The Hero Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

Odysseus has thus far been portrayed as a hero to rival the gods. His sweeping brow and broad shoulders paint an image of a muscular man, mighty in his stance. He does not back down from a battle, but embraces it and does not charge in headfirst, but devises a strategy. However, after twenty years at sea, Odysseus is a man weathered by the God of weather and who cries tears of saltwater swallowed from the Sea God. Now that Odysseus has finally escaped Calypso’s gleaming locks, Alcinous and Arete of the Phaeacians have graciously welcomed him into their home. When eating dinner one night, a harper sings the song of Odysseus and he dissolves into tears: “as a woman weeps, her arms flung round her darling husband, a man who fell in battle… trying to beat the day of doom from home and

Here, it is obvious how Odysseus has devolved from a hero figure, to a man in pieces. Though the hopeless crying began on Calypso’s island, it has not deceased nor does it seem it will. When Fagle writes “down, dying, gasping for breath” the reader is able to visualize a man literally perishing from heartbreak. His use of alliteration simply adds to Odysseus’s sorrow. Furthermore, the comparison of Odysseus to a “weeping women” places him in a weaker position, sexist as it is. Fagles word choice of “cling” and “shrill” also highlight the desperation Odysseus feels and his yearning for home. His behavior towards the Phaeacians in this moment is authentic but still prideful. He does not want to disturb them with his sobbing, nor shame himself, but Alcinous notices and generously asks the harper to pause his singing. Obviously, people were very welcoming to strangers and guests and the Phaeacians are no different towards Odysseus. All his life, it seems the Gods have favored him and his luck only shifted when Poseidon grew