Literary Analysis (The Odyssey)

The Odyssey portrays the Greeks of Odysseus’ era as a society that values connections, a community whose members pride themselves on being parts of a greater whole. Upon introducing themselves, strangers place great emphasis on their family lines, and even close friends address each other by their roles or titles, such as “Lord of men, King Agamemnon!” or “Achilles, greatest of Greek heroes.” (11.397, 11.477). Traditions are well-respected, and center around giving and hospitality – with bountiful gifts bestowed upon guests according to the rules of xenia – thus demonstrating the importance the Greeks place in abiding by cultural standards and treating one another as equals. In contrast, Odysseus is depicted as someone extraordinary, who rises above the rest. He is a man who thinks himself strong enough to face any danger and intelligent enough to be the only reason his unruly crew has survived as long as they did. However, throughout his journey, he protects and surrounds himself with crewmen he deems incompetent, seeks out assistance from gods, kings, and servants alike, and rarely works alone despite his outward pride. Odysseus’ arrogance, seen in the way he presents himself as someone more capable than other people, conflicts with his dependence on others and his constant need to be a part of a group – highlighting his inner insecurity and his desire to be validated as an important member of his family and of the Greek community.

            Despite his seeming confidence in his own skills and his tendency to underestimate the people around him, Odysseus relies on others and prefers to work with a team. In his tale to the Phaeacians, Odysseus emphasizes his irritation with his crew for causing many of the major issues that prevented the group from returning home earlier. One of these is their unleashing of Aeolus’ bag of winds while he was asleep – a scenario which stresses that his crewmates cannot be left to their own devices, and that he constantly has to watch over them. Even before he goes into detail about the incident itself, Odysseus mentions that he “had been doing all the steering, hoping that we would get home sooner if I did,” implying his distrust in the capabilities of those he works with, compared to his own capacity to maneuver the ship more efficiently. (10.32-33). Later, he recounts a similar situation in which his men betrayed his trust, on the island of the Sun God. Here, he highlights that “they swore as I commanded” and made a spoken oath not to touch Helius’ cattle – a promise that they broke when Odysseus was not present to remind them of it. (12.305). Seeing how little Odysseus knows to trust his crew makes it all the more puzzling that he depends on them so often, even in the face of danger. For example, he relies on them to “increase my bonds and chain me even tighter” should he be tempted by the Sirens’ song – a potentially life-threatening situation, judging by their history of protesting against his actions or outright disobeying his orders, but one that simultaneously serves as a test of faith. (12.165-166). In addition, he does not often embark on missions by himself. He brings “one slave and one crew member” upon returning to Aeolus and “twelve chosen men” to meet Polyphemus, the latter of which results in his having to save these men from imminent peril. (10.59-60, 9.196). The only exception would be his first encounter with Circe, in which he does attempt to take someone with him, but the crewmate in question specifically expresses his fear “and begged me tearfully, ‘No no, my lord! Please do not make me go!’”, relying on Odysseus to bravely rescue his abducted friends on his own. (10.265-266). Overall, this demonstrates how much Odysseus likes to be validated. Every mistake made by his crewmen in his absence and every group expedition that ends with his having to rescue them shows just how much they need him by their side, reminding Odysseus how much he is valued even miles away from his loving family.

            Odysseus thrives on praise and validation from others, and asserts himself as someone important to his family, crew, and society – a strong and capable leader with many followers – to assure himself that through and despite his innate talent for lying, he will not be made an outcast. He takes after his grandfather, Autolycus, who is described to be “the best of all mankind at telling lies and stealing.” (19.397-398). Based on Alcinous’ comment on Odysseus’ tale, however, the Greeks look down on “cheats and thieves, who fashion lies out of thin air.” (11.365-366). While Autolycus prides himself on being “disliked by many, all across the world, and I dislike them back,” Odysseus desires friendship and being part of a community, as is the Greek ideal. (19.407-408). It is for this reason that he utilizes his aptitude for deception to be of use to other people, applying it to strategies that have saved his crew from danger and even won the Trojan War for his comrades, in the hopes that this will keep his peers loyal to him – if only because they value his skills. This is why when Eurylochus, one of his closest friends, calls him a “rash lord” who makes “bad choices,” it is so jarring and painful for Odysseus that he nearly cuts off Eurylochus’ head. (10.437-438). More than the opinions of his crewmates, though, Odysseus cares about those of his family in Ithaca, who have loved and accepted him since he was young. In all the years they have been apart, he worries that they have moved on in his absence and no longer need him. Over the course of his voyage, he tries to find ways to make his return home more beneficial to them by collecting gifts from Aeolus, Alcinous, and even the Cyclops Polyphemus, explaining to the Phaeacian king that “it would be far better to reach my own dear home with hands filled full of treasure. So all men would honor me and welcome me back home in Ithaca.” (11.359-362). Apart from this, he lengthens his stay at sea out of apprehension for his homecoming, leading him to cheat on Penelope with Circe – who he lives with for a year until his crewmen urge him to leave – and Calypso, who “loved and cared for [him]” based on the end of his story to the Phaeacians. (12.450). Both women temporarily and superficially satisfy Odysseus’ longing for a wife who he believes may not even love him anymore. To further ease his worries regarding his family’s response to his return, Odysseus prolongs his arrival by lying about his identity, in order to determine what his loved ones think about him before fully letting down his guard. It is Laertes’ reaction in particular, one of “black grief” and violent sobbing, that breaks Odysseus’ careful façade midway – relieving his insecurities by demonstrating his family’s lasting and unconditional love. (24.316).

            At first glance, Odysseus is someone extraordinary, who rises above the rest – the great and cunning hero of an “old story” born centuries before today. (1.10). More than that, however, he is a complicated man, someone just like ourselves, someone driven by human emotions such as love, grief, and a desire to find one’s place in a society where positions seem to matter most of all. Just like Odysseus, the many-sided trickster, all of us wear masks. Often, we put on facades of self-assurance and seek out popularity among the majority as a substitute for the unconditional acceptance of a few, allowing quests for fame and material things to divert us from the people who love us most – to divert us from “home.” What makes Odysseus a hero despite this is how he learns from his journey – from the rebellion of his crewmates, the warnings of the dead, and everything he suffered and lost on the sea – and comes to realize that in the time he has left to live among mortals, the love of his family and those he holds dear will bring him more happiness than anything else.