PART 1~Scenes and Characters
Book 15 starts off with Athena appearing in Telemachus's dream when he is asleep in King Menelaus's palace. She tells him to return home to Ithaca quickly because the suitor's are still trying to win Penelope's hand. In addition, she notifies him that the suitors are planning to kill him. Lastly, she states that he should first travel to see Eumaeus, the swineherd. This all shows another evident example of how loyal Athena is and how she helps Telemachus on his journey. When Telemachus announces that he wants to depart from Menelaus's and the king insists they stay longer, Telemachus lashes out:
"Menelaus, royal Atrides, captain of armies, I must go back to my own home at once. When I started out I left no one behind to guard my possessions. God forbid, searching for my great father, I lose my life or lose some priceless treasure from my house!" (15. 95-101).
This is illustrating that Telemachus is treating Melelaus differently. He is taking a stand and leaving not to be rude to his host, but to follow Athena's advice.
When he departs from Menelaus and Helen's home, an eagle carrying a stolen goose swoops down near them. Helen reads the omen:
"Just as the eagle swooped down from the crags where it was born and bred, just as it snatched that goose fattened up for the kill inside the house, just so, after many trials and roving long and hard, Odysseus will descend on his house and take revenge-unless he's home already, sowing seeds of ruin for that whole crowd of suitors!" (15. 194-200).
I feel the eagle does symbolize Odysseus because they are both powerful and somewhat aggressive in fighting. This first omen shows more foreshadowing and it keeps readers interested in the plot. The theme strength is present because of the incident. The eagle is obviously a lot stronger than the goose, just like Odysseus is more dominant and greater than the suitors.
When Telemachus is about to leave Pylos after Pisistratus drops him off at his boat, Telemachus meets Theoclymenus, a prophet's descendant who is fleeing because he killed a man. When the stranger asks to come aboard, Telemachus immediately agrees:
"How could I drive you from my ship? Come sail with us, we'll tend you at home, with all we can provide," (15. 313-314).
I found it interesting that Telemachus makes a decision so quickly and lets Theoclymenus come, even though he says he is a fugitive who murdered someone. It shows that Telemachus is somewhat maturing as a man. He is not judging the stranger and he welcomes him and offers genuine hospitality.
Odysseus and the Eumaeus tell stories when they are at the swinherd's home. We learn that Eumaeus came to Ithaca because Phoenician pirates captured him and Odysseus's father, Laertes, bought him. When Telemachus returns home to Ithaca, he sends Theoclymenus to Pireaus, a crewman. As they are about to go their seperate ways, a hawk soars by holding a dove. Theoclymenus interprets the second omen:
"Look, Telemachus, the will of god just winged that bird on your right! Why, the moment I saw it, here before my eyes, I knew it was a sign. No line more kingly than yours in all of Ithaca-yours will reign forever!" (15. 594-598).
Just like the first omen, it is understood that good things are to come for Odysseus.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1. Why do you think the two omens were so similar? Was it just for emphasis? Explain.
2. Do you think the number of omens will increase later in the book? Why?
When first reading the parts describing the action of a bird, I thought it was somewhat strange how those around Telemachus were so quick to jump to conclusions. Plus the actions that occurred were so oddly placed within dialogue that it makes sense that a person would attempt to exploit the moment to give a lasting message to someone. To answer your question, the omens are similar because the incidences that had occurred act as fortune cookies: always there to give the faintest advice and encouragement that could apply to anyone's life The omens were similar because the "fortune cookie readers" wanted to provide Telemachus with the message that he wanted to hear. It seemed as though when Helen was formulating her thoughts her thinking of "how to read the omen rightly, how to reply" (188-189) was her simply trying to make connections that fell into place, not necessarily to think about the meaning deeply or spiritually. I definitely think the omens were placed in for emphasis to show that others support Telemachus and his efforts to gain his kingdom back. It is really just a way to give him a motivation boost. I can definitely see more omens showing up later in the book, because Telemachus will probably need more encouragement if he is going to fight against the suitors.
ReplyDeleteI think the two omens were so similar because it stresses how powerful Odysseus really is. I think Homer wanted it to be clear to the readers that the gods will eventually make things right and serve the bad people justice. You made an interesting point when you said that the eagle symbolizes Odysseus. I did not think of it like that when I read it. I thought it meant something about the journey Telemachus and Odysseus still had yet to endure. I like how you said Odysseus was stronger than the suitors. I completely agree with you. I think the repition of the omens is to show exactly that. That Odysseus and Telemachus together can be stronger than the suitors.
ReplyDeleteLater on I think the number of omens will increase for sure. The omens are a good way of foreshadowing what will happen next and Homer uses foreshadowing a lot in his writing. He also uses a lot of repition, so I definitely think the omens will continue.
The presence and the similarity of the omens definitely signify a turning point within the Odyssey. Odysseus has already infiltrated his own kingdom as a beggar, to bring ruin upon the brazen suitors with cleverness and violence. I believe the eagle and goose are used because of How they depict one another. The suitors are like the geese, all fattened up from the House of Odysseus ready for plucking by Odysseus himself in the form of the eagle. The eagle flying over Telemachus signifies that Odysseus has come back to lead his son. The omens clearly cause an emphasis on the House of Odysseus now and more omens are bound to come till the suitors are finally killed.
ReplyDeleteI love that you said that the eagle symbolizes Odysseus because when I read it, that's what I thought too. But to answer your question, I agree with Michael and Megan that the omens were similar to each other. I feel that they do "tell a story" f Odysseus' and Telemachus' journey still to come and as Megan said, it foreshadows which just adds more emphasis to Homer's writing. And yeah as for the number of omens increasing, I think they will definitely increase in the pages to come.
ReplyDeleteHey JessiEeEEEEEee! Nice job :)
ReplyDeleteI like that you noticed that the omens we were given in book 15 were so closely related and I do not think that it is coincidence at all. We see the comparison of an eagle to a goose and a hawk to a dove, so I think it is fair to assume that Homer wants to convey the stronger of the birds, being the eagle and hawk, as overpowering the weaker of the birds, the goose and the dove. As I was reading I thought that the eagle and hawk symbolized Telemachus and Odysseus, while the goose and dove symbolized the suitors waiting to court Penelope. I like thinking of it this way because it gives me, as the reader, the feeling that the right people will sweep down and killer "the weaker birds" or the suitors in the end.
Good point in bringing up the fact that omens will increase in later books. I agree with this because the suitors have yet to be dealt with by Telemachus and his father so as we get closer to their interaction I think there will most definitely be a rise in omens and symbolism to represent people and events.
I agree with jdynkin, I definitely think the two omens being so similar was not a coincidence because I think that Homer wanted to use the same type of omen to symbolize the same people involved. The eagle and hawk both symbolize Odysseus and Telemachus coming together and reuniting to become a strong united force. The goose symbolized the pesky suitors and the beautiful dove symbolized Penelope. Homer uses omens to foreshadow many events in the story, like for this case that Telemachus and Odysseus will capture or kill the suitors and then retain Penelope. I think that Homer will continue using omens like this throughout his story as a way of foreshadowing and use of symbolism.
ReplyDelete