Who will reject immortality for homecoming?
In the Odyssey, Calypso, the daughter of Atlas living in a dark wooded island, is a powerful and immortal goddess. When Odysseus reaches this island, she protects him and keeps him there by providing everything he needs such as ruddy wine, food and clothing. Calypso falls in love with him and desires to marry him. Enthusiastically, she wants to provide him with immortality and a painless life. If Odysseus had married her, not only would he possess immortality and a painless life, but also a beautiful wife and the power of a god. This would seem like a paradise to any mortals; however, Odysseus refuses to have the power and nearly blissful life offered by Calypso. He weeps all day and sleeps with the goddess Calypso at night. When Calypso releases him, Odysseus gets excited to return to his homeland. She alerts Odysseus about the upcoming painful journey when she says, “But if you knew, down deep, what pains are fated to fill your cup before you reach that shore, you’d stay right here, …show more content…
Using Odysseus’s definition of love, there is harmony between Penelope and Odysseus in many ways. She resembles him both in mind and heart, by her cunning and suffering of pain. Antinous tells Telemachus, “Not one could equal Penelope for intrigue but in this case she intrigued beyond all limits.” (Il.132) She is cunning in the entire Odyssey like Odysseus, who is a man of many twists and turns. For instance, by using a seducing voice she inspires suitors to wait for three years, so that she does not need to go to her father’s house, and marry the man he chooses. Later on, she creates a test using the bow of Odysseus as she knows none except Odysseus can use it, and hence no one can marry her. Just like Odysseus tests others, Penelope too tests him by using her cunning ideas. So, Penelope and Odysseus are united by the commonality of their minds, by their love of scheming, testing, and
In the Odyssey, Calypso, the daughter of Atlas living in a dark wooded island, is a powerful and immortal goddess. When Odysseus reaches this island, she protects him and keeps him there by providing everything he needs such as ruddy wine, food and clothing. Calypso falls in love with him and desires to marry him. Enthusiastically, she wants to provide him with immortality and a painless life. If Odysseus had married her, not only would he possess immortality and a painless life, but also a beautiful wife and the power of a god. This would seem like a paradise to any mortals; however, Odysseus refuses to have the power and nearly blissful life offered by Calypso. He weeps all day and sleeps with the goddess Calypso at night. When Calypso releases him, Odysseus gets excited to return to his homeland. She alerts Odysseus about the upcoming painful journey when she says, “But if you knew, down deep, what pains are fated to fill your cup before you reach that shore, you’d stay right here, …show more content…
Using Odysseus’s definition of love, there is harmony between Penelope and Odysseus in many ways. She resembles him both in mind and heart, by her cunning and suffering of pain. Antinous tells Telemachus, “Not one could equal Penelope for intrigue but in this case she intrigued beyond all limits.” (Il.132) She is cunning in the entire Odyssey like Odysseus, who is a man of many twists and turns. For instance, by using a seducing voice she inspires suitors to wait for three years, so that she does not need to go to her father’s house, and marry the man he chooses. Later on, she creates a test using the bow of Odysseus as she knows none except Odysseus can use it, and hence no one can marry her. Just like Odysseus tests others, Penelope too tests him by using her cunning ideas. So, Penelope and Odysseus are united by the commonality of their minds, by their love of scheming, testing, and