The Odyssey Group

Question:

mrusso93
mrusso93
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Odysseus emphasizes that he did not do what,  with which 2  goddesses that kept him from reaching his destination?

In Sailing from Troy

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Posted by mrusso93 on Thursday December 13, 2007 at 12:04 PM and tagged with goddesses, odysseus, sailing from troy, the odyssey.

Answers:


  1. clane Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Odysseus emphasizes that he was not unfaithful to Penelope with Circe and Calypso who kept him from reaching home. He was with Circe for five years and with Calypso for seven. In both places he claims to have been a prisoner, but Homer indicates that while he may have been under their spells, he was not an entirely unwilling prisoner. Both goddess desired to keep Odysseus forever if they could and both demonstrated characteristics of anthropomorphism through their human like actions and desires upon his refusal. He was in fact unfaithful to Penelope with both women, but he felt that since they were goddesses who had him under spells that it was not to be considered unfaithful.

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    Posted by clane on Thursday December 13, 2007 at 12:14 PM


  2. sullymonster Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Both women offer Odysseus immortality if he stays with them.  He rejects both offers because it is more important to him to return home.  In Odysseus' mind, and in the character of the Greek people, his allegiance and loyalty to home is what is important, not what he did or did not do sexually.  Therefore, because he always sought to return to Penelope, he was not unfaithful.

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    Posted by sullymonster on Thursday December 13, 2007 at 2:53 PM