Tuesday, September 28, 1999
A societal look at Homerís The Odyssey
28 September, 1999
by Dan Boujoulian
ENG201A
Homeric fiction has given us a glimpse into many different types of cultures. We have witnessed honor, nobility, modesty and love in the high cultures. In the savage cultures we are shown we see deceit, fear and rage. In most of the societies we can see a cross between the high and low cultures, even among the Ithakans we can see deceit coming from the suitors, while the rest of the society lives in honor. One society that stands above the rest. The Phaiakians, are the closest to an ideal society Homer has shown us.
Odysseusís first encounter with a Phaiakian occurs at the riverbed where the princess and her maids have gone to clean the soiled laundry. All the maids around her sought to flee from the naked man who approached them. The only one brave enough to stand her ground was Nausikaa. Odysseus chose to speak to her from afar instead of taking her knees and begging for help. She calls out to her maids to come back. It is obvious that her people have not known war when she says: ìWhy, thereís no fool so brash, and never will be, as to bring war or pillage to this coastÖî (p105) The lack of combat as being the norm in these peoplesí culture suggests that they have somehow hidden themselves, in isolation, from the savagery of war.
The Princess wishes to have Odysseusís entrance to have nothing to do with her out or respect for her father. She informs him that talk of her entering town with him following behind is not in her best interest:
From these fellows I will have no salty talk,
no gossip later. Plenty are insolent.
And some seadog might say, after we passed:
ëWho is this handsome stranger trailing Nausikaa?
Where did she find him? Will he be her husband?í (p. 107)
The townspeople reacting to Odysseus following her to the palace would give Nausikaa undue stress. She would not have their gossip. He is to hide in a garden and wait for time to pass before asking for directions to the palace and arriving on his own, instead of with her. If Odysseus had arrived with Nausikaa, then it may have angered her father due to the improper situation she would be putting the family in.
The Phaiakians may have reacted differently to Odysseus if his presence had been known to them before he approached the queen. Athena saw to it that that would not happen, thus protecting him from the possibility of dealing with any situation a stranger in their land may face. The Phaiakians are distrustful at times, strangers on the land are not a common threat due to the hidden nature of the island.
In the land of Homer, the female ruler generally has to get what she wants by doing so behind the scenes. I could only see Penelope as one of the few female rulers I have seen that may be able to persuade her lord with words and not with sex or deceit. A truly civilized society would rely on both the female and male rulers to have an equal position in the palace. Knowing this is so in her lans, Nausikaa suggests to Odysseus to appeal to her motherís good heart:
embrace her kneesóand you may wake up soon
at home rejoicing, though your home be far.
On Motherís feelings much depends; if she
looks on you kindly, you shall soon see your friends
under your own roof in your fatherís country. (p. 108)
Odysseus embraced the queen, speaking kindly to her and asking for mercy. He then sat down and awaited a reaction. The reaction came from one of the guests who asked the king to grant this stranger passage home. Alikinoos gave his favorite sonís chair to Odysseus, and ordered a fresh bowl for Odysseus after he had finished what was before him. The Phaiakians presented Odysseus with kindness and many gifts. He was to have his passage home. Odysseus was actually known by them, but they were unaware that the man before them was the same man they told tales of. Trusting in another shows how noble they are in a world that is scarred by deceit and anger.
Odysseus truly gained the kingís trust with his storytelling of his adventures:
we take you for no swindleróthough dark earth be patient of so many,
scattered everywhere, baiting their traps with lies
of old times and of places no one knows.
You speak with art, but your intent is honest.
The Argive troubles, and your own troubles,
you told as a poet would, a man who knows the world. (p 197)
Odysseus won the hearts of the Phaiakians, and their king, as well as passage home. The Phaiakians do all they can for Odysseus, including landing him upon the coast of his home. The society of Phaikians exhibits the qualities of noble men and women. They trust in a stranger to get him home after 20 years away. The are surely the most giving and aristocratic society Homer has shown us in The Odyssey.
by Dan Boujoulian
ENG201A
Homeric fiction has given us a glimpse into many different types of cultures. We have witnessed honor, nobility, modesty and love in the high cultures. In the savage cultures we are shown we see deceit, fear and rage. In most of the societies we can see a cross between the high and low cultures, even among the Ithakans we can see deceit coming from the suitors, while the rest of the society lives in honor. One society that stands above the rest. The Phaiakians, are the closest to an ideal society Homer has shown us.
