Themes In The Odyssey

The Odyssey is unique in that unlike most other narratives, which present only one possibility for a sequence of events, it provides alternative ways to interpret a scene or major plot point. These possibilities may be revealed subtly, through hints and careful word choice and details, or explicitly, with seemingly extraneous narratives that could fill almost an entire chapter. Such capaciousness in the narrative allows Homer to expand upon the basic themes present in the poem and provide a multidimensional point of view that does not merely consider events from the perspective of the protagonist. For example, throughout the book, the death of Agamemnon at the hands of his unfaithful wife, Clytemnestra, and Aegisthus, Clytemnestra’s lover, is constantly juxtaposed with Odysseus’ ongoing pursuit of nostos, serving as a shadow of the current story. However, one other notable example of the …show more content…
As he describes how he blinded the incapacitated Cyclops, Odysseus says that he thrust the stake into Polyphemus’ eye just like a “shipwright bores his beam with a shipwright’s drill. . . and the broiling eyeball burst. . . as a blacksmith plunges a glowing axe or adze. . .” (IX: 223). Such imagery suggests that Odysseus was by virtue superior over Polyphemus; Polyphemus was just another material to work with using the tools of civilization. In addition, the common theme between two similes serves to emphasize how “advanced” Odysseus is compared to a primitive being like Polyphemus. In retelling his story from a “civilized versus barbarian” point of view, Odysseus attempts to improve his ethos by relating to his audience and their values. He thus, in essence, attempts to justify his actions at the island of the Cyclops. Later on, parallels between Polyphemus and the suitors would help justify the death of all the suitors from Odysseus’ point of