The Odyssey Group

Question:

billan10
billan10
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In Book Six of The Odyssey, is it pure luck that Nausicaa helps Odysseus?

I can't seem to figure out if Athene was involved.

Rate question:

Posted by billan10 on Monday August 25, 2008 at 3:39 PM and tagged with book 6, characters, nausicaa, odysseus, the odyssey.

Answers:


  1. bmadnick Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Athene disguises herself as one of Nausikaa's friends and appears to her in a dream vision. Athene plants the suggestion in Nausikaa's mind to show what a good daughter she is and what a good wife she will be by washing the palace laundry. The next morning, Nausikaa and her attendants go to the river to do the laundry. So Athene sends Nausikaa to the place where Odysseus is sleeping, so she will discover him and bring him back to her father. Nausikaa, undaunted by Odysseus's naked body, talks to him, allows him to bathe, and gives him clothes to wear. Her only request is that Odysseus stay in her father's orchard and not enter the city with the girls, so the rules of propriety would not be broken.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/book-6-summary-analysis

    Rate answer:

    Posted by bmadnick on Monday August 25, 2008 at 4:25 PM