration of both. Circe begins to have an affair with Odysseus which results in a delay for the journey. Circe begins to act as a wife. She feeds him, bathes him, and takes him to bed. She does not remind Odysseus of his quest that way she can enjoy her time with him and not be alone. When the time comes, Circe does help Odysseus when he makes the decision to continue his quest. Circe is only useful to Odysseus when it is time for him to leave. Circe could be compared to Calypso, who was madly in love with Odysseus and would not let him leave her. The only difference between Circe and Calypso is that Circe does not fight or go against Odysseus when he tells her that he is leaving. Circe is an essential character in The Odyssey because without meeting her, Odysseus would not have successfully returned home and figure out the best way to home.
Photo Interpretation
Photo Interpretation
The top part of the vase depicts Circe turning Odysseus's men into swine as well as Odysseus trying to outsmart Circe to gain some trust. This vase shows what Circe is known for in the epic poem. Most people do not tend to focus on the good that she does, just the bad. This vase also shows the negative act Circe did while being with Odysseus which was wasting time and making his men useless. The vase, just like people, ignore the benefits Odysseus gained from meeting Circe. Circe is depicted as the problem instead of a solution.
Calyx-Krater by the Painter of the Berlin Hydria (c. 460-450 B.C.)
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