Odysseusís first encounter with a Phaiakian occurs at the riverbed where the princess and her maids have gone to clean the soiled laundry. All the maids around her sought to flee from the naked man who approached them. The only one brave enough to stand her ground was Nausikaa. Odysseus chose to speak to her from afar instead of taking her knees and begging for help. She calls out to her maids to come back. It is obvious that her people have not known war when she says: ìWhy, thereís no fool so brash, and never will be, as to bring war or pillage to this coastÖî (p105) The lack of combat as being the norm in these peoplesí culture suggests that they have somehow hidden themselves, in isolation, from the savagery of war.
The Princess wishes to have Odysseusís entrance to have nothing to do with her out or respect for her father. She informs him that talk of her entering town with him following behind is not in her best interest:
From these fellows I will have no salty talk,
no gossip later. Plenty are insolent.
And some seadog might say, after we passed:
ëWho is this handsome stranger trailing Nausikaa?
Where did she find him? Will he be her husband?í (p. 107)
The townspeople reacting to Odysseus following her to the palace would give Nausikaa undue stress. She would not have their gossip. He is to hide in a garden and wait for time to pass before asking for directions to the palace and arriving on his own, instead of with her. If Odysseus had arrived with Nausikaa, then it may have angered her father due to the improper situation she would be putting the family in.
The Phaiakians may have reacted differently to Odysseus if his presence had been known to them before he approached the queen. Athena saw to it that that would not happen, thus protecting him from the possibility of dealing with any situation a stranger in their land may face. The Phaiakians are distrustful at times, strangers on the land are not a common threat due to the hidden nature of the island.
In the land of Homer, the female ruler generally has to get what she wants by doing so behind the scenes. I could only see Penelope as one of the few female rulers I have seen that may be able to persuade her lord with words and not with sex or deceit. A truly civilized society would rely on both the female and male rulers to have an equal position in the palace. Knowing this is so in her lans, Nausikaa suggests to Odysseus to appeal to her motherís good heart:
embrace her kneesóand you may wake up soon
at home rejoicing, though your home be far.
On Motherís feelings much depends; if she
looks on you kindly, you shall soon see your friends
under your own roof in your fatherís country. (p. 108)
Odysseus embraced the queen, speaking kindly to her and asking for mercy. He then sat down and awaited a reaction. The reaction came from one of the guests who asked the king to grant this stranger passage home. Alikinoos gave his favorite sonís chair to Odysseus, and ordered a fresh bowl for Odysseus after he had finished what was before him. The Phaiakians presented Odysseus with kindness and many gifts. He was to have his passage home. Odysseus was actually known by them, but they were unaware that the man before them was the same man they told tales of. Trusting in another shows how noble they are in a world that is scarred by deceit and anger.
Odysseus truly gained the kingís trust with his storytelling of his adventures:
we take you for no swindleróthough dark earth be patient of so many,
scattered everywhere, baiting their traps with lies
of old times and of places no one knows.
You speak with art, but your intent is honest.
The Argive troubles, and your own troubles,
you told as a poet would, a man who knows the world. (p 197)
Odysseus won the hearts of the Phaiakians, and their king, as well as passage home. The Phaiakians do all they can for Odysseus, including landing him upon the coast of his home. The society of Phaikians exhibits the qualities of noble men and women. They trust in a stranger to get him home after 20 years away. The are surely the most giving and aristocratic society Homer has shown us in The Odyssey.
Sunday, September 12, 1999
Hit men are following guy.
Worst thing guy has done is smoke pot.
all hitmen are confused.
mis-communication happens and hitmen move in.
Guy happens to be boss's daughter's fiance.
Worst thing guy has done is smoke pot.
all hitmen are confused.
mis-communication happens and hitmen move in.
Guy happens to be boss's daughter's fiance.
