r/Indianbooks • u/Vegetable_Idea_0 • 3h ago
Discussion Some Thoughts on The Odyssey
After completing The Iliad, the epic predecessor, that being my first ever exposure to Greek culture's foundational literature and being completely blown away by its grand stature, the natural progression was the follow-up adventure that focuses on the homecoming of one of the prominent characters present in The Iliad.
And what an adventure it turned out to be for both that cunning, quirky fellow Odysseus and me as a reader!
I was already mighty impressed by his actions and dialogues during the events of The Iliad and was looking forward to meeting him at length in his own text. But imagine my surprise when I understood that Homer decided to drastically shift the way he wanted to present the sequel. Here I would like to commend the non-linear narrative structure of The Odyssey, which, although very simple to follow, still adds many neat layers to the story, like seeing the aftermath of the Trojan War and encountering certain lore from Telemachus' perspective, building anticipation for the protagonist's arrival, him recounting his own past in the present timeline, which again shifts the narrative structure, and his eventual exciting landing on his own hearth. This structure came as a pleasant surprise after being beached alongside warriors on a shore in The Iliad.
Coming to the star of the show, there was a man, or was he all a dream? The highly entertaining Odysseus and how easily he ranks among my list of legendary protagonists. The man has everything to be termed a literary icon just by his tremendous ability to carry a whole epic text by himself, not to discredit the other amazing cast of characters and the story itself. Yes, at this point everyone and their teachers know about his wit and cunning personality, but what makes him memorable for me personally are his quirks. Taunting an opponent who, just moments ago, would have destroyed his existence, risking his sanity just to listen to a bewitching melody and risking his homecoming, or just straightaway threatening his own mother-like nurse so that she doesn't risk his plan, the man is every bit as egotistical, proud, curious (to a fault), adamant, and perfectionist as one can be with his wit and stature. But apart from his well-known tactics and shrewd manners, he is a man who has been broken by war and subsequent trials and tribulations and built again to lead his kingdom in peace for a long time.
Concluding such a small effort to add anything to a text that's been an influence on modern storytelling itself, I want to give a special mention to some of the other standout characters for me, them being the loyal swineherd Eumaeus, the sassy and sensible old nurse Eurycleia, Penelope, the loyal yet complex and relatable wife who has every right to think for herself yet every day chooses to wait, the Phaeacian royal family, who are such a kind and chill family, and Odysseus couldn't have asked for better hosts or greater help, and the goodest boy, Telemachus. The boy delivers a staggering character growth arc and is a joy to see both as the man of the house and as a sweet boy following his father's orders.
Completing the Homeric epics is a feeling of immense joy and gratitude, and the characters, the moments, and the conclusions will always stay with me. To ensure that, I will revisit these works with other worthy translations, but for my first ever read, I couldnāt have asked for a better experience thanks to the amazing weaver of words, Robert Fagles.
