The Odyssey - Book Report/Review Example

Topic: THE ODYSSEY Introduction The Odyssey’ is a Greek word that means trouble. Homer is the author of this poem; he used Odyssey as the main character and a hero to develop his literature work. It is believed that Homer was born in 8th Century Before Christ (BC), in Ionia. However, his existence and origin remains mysterious. Irrespective of his origin and existence, his literature works remains vital because it forms a fundamental basis of Greek Culture. Homer wrote two major poems namely, Odyssey and Iliad. In this case our main focus is on Odyssey. This poem has been ranked as one of the vital poem in the western literature. This is because it was written during the Trojan War which formed the important aspects the Greece culture. Homer explores the progress and the Journey of Odyssey, from his home, Ithaca, after having spent ten year in the battle. His family assumes that Odyssey died. It can be observed that, Penelope, Odyssey wife, and his son, Telemachus, faced difficult time of dealing with numerous suitors who came to their home, Ithaca, to request Penelope’s for a hand in marriage. Telemachus who is twenty years of age is still staying in his father’s house with his mother as his father, Odyssey, had not yet returned back home. Telemachus helps her mother to deal with numerous suitors who were coming to ask her for a hand in marriage. The young suitors have been indicated in the poem to have been enjoying the hospitality of Odysseys family as they eat his wealth without any grace to the family (Saïd, Suzanne, and Ruth, p.136). Body You will be analyzing three speeches from the Odyssey, and you’ll need two body paragraphs to analyze each speech. The first speech was put forth by Aegyptius, the second one was put forth by Odyssey son, Telemachus and the third one was put forth by one of the suitors namely; Antonius. It can be observed from the poem how Telemachus stood put on his sandals and took his swords, he came out of the room to address the numerous suitors who had come to ask her sister, Penelope’s for a hand in marriage among other visitors from their village, Ithaca. He sent cries around and called people to gather together so that he could address them. He was accompanied by his two dogs of the same family; he sat on his father ready to wait the crowd to settle so that he could deliver his speech. However, prior to his speech, the old man, Aegyptius, stood up to address the crowd. He was steeling mourning the death of his son who was killed in the in Luis, a noble land where they had gone together with Odysseys. Aegyptius asserted that he was remaining with the three sons who among them was Eurynomus who was among the suitors who had came to ask Penelope’s for a hand in marriage. Aegyptius started he speech by saying “Men of Ithaca, hear may words” since the time Ulysses had never had a meeting in Ithaca and therefore, whether old or young so long us he has the wits people were willing to listen to what Telemachus was looking forward to tell them. The old man prayed to God to guide Telemachus on what he was looking forward to speak about whether it’s a public issues or any other matter may Jove give him the wits to speak (Infoplease, Paras.1-4). Based on the speech delivered by the elderly man, Aegyptius it can be scrutinized that, the old man was mourning about the dearth of his son, who had gone to the battle together with Odyssey. Further, based on his speech it can be scrutinized that his son Eurynomus was among the suitors who had come to ask Penelope for a hand in marriage. The old man was just wishing that his son could be accepted so that he could at least wipe the tears for the loss of his son Antiphus. Moreover, the speech indicates that the entire village, Ithaca, had never had a meeting since the disappearance of Odysseys. It can also be scrutinized that the entire village was in a grief as they thought that Odysseys the hero was killed in the Trojan War (Saïd, Suzanne, and Ruth, p.134). The second speech was put forth by Telemachus. He stood up from his father sit and started addressing the crowd while standing at the centre of the crowd. He started his speech by addressing the elderly man, Aegyptius, by saying ‘Sir’. He asserted that his he was more aggrieved than Aegyptious and that his speech was not aimed at addressing any matter of public interest but rather it was aimed at addressing personal issues. He started by saying that two great misfortune had fallen upon their house. Among those misfortune was the loss of his father, Odyssey who was the chief of the entire community in Ithaca. The second misfortune was the most serious one which was emergence of numerous suitors who were persuading her mother to marry them. Telemachus was so furious about the suitors because they took the advantage of the absence of his father to invade their home. They sacrifices Oxen, sheep’s and goats every day to feed the numerous suitors who were hanging around as they wait for Penelope decision. However, they level of wine they consumed could not be compared with the inadequate gifts that they delivered. He further demanded to be back for the lose before the wrath of God could fall upon the suitors. Further he busted into tears as he end his speech (Saïd, Suzanne, and Ruth, pp.136-137). It can be observed that Telemachus was not amused by this reckless behaviour of the suitors and demanded them to pack and go because he feared that his house could be ruined father if the suitors continued to stay. The speech indicates that Telemachus was quite harsh as compared to his father because he openly said that he was not as good to the people the way his father was. It also indicates that he could stood by his own believes irrespective of whether other people supported him or not. He also displayed a character of brevity despite the fact that he busted into tears at the end of his speech. The character of brevity can be observed by taking the steps to stop reckless behaviour by the suitors who were destroying his father wealth with the name of proposing marriage of his mother (Saïd, Suzanne, and Ruth, p.136-139). The third speech was delivered by one of the suitors called; Antonius who was addressing Telemachus by trying to defend all their suitors that it was not their fault to come and eat the wealth of Laerter but rather it was the fault of Telemachus wife. He blamed Telemachus mother for giving them hope to wait up to three to four years without giving them the right response. He further, blamed Telemachus mother for giving signs that showed the suitors that her husband was dead (Saïd, Suzanne, and Ruth, p.140). Based on Antonius speech it can be observed that he was so furious with the allegations raised by Telemachus, he even referred to Telemachus as a ‘braggart’ at the beginning of his speech. This indicates that he is a man who catches anger easily. Despite the fact that Penelope was giving hopes to the suitors, Antonius speech indicates that he cannot accept his mistakes but rather he keeps blaming other people (Infoplease, para.6). Conclusion The three characters in the poem who delivered the speech include; Aegyptius Telemachus, and Antonius. Aegyptius was an old man who was addressing the suitors and the entire gathering. He plays a significant role in the poem; he displayed wisdom in his speech as an old man. In addition, he displayed the grief he was going through after losing his son in the battle. The second speech was delivered by Telemachus, the son of Laerter/Odyssey. He displayed brevity in his speech and stood up to defend his mother and the wealth of his father against inhospitable suitors. The third speech was delivered Antonius who was trying to defend himself and other suitors against the issues raised by Telemachus. He was significant in building the poem as he responded to assertions made by Telemachus. However, he displayed the character of anger by referring Telemachus as a braggart. Works Cited Saïd, Suzanne, and Ruth Webb. Homer and the Odyssey. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print. Infoplease. Assembly of the People of Ithaca--Speeches of Telemachus and of the Suitors--Telemachus Makes His Preparations and Starts for Pylos with Minerva Disguised as Mentor.web.07.07.2014. http://www.infoplease.com/t/lit/odyssey/book2.html Read More