Odysseus: Man of Twists and Turns, Plunderer of Troy - Essay Sample

Introduction

The opening lines of Homer's classic poem, The Odyssey (1997), styles the character of Odysseus as "the man of twists and turns... driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy" (p. 2, 1-3). This description arrays our prospects of the character from the beginning to the end of the poem. Throughout the narrative, Odysseus fits this description through his ever-changing nature. This enables him to escape danger and demise several times and outlines his personality as a sly trickster and a liar. The character's twists and turns are understood in his adventure across the sea and the trials he is eager to tolerate in his return home to Ithaca. Several words have been used to define his character in the narrative. This part focuses on the meaning and significance of the Greek words, andra, and Polytropos, in The Odyssey.

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Andra, the first word of The Odyssey in Greek, means 'man.' It is used to introduce the story of a man, Odysseus. It also emphasizes his masculinity and personality that would be portrayed through the many challenges he must encounter as he travels home after the Trojan Battle. Andra is used deliberately to signify a Greek man and a husband who is complicated and full of "twists and turns" (p. 2, 1). The Odyssey attempts to display the overall complexity of this man throughout the narrative.

When the man, Odysseus, in first introduced in Book V, he is far away from his home, Ithaca. "He has no way to voyage home to his native land, no trim ships in reach, no crew to ply... And now his dear son... they plot to kill the boy on his way back home" (p. 78, 4-8). This displays a man who is separated from his previous home and life as a husband, a father, and a warrior, leaving his family under threat. That exemplifies a twist of fate, and must now take on a lifeless character as Calypso's partner, detached from his home and family. He yearns to change the turns of fate that befell him. He devotes his bravery and takes his chances to return home despite Poseidon's anger, and eventually rejoins his family and reclaims his identity in Ithaca.

Homer uses andra to refer to a man, a hero traveler, who tells his own story to process his own experiences before going back home. In books IX to XII, Odysseus tells his own story to the Phaeacians, his hosts. His narration of events is not forthright due to the many twists and turns, reinforcing the idea of the 'twisted' man. His audience describes him as "the great teller of tales" (p. 136, 1). From the storytelling, Odysseus ratifies and constructs his identity, a man, a warrior, father, husband, a strategist, and a fighter.

Polytropos is later introduced in the narrative to describe and transform the noun 'man.' In The Odyssey, it is translated as "twists and turns." The term is used explicitly in association with Odysseus, to refer to his complicated and manifold nature. As a warrior, Odysseus is cunning, manipulative, and deceptive. However, it is through the sly and deceptive ways that he manages to attain victory at war in Troy. Polytropos in the narrative is used to imply his multifaceted nature.

For instance, Odysseus can be described as a man who suffers much pain. It is shown in his laments to the Phaeacian queen, Arete: "How far away I have been from all my loved ones, how long I have suffered!" (p. 109, 14-15). As much as he suffers, he also a source of suffering. He blinds Polyphemus the Cyclops, which provokes the god Poseidon to punish him for bringing harm to his son (p. 149-152). Throughout his journey, he practices his skill of deception, which presents him with numerous rivals. Odysseus does not spare even his family from his deceptive ways. Usually, a man, after extended return home, would hurry to see his wife and children. However, Odysseus does not even inquire about his family's wellbeing until he has tested his wife, demonstrating his twofold and unpredictable nature.

The term, Polytropos, is also used to provide a commentary of the man, who would be the hero of the story. The complexity that is developed by the character as a father, a son, and a classical hero. Beginning from the naming by his father as Odysseus, and the entire course of The Odyssey. From his survival and achievements, it can be settled that Odysseus is a complicated hero. However, Polytropos can also be argued to mean that The Odyssey's hero is not a hero because he continually lies, and he is a horrible captain who losses his men.

Combining the two terms to form 'andra polytropos' provides an expression of the twisting course of Odysseus' lengthy expedition to return home. The expression describes a man who unremittingly acquires what he wants and arrives at his destination by wandering in circles. Andra polytropos also implies to the twists and turns of Odysseus' mind. This nature makes him a fearless planner and a mastermind, as Menelaus describes (p. 57-58).

