In Book 18, Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, “[a]nd the one who
knew the world” (144), comments to one of the kinder suitors:
So I will tell you something. Listen. Listen closely.
Of all that breathes and crawls across the earth,
our mother earth breeds nothing feebler than a man.
So long as the gods grant him power, spring in his knees,
he thinks he will never suffer affliction down the years.
But then, when the happy gods bring on the long hard times,
bear them he must, against his will, and steel his heart.
Our lives, our mood and mind as we pass across the earth
turn as the days turn . .
as the father or men and gods makes each day dawn.
I, too, seemed destined to be a man of fortune once
and a wild wicked swath I cut, indulged my lust for violence,
staking all on my father and my brothers.
Look at me now.
And so, I say, let no man be lawless all his life,
just take in peace what gifts the gods will send (18.149-63)
What
do the lines above reveal about the impact of Odysseus own journey on
him? What has he learned? What insights has he gained? What values does
he advocate? What other episodes in the poem up to this point
contribute to the viewpoint expressed by Odysseus in these lines? Is
Odysseus' journey similar or different to Telemachus' journey to
manhood? Has Odysseus changed (has he renounced any of his former values
or beliefs)?
Odysseus’s eloquent speech of his journey illustrates what Odysseus has learned throughout his journey. The advice that Odysseus gives proves that although Odysseus can be self-interested and a poor leader at times, at the end of his expedition he has ultimately changed to become a better man who more deeply understands the concept of fate and the gifts of the gods.
ReplyDeleteIn delivering his speech, Odysseus demonstrates that he has learned much about man from his journey. He learns that nothing is more feeble, or weak, than man is. Man is the most naïve creature on earth who believes he will live a full life of fortune regardless of his faults. Odysseus is saying that a person’s suffering is inevitable, and that one should never expect to live a life free of misfortune. The gods will give man hard times, and man will be forced to bear them. Because of the pain we must bear, our lives change as we get older and we realize the gods are not as good to us as we thought they would be. Odysseus argues that our moods and minds decline and we become completely different people who better understand the concepts of fate and better appreciate god’s gifts to us.
A key concept of Odysseus’s entire speech is the idea that Odysseus has changed into a better person who understands his fate and appreciates the gifts he receives from the gods. During the course of his journey, Odysseus is arguably a poor leader to his men and self-interested. For example, Odysseus is a poor, self-interested leader in the story of the Laestrygonians and the nymph Circe. In both of these situations, Odysseus first sacrifices a crew of his men before assessing the Laestrygonians and Circe’s tactics for himself. In both situations, multiple men from Odysseus’s crew end up dead. If Odysseus was a good leader, he would have put himself in front of his crew to assess these situations. However, instead he sacrificed his crew members for the sake of his own life. While Odysseus was a poor leader and his priorities were not in line, Odysseus proves that he is a different person despite his mistakes on his journey. Odysseus demonstrates his newfound knowledge when he states,
I, too, seemed destined to be a man of fortune once and a wild wicket swath I cut,
indulged my lust for violence,
stalking all on my fathers and my brothers.
Look at me now. (18.159-62).
The above quotation illustrates that Odysseus recognizes that he is a changed man. He even states, “Look at me now,” indicating he recognizes he has changed (18.162). He states that he once thought he was destined to fortune, however, he indulged his lust for violence, particularly when he fights thousands in the Trojan War and many more on his way home, including his own comrades, Cyclops, the Laestrygonians, Scylla, and Charybdis. Because of Odysseus’s lust for violence, he faced a lot of backlash from the gods. The gods punished Odysseus in many ways, but they also send him gifts from time to time. From this, Odysseus learns his most valuable piece of knowledge when he declares, “And so, I say, let no man ever be lawless all his life,/ just take in peace what gifts the gods will send” (18.163-4). Odysseus is saying that man has to bear his fate on behalf of the gods and man need not take for granted any gifts that the gods send. Odysseus tells stories of his fighting years which prove him to be a self-interested and poor leader, that result in poor treatment from the gods. However, Odysseus has learned that there will always be suffering and he will never be free from affliction, therefore, he must never take for granted any gifts or good fate from the gods, no matter how big or small. In the end, he better understands his fate and knows he must welcome any and all gifts from the gods. In modern terms, this can be loosely translated as Odysseus being appreciative of “the little things.” In conclusion, the effect of Odysseus’s journey on him is clearly illustrated through the knowledge he gained.
