The Underworld
(An Analysis of Odysseus’s Reactions in the Underworld) In hundreds of cultures, each has had their own unique version of an underworld. Most often, it is a stygian, nightmaric environment. A prime example of this is the underworld imagined by the Greek culture. Many of the bravest heroes of the time shuddered at the thought of such an adventure. It was a place in which the most courageous, and steadfast hearts were tested to the core. A prime of such is found in Prentice Hall’s Literature Volume Two in their translation of the Odyssey. Odysseus must travel to the underworld to seek advice from the prophet, Tiresias. However, doing so will put him face to face with the dead. In the Odyssey, Odysseus comes face to face with three spirits, Elpenor, Anticlea, and Tiresias, each of which will cause him a different reaction. The first ghost spirit to come to the well of his sacrifice, is Odysseus’s former soldier, Elpenor, which send a wave of sadness, terror, and guilt upon him. As Elpenor is the first spirit to approach Odysseus, naturally he is terrified of the being. After he regains …show more content…
As the spirit of Anticlea dispersed, the prophet Tiresias ultimately appeared. Some fear still remained, as Odysseus was shook to the core by the past ghosts, but obedience and direction would be shown from Odysseus now. Page 1068 of Prentice Hall’s Literature Volume Two displays the interaction between Odysseus and Tiresias, “At this I stepped aside, and in the scabbard let my long sword ring home to the pommel silver, as he bent down to the somber blood. Then spoke the prince of those with the gift of speech.” The grand spirit of Tiresias then began warning Odysseus of the risks ahead, and how to overcome them. Odysseus listens intently, keen on the words of the prophet. Now, we see obedience take the place of fear in the mind of
(An Analysis of Odysseus’s Reactions in the Underworld) In hundreds of cultures, each has had their own unique version of an underworld. Most often, it is a stygian, nightmaric environment. A prime example of this is the underworld imagined by the Greek culture. Many of the bravest heroes of the time shuddered at the thought of such an adventure. It was a place in which the most courageous, and steadfast hearts were tested to the core. A prime of such is found in Prentice Hall’s Literature Volume Two in their translation of the Odyssey. Odysseus must travel to the underworld to seek advice from the prophet, Tiresias. However, doing so will put him face to face with the dead. In the Odyssey, Odysseus comes face to face with three spirits, Elpenor, Anticlea, and Tiresias, each of which will cause him a different reaction. The first ghost spirit to come to the well of his sacrifice, is Odysseus’s former soldier, Elpenor, which send a wave of sadness, terror, and guilt upon him. As Elpenor is the first spirit to approach Odysseus, naturally he is terrified of the being. After he regains …show more content…
As the spirit of Anticlea dispersed, the prophet Tiresias ultimately appeared. Some fear still remained, as Odysseus was shook to the core by the past ghosts, but obedience and direction would be shown from Odysseus now. Page 1068 of Prentice Hall’s Literature Volume Two displays the interaction between Odysseus and Tiresias, “At this I stepped aside, and in the scabbard let my long sword ring home to the pommel silver, as he bent down to the somber blood. Then spoke the prince of those with the gift of speech.” The grand spirit of Tiresias then began warning Odysseus of the risks ahead, and how to overcome them. Odysseus listens intently, keen on the words of the prophet. Now, we see obedience take the place of fear in the mind of