Storms and Tranquility
Chaos and calmness are examples of dichotomy; people and places can experience one or the other, but not both. In The Odyssey, chaos and calmness are recurring motifs that show the city of Ithaka after Odysseus leaves. The order of Ithaka eventually changes into a hectic place run by suitors. Also, the easiness of sea travel for Odysseus’ journey home stops as problems are created by the Gods. Transitions between order and disorder in The Odyssey depict the instability of Ithaka without a ruler. It also shows the different opinions characters feel toward Odysseus.
Poseidon’s overwhelming amount of power and desire for revenge creates havoc and disorder for Odysseus. This hinders his travel home and causes a lot …show more content…
Telemakhos is very inexperienced and doesn’t know how to rule over them. They take over the palace and boss Telemakhos around, knowing no consequence will emerge. When Odysseus comes home to Ithaka and learns about the suitors, he confronts them, saying, “You yellow dogs...you took my house to plunder, twisted my maids to serve your beds, you dared bid for my wife while I was still alive. Your last hour has come.”(x.xx-xx) Odysseus, overwhelmed with anger, calls the suitors “dogs” because they are uncivilized and helpless without a ruler. This metaphor describes dogs in real life; without an owner they are wild and unrestrained, but the presence of one makes them orderly and obeying, like the suitors. Moreover, while Odysseus was gone, the suitors tried to “bid his wife” due to their greedy nature. They tried to marry Penelope with intentions of obtaining land and power in Ithaka. This emotionally hurts Penelope, as she longs for Odysseus to come home but has to take the hand of a suitor. Their gluttonous nature is also shown when they take Odysseus’ “house to plunder”. The suitors always accepted the notion that Odysseus’ was long dead; they took advantage of this by feasting and drinking away all the food in the palace instead of making their own. Furthermore, Odysseus says the suitors “twisted [his] maids to serve [their] beds”, showing how lustful and …show more content…
Poseidon and his son intentionally try to harm and kill Odysseus, while others like the Phaeacians give him shelter and a new boat for safe travel. Moreover, Ithaka is very unstable without Odysseus’ rule as suitors take over and plunder the place. However Odysseus brings peace back to the city; his own presence is enough to change the attitudes of the suitors who beg for mercy. This shows the changing state of Ithaka without a leader. Chaos and calmness are recurring ideas that describe both the city of Ithaka and Odysseus’ journey
Chaos and calmness are examples of dichotomy; people and places can experience one or the other, but not both. In The Odyssey, chaos and calmness are recurring motifs that show the city of Ithaka after Odysseus leaves. The order of Ithaka eventually changes into a hectic place run by suitors. Also, the easiness of sea travel for Odysseus’ journey home stops as problems are created by the Gods. Transitions between order and disorder in The Odyssey depict the instability of Ithaka without a ruler. It also shows the different opinions characters feel toward Odysseus.
Poseidon’s overwhelming amount of power and desire for revenge creates havoc and disorder for Odysseus. This hinders his travel home and causes a lot …show more content…
Telemakhos is very inexperienced and doesn’t know how to rule over them. They take over the palace and boss Telemakhos around, knowing no consequence will emerge. When Odysseus comes home to Ithaka and learns about the suitors, he confronts them, saying, “You yellow dogs...you took my house to plunder, twisted my maids to serve your beds, you dared bid for my wife while I was still alive. Your last hour has come.”(x.xx-xx) Odysseus, overwhelmed with anger, calls the suitors “dogs” because they are uncivilized and helpless without a ruler. This metaphor describes dogs in real life; without an owner they are wild and unrestrained, but the presence of one makes them orderly and obeying, like the suitors. Moreover, while Odysseus was gone, the suitors tried to “bid his wife” due to their greedy nature. They tried to marry Penelope with intentions of obtaining land and power in Ithaka. This emotionally hurts Penelope, as she longs for Odysseus to come home but has to take the hand of a suitor. Their gluttonous nature is also shown when they take Odysseus’ “house to plunder”. The suitors always accepted the notion that Odysseus’ was long dead; they took advantage of this by feasting and drinking away all the food in the palace instead of making their own. Furthermore, Odysseus says the suitors “twisted [his] maids to serve [their] beds”, showing how lustful and …show more content…
Poseidon and his son intentionally try to harm and kill Odysseus, while others like the Phaeacians give him shelter and a new boat for safe travel. Moreover, Ithaka is very unstable without Odysseus’ rule as suitors take over and plunder the place. However Odysseus brings peace back to the city; his own presence is enough to change the attitudes of the suitors who beg for mercy. This shows the changing state of Ithaka without a leader. Chaos and calmness are recurring ideas that describe both the city of Ithaka and Odysseus’ journey