Odysseus gives one of the better suitors some words of wisdom he has aquired throughout this years at sea and war. It shows the reader that he has learned some valuable life lessons such as cherishing the gifts from the gods and making the best out of all situations. It seems that Odysseus himself had to learn those lessons, in some cases in the hard way rather than the easy way. When arriving at Ithaca, Odysseus realizes all the lessons he had learned throughout his journey and has become an overal better person and warrior.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that Odysseus learned many life lessons throughout his journey.
I, too, seemed destined to be a man of fortune once
and a wild wicked swath I cut, indulged my lust for violence,
staking all on my father and my brothers.
Look at me now.
And so, I say, let no man be lawless all his life,
just take in peace what gifts the gods will send (18.159-63)
In the above quote Odysseus is telling the suitor how you must never be greedy and you cannot put yourself in front of others because it leads you to nothing but pain and suffering. Always take gifts from the gods with open hands and gratitude and no matter what the situation you must make the best out of all situations. Odysseus tells the suitor that he learned those lessons the hard way. It seemed he was destined to be great and even though he was he lost sight of himself and his priorities and began to be a conceeded, self-centered leader who caused much pain to the people around him.
As Odysseus talks to the suitor it becomes more and more obvious that he has changed as a person, he has learned from his mistakes and failures and is trying to prevent others from making the same mistakes as him.
Although this speech given by Odysseus does reflect some of the morals and life lessons he has learned on his way, I do not think that the purpose of this speech was to reflect how Odysseus has become a "better person." Rather, Odysseus is warning Amphinomus that people's situations can change in the blink of an eye, and no one is ever really safe and their fortunes are never really secure. There are a few reasons that support my thesis.
DeleteFirst of all, Odysseus's speech itself mentions that "Of all that breathes and crawls across the earth; our mother earth breeds nothing feebler than a man(18.150-51)" He goes on to explain that all of a man's power comes from the gods, not from himself. From the beginning, Odysseus's speech warns that people are weak, and owe their good times to the gods. And of course, these good times are subject to change. Odysseus continues, "But then, when the happy gods bring on the long hard times; bear them he must, against his will, and steel his heart(18.150-51)." How does all of this relate to the suitor's situation? Amphinomus and his fellow suitors are all having a good time serving themselves in Odysseus's palace. If what Odysseus says is true, their time of fortune and comfort could come to an end just as quickly as it began. Toward the end of the speech, Odysseus makes the clear to Amphinomus saying, "And so, I say, let no man be lawless all his life; just take in peace what gifts the gods will send(18.162-63)." Although it would be nice to think that Odysseus is spreading insightful proverbs, he is actually just warning Amphinomus to not be lawless and to be satisfied with what he already has taken.
Although I do not think that Odysseus is speaking to the suitors as a helping friend, I do agree that he has learned something on his journey. This is that man is a feeble creature, and is subject to the will and wrath of the gods. On one hand, Odysseus is in control of many aspects of his journey. On the other, Odysseus is home so late because of beneficial and detrimental actions of gods and godly beings. The first instance that comes to mind is when Odysseus is imprisoned by Calypso. Though no mortal being could possibly hold Odysseus for so long, he is held captive by a goddess. A goddess who only frees him after being told to do so by other gods. Other examples are the countless times where Odysseus's ships have been tossed turned, struck, and crashed by gods. In the instance of the Scylla, Odysseus was going to lose men no matter what he did. The list of instances where people were at the mercy of gods or powerful creatures goes on and on. The point is that man is feeble compared to everything else and that the suitors are feeble and that one day something or someone could come and kill all of them as quickly as Odysseus's crew was killed or as quickly as Poseidon slaughtered a Phaecian crew by turning their ship to stone. As you can see, man is weak and vulnerable and can often do very little to stop events once they have happened. Therefore, Odysseus warns, man must take what they have gained and leave. I believe that to say that Odysseus is not telling the suitors to leave his property would be inaccurate because he is clearly warning them to pack their bags and leave before something terrible happens to them.
Odysseus's speech regarding his past adventures reveals a deeper understanding with respect to human experience. While Odysseus began his voyage fresh and naive, this passage illustrates his progression from a self-centered, arrogant leader to a changed, inspired veteran that better understands fate and divine intervention.
