The Odyssey Book 16

Part One
At the start of Book 16 Telemachus arrives at Eumaeus’ hut with a warm welcome from the swineherd. After noticing the stranger, Eumaeus tells Telemachus Odysseus’ fake story and asks him if he can take care of the stranger in the palace. Telemachus refuses though, out of fear that the stranger would be harmed by the malicious suitors. When Odysseus and Telemachus are finally alone, Athena removes Odysseus’ disguise, so the father and son can meet at last. After being separated from his son for twenty years why does Odysseus wait until they are alone before revealing his true identity? Telemachus initially thinks he is a god after seeing him change from an old beggar to a god-like man. When Odysseus reveals himself Telemachus is in disbelief. Yet he is reassured by Odysseus and they embrace for the first time as father and son. What kind of impressions do you think they have of each other after meeting for the first time? Reunited at last, Odysseus and Telemachus form a plan to kill all of the suitors. Meanwhile, back at the palace the suitors continue to plot against Telemachus and even persuade Penelope that they mean him no harm.

How are the relationships between father and son similar/different in the book and in real life?

Part Two

Literary Devices
There is a bit of dramatic irony when the suitors were plotting how to kill Telemachus because at that very moment Odysseus and Telemachus were plotting how to kill the suitors. This is something only we, the readers, know and unfortunately for the suitors only we know that Odysseus is alive and planning to kill them.

Topics learned from the introduction
In Book 16 we are shown a lot of Odysseus’ perspectives of the gods. Odysseus has a lot of faith in the gods as he depends on them to help slay all the suitors. He has a lot of faith in their powers and says “It’s light work for the gods who rule the skies to exalt a mortal man or bring him low” (Page 345 line 241-242).

Translator’s Notes
16.131-35 Zeus made our line a line of only sons
It is very important that we know this because it is quite rare for there to a genealogy of only sons (in Book 15 the genealogy of Melampus is given to show that in each generation there were at least two sons). The translator’s note is brought up because Telemachus states that since he is the only son and is still young, he has no way of defending his home from the suitors.

Do you think that the Greek people depend too much on the gods?

Part Three
One of the themes that I found in this particular book was the reoccurring theme that wit overpowers strength. There are countless examples of how Odysseus triumphs from his wits rather than his strength. Just as Odysseus was outmatched in strength against the Cyclops, Odysseus must also face the countless suitors that ravage his house. To do this he and Telemachus have come up with a plan to take on all of the suitors with the help of Zeus and Athena. An outside connection I made was to the movie “300”. In the movie, a mere 300 Spartans overpowered a million Persian soldiers by using a narrow valley to make their vast numbers meaningless. By using their wits the Spartans overpowered the Persians just as Odysseus and Telemachus are going to defeat all the suitors (this is only a prediction).

In Greek society what do you think they value more brain or brawn? What are some other examples where brain beats brawn?

A Doll's House

When given the task of connecting the play, A Doll’s House, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. You’d think that men and women would be equal now that we’re in the 21st century and have made all sorts of breakthroughs, yet for some reason complete equality is yet to be achieved. I find that the expectations of women in society must change before men and women can truly live equally. For my first example I found the song, “Independent Woman”, by Destiny’s Child. The song connects to the play in that it is about women who choose to be independent. Being independent is definitely a choice because in the play as well as modern life most women who marry and have kids end up depending on the husband’s salary. Despite the social norm, the song says that being independent is a better lifestyle. Although she says, “I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get/ Ladies, it ain’t easy bein’ independent” the message of the song is that freedom and independence is more important. Rather than live under the wing of her husband, Nora chose to leave her family and start living for herself. For Nora, facing the risks of living independently is better than forcing herself to be subservient to her husband.

For another connection I used the song, “Just A Girl”, by No Doubt because it captures the way that Torvald views Nora. In the song she says, “I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite/So don't let me have any rights” and this relates to Torvald’s perspective because he sees her as some “pet” that must depend on him and obey his every command. During those times it was essential for the husband to make all the money, while the wife would stay home with the kids. The lines, “So many reasons for me to run and hide/I can't do the little things I hold so dear” reflect how Nora felt because she would constantly break Torvald’s rules to feel some freedom before she decided to finally leave. Although a woman leaving her husband and children is looked down upon in society, Nora made the right choice to leave because her life before was not worth living.

“No woman is required to build the world by destroying herself” -Rabbi Sofer
I included this quote in my blog because I think it displays an important message of the play. The sacrifice that women make is a large theme that is shown through the female characters. Mrs. Linden shows this when she works for her two brothers and Krogstad. Even the maid made sacrifices because she had to give up her children to work for the Helmers. Finally, Nora shows the theme of sacrifice by working hours and hours to pay back Krogstad for the money she used to save Torvald’s life. Sacrifice from women continues to exist, as they are made to play housewives in today’s society.

The final modern example found was the song, “Stronger”, by Brittany Spears. Among the lyrics she says,” I’ve had enough I’m not your property as from today, baby/You might think that I won't make it on my own”. Like Nora she feels fed up with the man she depended on and left after being sick of being treated like property or even a toy doll. The point of the song is that woman can be strong and pull their own weight. Nora left not only because she could take care of herself, but because she wanted to. The thing she wanted most was independence and some freedom, which she could not get at home and is the reason why she left. The whole point of this blog I guess is to say that women have skill and right to live independently.