Meaning and Purpose of Xenia

One of the essential themes in The Odyssey is the concept of Xenia. Xenia is a Greek word that means hospitality. Xenia was a Greek way of life that benefited both the hosts and the guests in a somewhat savaged world. In The Odyssey, Xenia pertains to a set of rules and customs that demarcated the relationship between hosts and their guests, who, in most cases, were strangers. An example of Xenia in the narrative is when Telemachus lands at Plyos and is welcomed to participate in a feast by Nestor and his followers. "Now is the time, now they have enjoyed their meal, to probe our guests and find out who they are. Strangers-friends, who are you? Where did you sail from, over the running sea-lanes?" (p. 34, 28-34). Afterward, Telemachus offers his hosts a gift. He is also bathed and offered clothes by Polycaste the next day (p. 47).

Xenia, as presented by Homer, is an obligation and a cultural expectation among the ancient Greeks. The concept involves a standard set of social rules and demands that generally defines how generosity and politeness should be extended to individuals and groups distant from their homes. The role of exchange as a ritual of Xenia is to construct and express a give-and-take relationship between the guests and the hosts. That could be expressed in the form of quantifiable gifts such as clothes and food, or non-quantifiable benefits such as shelter, security, and favors. It is seen when King Alcinous give his guest Odysseus a "silver-studded sword" as a ritual of hospitality and affirms that the guest will highly value it (p. 129, 16-17).

The concept of xenia is a guest-host relationship that, in most cases, involved a reciprocal exchange of gifts and favors. The nature and character of the participants were revealed by the measure of their generosity and politeness among them. It was the responsibility of the hosts to be hospitable towards their guests. Correspondingly, the guests had also had their obligations to the ritual. If either broke the rules of Xenia, mortals and gods alike would punish them. According to the rules, the guests would welcome the guests and offer them comfort before inquiring information about their identity. For instance, Odysseus appreciates Xenia and expects to benefit from it in his encounter with a kind host, who would show him hospitality and gift him enormously and acquaint on their identities.

The ritual of Xenia fails in the case of Odysseus and his men's encounter with Polyphemus, a Cyclops. After entering Polyphemus' cave, Odysseus expects hospitality and a warm welcome with food and shelter. He even declines to leave "till I saw him, saw what gifts he would give... There we built a fire, set our hands on the cheeses ...ate the bulk ourselves and settled down inside, awaiting his return" (p. 143, 29-33). When Polyphemus the Cyclops returns, Odysseus requests for hospitality and guest gifts as the Greek custom entitles. Polyphemus however, fails to uphold the Xenia rules. He even feeds on Odysseus' men. That is because Cyclops is "lawless brutes, who trust so to the everlasting gods...have no meeting place for a council, no laws either,...arching caverns-each a law to himself, ...not care in the world for any neighbor" (p. 140, 1-9). Polyphemus, being a Cyclops, lacks laws and does not observe the Greek laws that govern the ritual of Xenia. He is also son to the god Poseidon and therefore has no fear of the gods' fury as he feels that his father will guard him.

Another reason why Xenia failed is that Polyphemus did not attempt to build a relationship with the guests first before asking for their identity. Once he arrives at the cave, it is the first thing he asks. According to the rules of Xenia, a host must not keep a stranger waiting. Instead, he/she should offer them food, a bath, and clothes, as observed in the case of Menelaus and Alcinous. In the case of Polyphemus and Odysseus' encounter, there is no hospitality and is characterized by chaos as Odysseus strives to revenge the demise of his men.

As they head towards Polyphemus' cave, Odysseus experiences a bad feeling that things may not go well. He says that "A sudden foreboding told my righting spirit I would soon come up against some giant clad in power like armor-plated" (p. 143, 9-12). From the quote, aspects of power, fraud, and force can be derived, which could influence the outcomes of the ritual of Xenia. These aspects are evident when Polyphemus - a strong, gigantic Cyclops - arrives. He presents himself as a barbaric, disrespecting the gods and the ritual of Xenia all together. He says he "never blink at Zeus" and has acquired more by force (p. 145, 8). He proves to Odysseus that he is a "ruthless brute" when he smashes and tears his men and devours them (p. 145, 25-37). Horrified by Polyphemus animalistic behavior, Odysseus wants to stub him. He must be deceit if he is to escape the Cyclops alive. All these occurrences go against the code and rules of Xenia.

Reference

Homer & Fagles, R. (1997). Homer: The Odyssey. Softback Preview.