The world of The Odyssey by Homer does not abide by the same rules as the modern world. The Greeks lived in a world filled with uncertainties, double-standards, and revenge. Odysseus, “the man of twists and turns,” was twisted, turned, and, most of all, tempted on his journey home through this treacherous land. (1, 1) On his journey, Odysseus changes, a lot. Fame and glory, for example, were things that he used to strive for; however, as he travels, we begin to see Odysseus as more cautious, and less impulsive. Odysseus undergoes many types of change like this; I will be focusing on his lust for women (Circe, Calypso, Nausicaa). At the outset of his journey, he was quite willing to sleep with the women he came across; however, this lust fades
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It is the story of a young woman, Nausicaa, who is ready for marriage. This Phaeacian princess “shone among her maids, a virgin, still unwed.” (6, 121) The old Odysseus would have seduced the young virgin without thinking twice, but he doesn’t want to, not anymore. He first appears out of the bush, almost naked. When Nausicaa suggests that the maids help him bathe, but he replies “I won’t bathe in front of you [. . .] stark naked before young girls with lovely braids.” (6,245-6) Instead of having the girls clean him, Odysseus avoids any contact with the young women, exercising self-control over his desire. Nausicaa takes a liking to Odysseus and starts imagining what their life would be like, she imagines people calling: “Her husband-to-be, just wait!” (6,304) She fantasizes about him, but Odysseus is unaffected. Alcinous proposes, “you could wed my daughter and be my son-in-law and stay right here with us.” (7, 358-9) Odysseus requests instead, a “rapid convoy home.” (7,179) He doesn’t even entertain the possibility of marrying Nausicaa. When he is about to leave, Nausicaa entreats him, “remember me at times. Mainly to me you owe the gift of life.” She means: Stay with me and love me; I deserve it. Even so, Odysseus thwarted her request and speaks instead about “the dawn of [his] return.” Now, he is much more aware of his true desire to see Ithaca
It is the story of a young woman, Nausicaa, who is ready for marriage. This Phaeacian princess “shone among her maids, a virgin, still unwed.” (6, 121) The old Odysseus would have seduced the young virgin without thinking twice, but he doesn’t want to, not anymore. He first appears out of the bush, almost naked. When Nausicaa suggests that the maids help him bathe, but he replies “I won’t bathe in front of you [. . .] stark naked before young girls with lovely braids.” (6,245-6) Instead of having the girls clean him, Odysseus avoids any contact with the young women, exercising self-control over his desire. Nausicaa takes a liking to Odysseus and starts imagining what their life would be like, she imagines people calling: “Her husband-to-be, just wait!” (6,304) She fantasizes about him, but Odysseus is unaffected. Alcinous proposes, “you could wed my daughter and be my son-in-law and stay right here with us.” (7, 358-9) Odysseus requests instead, a “rapid convoy home.” (7,179) He doesn’t even entertain the possibility of marrying Nausicaa. When he is about to leave, Nausicaa entreats him, “remember me at times. Mainly to me you owe the gift of life.” She means: Stay with me and love me; I deserve it. Even so, Odysseus thwarted her request and speaks instead about “the dawn of [his] return.” Now, he is much more aware of his true desire to see Ithaca