ReplyDeleteWhen giving his speech, it is apparent that Odysseus has come to understand man much more clearly and their place in the universe. He understands that man is so arrogant as to think itself superior to almost all other beings, when in actuality man himself is the weakest of all. Men are so careless as to believe in their own power that they cannot help but conclude that they are immortal to justice and deserving of reward regardless of their crimes.
I, too, seemed destined to be a man of fortune once
and a wild wicked swath I cut, indulged my lust for violence,
staking all on my father and my brothers.
Look at me now.
And so, I say, let no man be lawless all his life,
just take in peace what gifts the gods will send (18.159-63)
Odysseus is saying that no man is free of misfortune and one can hope to live a life of pure luxury, for in actuality, the gods will send troubles with the intent of testing or punishing man, and man will have to bear in order to survive. As one matures they begin to better understand the true nature of the gods and how they themselves are helpless to the gods might. Thus, as one ages, they begin to better understand fate and how it impact us all. Consequently, one becomes more appreciative of the gifts the gods grant them, and more respectful of the gods, knowing that just as easily as they come, gifts can be taken away.
Odysseus's development from a selfish and rash individual into a proper and respectful leader is arguably the most important concept of his speech. Throughout the epic, Odysseus demonstrates the capability of becoming a good commander. However, Odysseus falls short of this title by repeatedly placing his crew in danger to serve his own selfish desires. This leads to mutual mistrust and disrespect between him and his crew. Furthermore, by the time Odysseus arrives home not a single one of his men survived. Yet despite Odysseus's obvious flaws and failure to demonstrate the qualities required of good leader, it is apparent that the journey has helped him mature and better understand realities he could not grasp prior to undertaking his journey.
The lines indicated, 18.149-63, show that although Odysseus seems like an immortal human who is never affected by his mistakes, he does experience the hardships that come due to his decisions. The main fact about life that Odysseus learns that opens up his eyes to even more truths is that life is like a wheel. At times, he realizes, a person can feel high and mighty but be at the bottom the next day. This change in fortune is dictated by the Olympians who have power over everything. He advocates that people should be content with what they have and not be greedy like he was. He advocates for people to act in a pious fashion and to not be too concerned with one’s own legacy. He realizes that these traits which he displayed towards the beginning of the epic cost him the lives of his men, and the delay of his return to Ithaca. Since he now knows that pious actions are rewarded by the gods, he acts in this manor to please them. Before Odysseus is convinced by Eurymachus to slaughter the cattle of the sun, we see a glimpse of his reverence towards the gods. Odysseus is not too keen on the idea because he realizes that if they disrespect the gods, they will retaliate in a far greater way. This shows a small shimmer of hope for Odysseus, but he ultimately gives in to Eurymachus’s demands. However the he does realize afterwards that his lack of respect towards the gods was the wrong path to choose. We can see these lessons that Odysseus learns reflected in his son Telemachus. Telemachus learns to be a great king without Odysseus, but in a parallel structure as how Odysseus learns about himself. Telemachus learns through stories from his father how to be a great king, similar to how Odysseus learns to be a better man through these adventures. While Telemachus is in Sparta, he learns of Odysseus’s cunning in Troy, and that this is an essential quality of a king. Odysseus is already gifted with this, but he himself learns that if the gift of cunning is not properly applied, like in the case of the Cyclops, is will ruin him.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus speaks in the lines above, about the stupidity of men and their self-reliance, caring for only themselves and their dreams. Not having any cares in the world, as long as everything is going well for them. Then when life takes a turn through tribulations and tragedies, their self-reliance turns into wickedness, anger, and hatred, lashing out at all those around them. Instead of conforming to these ways we should learn to be thankful for all we have big and small, and at peace with our brothers. Odysseus realizes the importance of a man coming to terms with a righteous life. He expresses the change of lifestyle, should come sooner than later, because your actions will determine your consequences, that life will confront you with. Odysseus learned that in order for there to be a winner or hero through his journeys someone would always have to endure senseless loss or pain. One quote that demonstrates Odysseus has changed his way of thinking about life is the following,
ReplyDeleteWhat damage have I done you? What have I said?
I don’t grudge you anything,
not if the next man up and gives you plenty.
This doorsill is big enough for the both of us- (18. 18-21)
This quote shows that Odysseus realizes now after his journey, the importance of being able to cope with those around him, without trying to be number one. Life is not always about Odysseus and Odysseus alone, but that he now understands there are other people in his life, besides himself.
