Nymph and the Shipwreck

Sing to me of the star, Muse, the star of Twists and Turns! Driven off course time and time again!

Tell me the story Muse of his Nostos!

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After receiving the news from on the highest that Patrick must go home, Hermes quickly flew to the island of Calypso. Landing upon the island, the powerful giant-killer could see everything upon the beautiful island. He went into a cave and inside there was food, there was a shelter, everything that a god could desire, Everything except the starfish who he was sent to deliver.

Calypso, sensing a new presence on the island, quickly saw the powerful being. Startled and thrilled, she approached him.

"Hermes, my friend, why have you come? Are you here to take my beloved husband away?" asked the lustrous Calypso.

Looking outside the cave he saw the wily star weeping and wiping his little eyes with his starfish hands. Patrick was just sitting there as always, staring out into the barren rocks and the tormenting seas through blinding tears. He did not even notice the presence of Hermes.

Sitting down upon a chair, Hermes feasted on the ripe vines and wonderful exotic fruits of the sea nymph's island. After having his share, he replied to her words.

"Oh Calypso, you must have heard. Patrick must go home! For he has pined and toiled. Zeus declared that it is not his fate to die upon the island far away from his family and son! You will set him free at once and see that he gets safely home. He will destroy the suitors that harass his wife, Penelope. He will embrace and meet his son again, who does not even remember who Patrick is! Calypso, you must let Patrick home and you will do as you are told."

But Calypso shuddered at the news and grew faint. After regaining her composure, she busted back at the giant-killer,

"You gods are so envious! Zeus had offspring with plenty of mortals and whores! Why am I to deserve different treatment! Is it because I have finally found love? I have treated Patrick well on this island! I found him floating adrift in the sea, wandering aimlessly without friends! I was the one who brought him here, nursed him, fed him, SLEPT WITH HIM! I even offered him immortality! Why put the wily star through so much more anguish? Why have him suffer more? Whatever it is, if it is a decree from Zeus I will do it. But be it known that I cannot support my beloved fully. I have no ship or mortal men that will push his oars back to Ithaca."

But the giant-killer was unflappable. Taking another swig of that delicious wine, he replied,

"You heard me, woman! Release him at once or face the wrath of the lightning-thrower himself!"

And with that, the giant killer sped away, never to be seen on that island again.

With this news, Calypso approached the somber star. Patrick, weeping on his rock, as usual, did not notice the beautiful nymph. She gently put her arms around his star-shaped frame and embraced him with tenderness.

"Patrick, it is time for you to go home. You will get back home safely to your people. For it is decreed from the highest that you are not to perish or live eternally on this island with me. You will get home and see your wife and your son who does not even remember you face."

But Patrick retaliated back with anger,

"Do not LIE to me! Nine years I have been on this island! Nine years, I have tried and tried again to escape but I cannot! I am NEVER to return home. Do not tickle me with false promises you witch! You must promise me this if I leave this island you will NOT try to hinder my progress! Promise me that you will not lead me astray!"

And with that Patrick burst into loud weeping.

Seeing his plight, Calypso gently rubbed his head as she would rub a sick little puppy and responded,

"Oh, Patrick I am not lying to you. If it were my choice you would remain here on this island with me, free from suffering. For I have offered you everything that mortal men could desire and you have even turned down the chance to become an immortal like me and be my husband. I will support you and help you all that I can so that you may get home safely, but if only you knew the trials and tribulations that are awaiting, you would not desire to be home ever again."

And with that, the beautiful nymph led him to back into the cave towards the table that Hermes dined on.

"Eat," said the sea nymph.

After Patrick had his fill, beautiful naked women came by and cleaned him up and gave him wine and perfume.

After Calypso had finished her wine, she asked,

"Are you still eager to go home, you wily and wandering star? The offer to remain here forever with this service and immortality still remains on the table. How is it that a mere mortal can rival me, a beautiful and lustrous god, that men have killed and died to sleep with me?"

But cunning Patrick saw the trap.

"Oh, Calypso, you are right. My Penelope cannot rival you in beauty, talents, or services, but I pine and have longed to come home to see her and my son! If only you knew the extent of my sorrow at being away for so long, you too would long for a reunion."

And with that, the sun disappeared and the two lovers disappeared into the bedroom as not to be disturbed for one last night.

Author's notes:

The story is from Book V of the Odyssey and starts with Zeus issuing a royal decree that Odysseus should be sent home. With Hermes as the messenger, the two gods share some food on the table before discussing Odysseus's fate. Calypso agrees to let Odysseus leave but says that she cannot help out too much. Next, Calypso approached Odysseus and told him that he was okay to go and then the two had dinner and made love.

I wanted specifically to focus on the dialogue in these scenes. We sometimes think that Odysseus was suffering on the island and that he must have had it really bad. However, the island was so beautiful and full of wonder that even Hermes was filled with awe when he first got on the island. Basically, Odysseus was set. He was NOT suffering and was being taken care of very well. He even had the opportunity to become a GOD! Basically his life on the island was to live forever with a beautiful goddess, have the best food, and never have to die from mortal causes ever again!

However, Odysseus did not want that. In the dialogue where Calypso asks Patrick how is it even possible that a mortal woman could rival a god, Odysseus was very clever to respond that his wife is pale in comparison to what the goddess could offer, but still, he longed to come home.

Despite having an amazing life, Odysseus wants to go home. That is the theme of the whole book.

Furthermore, in The Odyssey and according to Fagles, Odysseus is described as a man of "many twists and turns." The greek word for many twists and turns is polutropos where polu means "many" and tropos means "turn." Various translators have defined polutropos differently but it basically describes the same thing. Odysseus was a very sly/cunning/complicated/deceitful character and the word "wily" defines him as well.

The only person I replaced in the story was Odysseus with Patrick.

Bibliography:

Robert Fagles, The Odyssey