Essay: The Odyssey

The odyssey consists of twenty four books that focus on the adventures of Odysseus, and his long journey to finally reunite with his family. Like other epics, the Odyssey begins in medias res and describes and grand story in a grand manner. The epic begins at middle point of the story, with the invoking of a Muse, in order to communicate what have occurred to Odysseus, after the destruction of Troy. The poem proceed to express stories based on the hero’s memories, gradually moving to the beginning of the story, finally jumping to the end, and closing with abrupt conclusion. Furthermore, the odyssey understanding relies on the appreciation of the text as unit and its fundamental narrative principles and parameters. Consequently, the Odyssey is divided into three major parts. The initial section defines the situation on Ithaca, as its king is absent, describing the suffering of both Telemachus and Penelope due to presence of the suitors, and ending with the stories of Telemachus journey. Secondly the odyssey articulates the arrival of the hero to the court of King Alcinous, in which Odysseus narrates his adventures from his departure from Troy, and the great wanderings.
Finally, the odyssey describes in detail, the arrival to Ithaca with the aid of the Phoenicians, and Odysseus first encounter with Telemachus and his trusted servants. Further developing on to how Odysseus plot against the suitors, following with the detail description of the assassination, closing with Penelope’s recognition of Odysseus and his final claim of the kingdom. Despite of the three section division, the poem possess a secondary theme, which interrelates with Odysseus’s twenty year journey. Beginning with the narration of the hatred between the Hero and Poseidon, The odyssey describes each place were Odysseus landed due to misfortunes, and they will of the gods, and the characters he meets along the journey, causing the hero’s numerous twist and turns.. Lastly, as Odysseus’ misfortunes climaxed, further obstacles arise, when discovering that the suitors were destroying his property and compete for his wife hand.
Although the stories in the odyssey present fictitious characteristics, a sense of realism remains marked on the epic, as the narrator position himself as Odysseys, permitting a detail characterization of the hero. Furthermore, the descriptions of the scenery and feelings are detailed, while the narrative is agile, lively, and colorful. The odyssey relies on a first person narrative style expressed in past tense, in which the narrator may or may not appear throughout the epic. The narrative continues to present an ever changing storytelling, which speaks of the everyday live and the ordinary, and shows the emotional intimacy of the characters, while using description and dialogue to further develop the characters features. Finally, the expression of such colors and features are achieved by the implementing of different narrative voices, a monologue, the presence of an objective narrative, and the rupture of a logical and chronological structures. On the other hand, by means of the utilization of storytelling, the Odyssey present the ability to connect with the audience, by relating the experiences of the hero to personal experiences of each reader. Mentioning themes such as the finding of a lost home or homecoming, marital fidelity, late adolescence, curiosity about the unknown, greed for power and wealth, and the predominance of craftiness over strength.
The different narrative voices reflects the characters discussions, in order to motivate the involvement of more character, and allows a more descriptive aspect to be developed within a particular stories. Moreover, the Odyssey successfully manages with the different narrative tones, in order to add the a more exciting aspect to the storytelling, as well as a more direct action characteristic at the time a particular story is narrated. Consequently, as the epic develops, the use monologues is briefly noted, Such monologues present the tales of Odysseus while showing an additional thought present on the hero’s mind. For example, in book nineteen as Odysseus, disguised as vagabond, tells Penelope the alleged tale on when he encountered her husband, Odysseus thinks on additional descriptive aspects, to improve the story and make it more convincing. Furthermore, an objective narrative is found specifically as heroic stories are narrated in the third person. Playing an important role to further develop the wonderings, implementing the narrative in third person, by of describing the experiences of others who risked their lives to save their families and lands.
Lastly, the rupture of a logical and chronological narrative structures, reflects when Odysseus tells his illogical experiences without the presence of a chronological order. Intensifying several context components that lead to assume that such content is the result of narrator’s imagination, allowing to implement a more entertaining sense to a particular story. Such Break in chronological order is not as specifically regarded in the Odyssey since everything has an order of time, nonetheless, such rupture reflects on the exaggeration of the facts by Odysseus description of the great wonderings. The Odyssey not only implement s narrative tools, but also applies the incorporation of fictitious elements to enlarge the scale of the storytelling, and to further motivate the imagination of the audience. The epic shows a serious fictional elements born of the narrator’s imagination, as well as basing the stories on other’s interpretation of the actions. Lastly, such implication of facts, is noted in book nine as the story of Odysseus and the Cyclops progresses, later extending to book eleven when Odysseus descend to the land of dead, and encounters family members and other Greek heroes.
Finally, the odyssey is not only an epic that describes a heroic twenty year journey in grand manner. While connecting with the audience, the narrative has the ability to bond and evaluate aspects of present life. The odyssey expresses, the certain tenacity and resilience, in both personal and social aspect, that individuals must have, in order to achieve goals, despite of their difficulty. Continuously, the poem highlights the importance of loyalty and fidelity, by describing the noble and immoral emotional ties between the characters.