Thursday, April 26, 2012
Argos
In Book 17 Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, encounters his faithful dog
Argos, flea-infested and laying on a pile of dung. At the moment the
dog recognizes his master he dies. What is the significance of this
incident? Another chink in the emotional armor of Odysseus? Another
example of the abuse that loyal servants of Odysseus must endure under
the suitors? An example of the subservient status of animals in the
world of the Odyssey? Are
animals the play things, pawns, and victims of humans in the same way
that we humans are the playthings of the gods? Is Argos a symbol for
Odysseus himself?
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In book 17 when Odysseus and Argos are in a way reunited, I believe that it is a reference to Odysseus' conceded and self-centered nature because Argos has been waiting for him and is holding on to his last breath of life until he is reunited with Odyssues. When that moment finally comes Odysseus ignores Argos and decides to protect himself by letting Argos die alone instead of in Odysseus' arms. The scene between Argos and Odysseus is just one example of the effect Odysseus has had on his loved ones. He left them in the dirt and dung, waiting for him to come home and when he does arrive at home he still leaves them lonely and let down. Argos is an extreme example of what Odysseus' self-centered nature can do to someone but it gets the readers to realize just the type of person Odysseus has the tendency to be; and that person is a self-centered and only cares about himself.
ReplyDeleteWhen Odysseus finally returns and encounters his dog, Argos, Argos dies. This incident proves Odysseus’ selfishness and how he has no care for others. When he returns home after 20 years, he doesn’t even acknowledge his sickly dog. This event is similar to some past events that really brought out Odysseus’ selfishness. For example, in book 12; “now Scylla snatched six men from our hollow ship, the toughest, strongest hands I had, and glancing backward over the decks, searching for my crew I could see their hands and feet already hoisted, flailing, high, higher, over my head, look-wailing down at me, comrades riven in agony, shrieking my name for one last time!”(12.264-270) this is the incident when six of Odysseus’ men were taken and killed. In this quote, Odysseus shows little emotion or sorrow for his crew members, he doesn’t even attempt to save them. Odysseus only cares that he makes it out alive, and could care less about anyone around him. This incident relates directly to Argos. Odysseus’ loyal and beloved dog waits for 20 years to take his last breath because he just wants to see his master one more time, even though he is living in such awful conditions . Odysseus is too worried about himself, that he doesn’t even realize the pain in which his dog or his crew members endured. The fact that Odysseus doesn’t even grieve over his dog’s death or his crew member's deaths is showing his selfishness, once again.
ReplyDeleteIn Book 17, the dog of Odysseus, Argos, could represent how humans are the pawns of the gods, the role of animals in the poem, or even Odysseus himself. The many troubles or Argos, such as lying in dung and being covered in ticks, could be a metaphor for the hardships of Odysseus’s journey. Argos could also show how humans are the results of the gods’ doings and experimentations like when Odysseus’s misfortune was caused by Poseidon. The dog could also represent the role of animals in the Odyssey as being unimportant.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it exemplifies more strongly the state of Odysseus’s wife, Penelope. In Book 17, the story of Argos, Odysseus’s dog, is told,
“It was Argos, long-enduring Odysseus’ dog
he trained as a puppy once, but little joy he got
since all too soon he shipped to sacred Troy.
In the old days young hunters loved to set him
coursing after the wild goats and deer and hares.
But now with his master gone he lay there, casaway,
on piles of dung from mules and cattle, heaps collecting
out before the gates till Odysseus’ serving-men
could cart it off t manure the king’s estates.
Infested with ticks, half-dead from neglect,
Here lay the hound, old Argos.
This quotation shows the mistreatment of Argos after Odysseus left to fight in the Trojan War. Penelope was also in a way, neglected when her husband left to fight in the Trojan War. Penelope even wished for death because of her heart break when she woke up from the sleep put on her by Athena in Book 18. Penelope wanting to die right before the return of Odysseus is similar to how Argos dies when Odysseus comes home as a beggar.
Now if only
blessed Artemis sent me a death as gentle, now,
this instant-no more wasting away my life,
my heart broken in longing for my husband.
He had every strength,
Rising over his countrymen, head and shoulders. (18. 229-234)
The pile of dung that Argos has to lie in represents the suitors that have taken over Penelope and Odysseus’s palace. The dung would not have been there if Odysseus had not left, and neither would the suitors. Additionally, Argos has to lie in has taken over where he lives, and the same has happened with the suitors.
I believe that Argos is a symbol for Odysseus himself. Odysseus was gone for twenty years, pushing through many hardships, his only motivation the hope that he would make it home to his loved ones. In the same way, Argos is mistreated, malnourished and laying in a pile of dung, his only motivation for living that he wants to see his master, his loved one, one last time and be with him when he dies. "But the dark shadow of death closed down on Argos' eyes the instant he saw Odysseus, twenty years away" (17.359-360).
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with those above who say that this event shows Odysseus' selfishness. As it says in the text, Odysseus "flicked away a tear, hiding it from Eumaeus, diverting his friend in a hasty, offhand way" (17.334-335). It is obvious that Odysseus loves the dog, and he shares a brief moment of remembrance with Argos before he passes away. At the time, it is all Odysseus can give him. If he broke his cover then and ran to the dog, he would have lost his family, his own life, and his estate, and Argos probably would have passed away anyways. It is best for Odysseus to quietly express his sorrow for the current state of Argos, as he does, without breaking his cover as a random beggar.
Actually, I feel as though Argos is a model for how the people in Ithaca should be responding to Odysseus and his return. Odysseus has been away for over a decade now, and everyone in his home city has given up on him. Penelope, his own wife, is beginning to question his return. Even Telemachus is not completely sure of his had his doubts. Odysseus is not able to enter his own city due to the fear of getting killed on the spot. He is forced to dress as a beggar who wanders the streets. The people have adapted to a life without their old king and would be frazzled by his return. This goes for all except his trustworthy dog Argos.
ReplyDelete“Infested with ticks, half-dead from neglect, here lay the hound, old Argos.” (364. 328-329)
The dog has been waiting for him for years, not willing to give up his life until he is reunited with his old master once more. Covered in manure and ticks, filled with agony, he will not succumb to death. Argos is representing the loyalty and trust that the villagers are lacking. He is an example of who Odysseus can trust. Instead of moving on and beginning a new life, the people should have been waiting for Odysseus, expecting his return. However, this was not the case, and the only being Odysseus could count on was his beloved canine.