Throughout this book we’ve seen Athena playing a big role in the character’s lives. For the first few books of the Telemaciad, I thought she was just there to help them because she was genuinely sorry for the family. As the story kept progressing, however, it started to feel like Athena was a small child acting out a story with her barbies. There were many parts in the Odyssey where I felt Athena was making things more difficult than they needed to be so that she’d get more of a thrill from watching it play out. One instance that really stood out to me was Odysseus’ arrival in Ithaca.
Even though Odysseus is in Ithaca, Athena decides to disguise the setting with mist and Odysseus freaks out because of it. Although people made good points in class about how Athena might have done that so Odysseus wouldn’t have run straight to the palace and announce his return, possibly endangering his life. However, I feel like there totally could have been a different way she could have gone about that. After Odysseus freaks out, Athena finally shows herself to him in disguise as a shepherd boy. Yet, it takes her awhile before she reveals herself to Odysseus, partly because she just wants to be amazed by his craftiness. “Any man-- any god who met you-- would have to be some champion lying cheat to get past you for all-round craft and guile! You terrible man, foxy, ingenious, never tired of twists and tricks-- so, not even here, on native soil, would you give up those wily tales that warm the cockles of your heart!” (13.329-334) In that passage Athena seems very pleased that Odysseus took the bait and crafted an elaborate story for her. Because of that, I feel like she was getting more of the warming of the cockles of her heart than Odysseus. This is especially true when she talks for 15 lines before telling Odysseus it’s Ithaca when he asks what this place is (13.268-282). By not letting Odysseus see Ithaca when he wakes up and by drawing out the conversation with Odysseus about where they are, Odysseus seems tortured like in the way where a dog runs after a ball his owner has thrown-- except the owner only acted like they threw the ball and still have it in their hand. (13.212-353)
Athena uses the role of puppet master throughout the books to manipulate what people do physically, but also how they feel emotionally-- especially in the case where Odysseus returns home. I totally understand that for the plot to advance in Odysseus’ and Telemachus’ favor, Athena might need to step in and get people to give them ships or food. However, when it gets to the point where Athena is just messing with Odysseus’ emotions to get a crafty story out of him, I feel like she is getting too tied up in her desire to be entertained.
I definitely agree with you that Athena sometimes goes too far when playing with Odysseus'emotions. However, I think it makes it so much more interesting for us as readers! For example, when Athena keeps it hidden from Odysseus that he is in Ithaca, she's keeping him in suspense - but also keeping us in suspense (because we know he's home and want to see his reaction)! Good job, very engaging post!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about how Athena's moves made the story more interesting to us too. I guess if you look at the story in that way and consider that it used to be told orally, Athena's contributions could've had the purpose to make the story the most suspenseful and interesting for us.
DeleteThe extent of Athena's intervention on the lives of both Odysseus and Telemachus causes us to question how much of their heroic actions are their own and how much credit should be attributed to Athena. The prime example of her intervention is when Odysseus, Telemachus, and the goat/swine herders fight off and kill the 99 suitors. This is a gargantuan task, even for the great Odysseus, and we can see how Athena's help towards the end of the battle inspires Odysseus and protects the group from being killed. Without the numerous times Athena intervenes, it is unlikely that Telemachus would have even gone out to search for Odysseus, and Odysseus may not have ever made it home. While Odysseus is still a great hero, a lot of his success must be ascribed to Athena.
ReplyDeleteSince Athena is a god she can't really experience all the things mortals go through. It seems that she sort of tries to live the life of a hero through the life of Odysseus. She guides him every step of the way, and becomes the true "hero". In my opinion the only thing that the mortals have going for them is some sort of development over the course of the novel. Telemachus seems to be a completely different person, some of which is attributed to Athena, but in the end it was his choice to leave and stop whining and moping around.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about Athena's intervention in his return to Ithaca, that it made it more difficult and dramatic than it needed to be. I feel like Odysseus likely wouldn't have made an immediate march on the palace because he is such a crafty person. That is proven when he lies to Athena about his identity - he is cautious and even if there hadn't been a mist I think he wouldn't have done anything stupid.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Athena getting "carried away" with all these disguises and tests and games, we do see Odysseus deploying some of the same tactics and inclinations. For me, the point where he gets a little too into this stuff is when he "tests" his father, Laertes, for no discernible reason at all (presumably his "loyalty" is beyond reproach). He's in the middle of emotionally manipulating the old man, as his fictional stories of Odysseus maybe still being alive end up making Laertes weep in despair, when he suddenly calls it off and reveals himself to his dad. Odysseus behaves like Athena here, drawing out the "big reveal" in order to heighten its dramatic impact. But he seems to have second thoughts, and we see how messed up these games can be, making his own father cry by pretending not to be himself.
ReplyDeleteGood post. I definitely agree that Athena is like a little kid playing with toys. She is getting a lot of pleasure from messing around with the mortals. I like how you included the part when Athena disguised herself as a beggar. This might've been to test how Odysseus would interact with a stranger, and to see if he treated everyone like a god.
ReplyDeleteAthena and the rest of the gods are definitely different than the god(s) that some people believe in today. They're not exactly moral
and they love to mess with the people that worship them.