Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Does Odysseus believe that his destination is more important than the journey?

Yes, I think it's safe to say that Odysseus cares more about reaching his destination than he does about the journey to it. He isn't traveling for adventure or glory: he just wants to get home to the wife and son he left behind in Ithaca some twenty years prior. Odysseus originally left home to fight in the Trojan War, and he expected to be home a long time ago. Everyone else who'd fought in and survived the ten-years-long war has come home. However, Odysseus's return journey gets off to a bad start, and things never really improve. His men are attacked at Ismarus (after they've plundered and looted); several are eaten by the Cyclops, Polyphemus; they are again attacked by the Laestrygonians; they are delayed by a stop at the Land of the Lotus-Eaters as well as by a stop at Circe's island; Odysseus travels to the Underworld; several men die when they are eaten by Scylla; and all but Odysseus die after eating the cattle that belong to the sun god at Thrinacia. Finally, Odysseus is detained by Calypso for several years, and she keeps him captive on her island. All along, however, Odysseus dreams of reaching his home. He worries for his wife and son, and getting back to them is his number one priority.

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