In these lines, Odysseus imparts priceless wisdom and a great life lesson which he has acquired over the years during his journey home. While this may seem similar to other speeches throughout the epic, this one reveals aspects about Odysseus that we as readers have not yet experienced. This shows that his journey home truly did impact him, and is outlook on life and the gods. It also shows a weak side of Odysseus that has not yet been shown.
ReplyDeleteOften Odysseus is portrayed as a strong hero, but here we see more a wise and aged man. Odysseus has learned that while in the moment it may seem like you are "on top of the world" and invincible, there is always something that can bring you down. This shows that his journey really has affected his outlook on life. While it may seem Odysseus is solely focused on fame, really has suffered great affliction and has somewhat of a depressed outlook on life and on the gods.
He advocates, to the suitors, to always be thankful for what you are given. This value is clearly portrayed in at the end of his speech.
And so, let no man be lawless all his life,
just take in peace what gifts the gods will send (18.163-64)
He is telling the suitors to always be grateful and accept the gifts the gods do give you.
Odysseus is still disguised as a beggar while he is speaking to the suitors, however aspects of his journey are clearly shown in these lines. After the war Odysseus felt very invincible. This idea is clearly portrayed in this speech.
So long as the gods grant him power, spring in his knees,
he thinks he will never suffer affliction down the years (18. 152-53)
Odysseus is comparing this to his own victorious feelings after the war. He then continues to explain how the gods "bring on hard times". This idea is also connected to his own journey home, and how the gods continuously stalled him from returning home to Ithaca. This entire speech is a disguised retelling of his own personal journey and suffering.
I feel this is a really powerful and unique speech from the epic. It shows a side of Odysseus we have never experienced before. One of weakness and sadness. It portrays Odysseus as another character instead of the head strong war hero that we often see.
The lines above The lines above represent Odysseus’ thoughts on how man believes they can do whatever they please. The reason man is the weakest being on earth is because they are so vulnerable. Odysseus is talking about how things can be perfect, and the next moment, everything is in ruins. This is because man becomes cocky. When Odysseus was trapped by Polyphemus, he was tactful and outwitted the giant. However, he abused his success by unnecessarily taunting the Cyclopes. Even though Odysseus and his men were slightly sidetracked, they were still in one piece and no one was in mortal danger. Yet when Odysseus overestimated his luck, everything was ruined. He upset the gods and now they were all cursed.
ReplyDelete“I, too, seemed destined to be a man of fortune once
and a wild wicked swath I cut, indulged my lust for violence,
staking all on my father and my brothers.
Look at me now.
And so, I say, let no man be lawless all his life,
just take in peace what gifts the gods will send” (18.149-63)
The point that Odysseus is trying to make is that humans do not hold all the power, and that they should not abuse the little power that is given to them. Do not be greedy, take what you can and respect the gods. If you are pious then you will benefit from it.
Odysseus's speech clearly shows that he has learned from his mistakes throughout the journey. This shows that although not all life lessons were easy to learn they needed to be in order to make Odysseus a better person. It seems as though Odysseus is finally talking about his mistakes and realizing the impact everything has had on his life. On his journey he realizes that man cannot always do what they want and that they are weak. He realizes that man can be defeated very easily. This shows that a man should never think of himself as invincible, because the moment this thought enters your mind the universe proves you wrong. With this poem one realizes Odysseus has changed a great deal. He has a greater respect for people with higher authority then he. he also, takes responsibility for some bad judgments made during the course of his journey. Overall, it is clear that Odysseus has changed a great deal. He clearly has respect for others a recommends that one takes life as it is given.
ReplyDeleteTo me this means something different than probably anyone else took from it, but maybe something similar. Odysseus, here, explains how he was once a different, ignorant, naive man, that thought only simple and good things could happen to him. Through the power of his journey and the relations and communications he had in his journey, he realized, and explains how these gifts and good things that the gods give you are really only illusions in a way and they block the truth of the meaning of human life. Humans think that because they get these gifts and good things, that nothing can go wrong. But, this is not true. Before you know it, on comes the hardship and pain, for sometimes no reason at all. Odysseus explains how even the most confident, strong, and gifted man will receive hardship some way or another. And, Odysseus is no exception to this.
ReplyDeleteHe explains that he was once oblivious of this knowledge, but now he has learned. He knows now the fairness, and unfairness of simple human life. And, he accepts that. He wants not anyone to take advantage of life. He now knows that he was never unstoppable because life finally hit him. He still has a lot to learn, but the book shows this as a big step in his learning process.