In this book, Odysseus awoke on distant shores in the land of the Phaeacians. There, the princess Nausicaa and her band of bathing handmaidens encountered the lost Odysseus. He quickly sweet talked them and convinced them to help him on his journey home. Not only this, but Athena intervenes, so surely enough, Nausicaa begins to fall in love with him. The chapter ends with the image of an angry Poseidon.
Questions: How exactly does Athena interfere in Odysseus' affairs in this particular chapter? What effects will this have on the inhabitants of Phaeacia? Furthermore, look at the use of language in this book. How does it complement the storyline? Also, name some epithets of characters. Take the king, for example. Lastly, why are there always handmaidens that are beautiful but slightly less so than the princess they escort? How does this reflect on Greek culture?
After reading this book in the Odyssey, you get to know more and more about the man Odysseus really is. The readers also learn more about his perilous journey home. First, Athena interferes with Odysseus because she appears in a dream that Nausicaa had. Athena, disguised as Nausicaa’s friend, told her to wash her clothes in the river. Little did Nausicaa know it was where Odysseus was.
ReplyDeleteThere were many epithets in book 6. Athena is always known as the bright eyed goddess, as we have seen before. Now that we are being introduced to many new characters we encounter more epithets. Nausicaa is known as white- armed. While her handmaids are called the girls with the lovely braids. I think that the reason why Nausicaa is slightly more beautiful because she is the princess. If you are a princess, you are supposed to be one of the most beautiful women. Having handmaids who are more beautiful than the princess, would be wrong. The princess is supposed to have the most money or treasures and someone with less money and valuables shouldn’t be as beautiful.
In book six, Athena was good help to Odysseus. The bright-eyed goddess disguised herself as a friend of Nausicaa, princess of the Phaeacians. In this role, she told the princess to wash her clothes in the river where Odysseus lay. She and her handmaidens helped the naked Odysseus off the shore bank and cleaned him up. However, Athena's work was not done. The goddess made Odysseus appear taller, stronger, and all-around more handsome to the young, "white-armed" princess Nausicaa, and by doing so, the princess fell in love and took Odysseus into the city.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned, Nausicaa is always accompanied by a group of beautiful handmaidens. However, these girls don't compare to the stunning Nausicaa. And it seems as though, to agree with maggie, that the king, queen, prince, or princess in this case, is always the most beautiful. Not only that, the rich and powerful, in this epic, are represented as almost better people. Obviously, this does not reflect positively on Greek culture.
In this chapter, Athena interferes in Odysseus’ affairs by making sure the princess finds him and leads him to her home. Though the gods protect the Phaecians, language at the end of the book suggested that Poseidon may punish them in some way for helping Odysseus. The epithets in this chapter definitely illustrate the near godliness of the Phaecians. King Alcinous is mentioned as a “mortal like a god,” and Odysseus upon first meeting Nausicaa thinks she is a goddess.
ReplyDeleteNausicaa is more beautiful than her handmaidens in this book because ancient Greek culture was one that valued beauty in women—and people in general—above all else. Those related to the gods are always beautiful, and power generally corresponds to looks. This is not a new occurrence in our reading, for example, Helen, queen of Sparta, is the most beautiful woman in the world and arguably one of the most powerful.
Once again, Athena is meddling in the affairs of Odysseus. Athena makes Odysseus appear to be far more handsome then he is, causing Nausicaa to fall in love with him. I think that this is going to create conflict for Odysseus. He may want to stay in Phaeacia and be Nausicaa's husband, but that would break his loyalty with Penelope. If he leave's, Nausicaa will be upset, and since the gods love the Phaeacian people, that may create a challenge for Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteWe see many epithets. The generous kings, the white armed princess, and the handmaids with lovely braids. I think the fact that Nausicaa is more beautiful then the maids shows how little society has progressed over the passed however many thousand years. The wealthy and beautiful people have a higher social stature, and are portrayed as higher beings of sorts.
In Book 6 of the Odyssey, Athena makes a surprise visit in the princess of Pheacia, Nausicaa’s, dream. She disguises herself as Nausicaa’s friend and tells her to wash her clothes in a certain spot, knowing Odysseus would be there. Once they clean him up, Athena also makes Odysseus appear differently. She changed his appearance making him look better and stronger. Athena knew Nausicaa would fall for him if he looked this way, which she does. After this change, she leads him to the palace. On the other hand, although Nausicaa is a princess and very wealthy, her handmaidens don’t necessarily appear this way. As Maggie said, a princess is supposed to be prettier than everyone else, and also act a certain way. Her handmaidens also act as her posse and are supposed to pretty, but not as pretty as the princess, Nausicaa. Because of Nausicaa’s reputation, she has more of an advantage than her handmaidens. I also think this might reflect on Greek culture, when the mortals are compared to the immortals. Immortals might feel more superior towards the mortals as does Nausicaa to her handmaidens.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read that Athena made the young princess fall in love with Odysseus I was surprised because tempting Odysseus would most likely hinder his progress. However, Athena does this so the princess will help Odysseus win the favor of the king and queen. The more people loving Odysseus the more help he will get on his way home.
ReplyDeleteAn old trick is to be surrounded by ugly people so to enhance how you look in comparison. It seems that this trick dates back to Ancient Greece. The handmaidens make their masters look better without being so ugly that they disgrace the household.
After reading book six, Athena proves to be a great help to Odysseus. She makes sure that that the princess finds him and leads him home. However, at the end of the book, just as William said, it suggests that Poseidon may punish the Phaeacians in some way. Also I agree with William that the book really illustrates the near godliness of the Phaeacians especially when the King is mentioned as a "mortal like a god" just as William mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Nausicaa is always portrayed as more beautiful than her handmaidens is because just as everyone else said, she is a princess. As a princess she is always supposed to appear more beautiful than those around her. Just as Maggie said, having handmaids that are better looking than her just doesn't work for her position. As a princess, she has to appear higher up than everyone else around her.
When I finished book six, this book definitely has proven that the gods are able to control Odysseus and his interactions. Athena is able to change Odysseus's looks just to make sure that Nausicaa will fall in love with him and help him make his way back home. Throughout book six, there are many epithets that are included that James has already mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Corey on how if you are surrounded by less fortunate-looking people, it magnifies your beautiful looks just as more. It makes one stand out of the crowd easier and as Scott said, it makes Nausicaa's position higher than anyone else surrounding her.
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ReplyDeleteAthena continues to test Odysseus, in this book she puts him around beautiful woman. There were a few good epithets in this chapter - one being a new epithet about Odysseus when he comes out of the forest. "as a mountain lion exultant in his power."
ReplyDeleteThe leader in the Odyssey always seems to be more beautiful - Calypso, Nausicaa - the list goes on - it's how homer sets the story - greek culture? maybe.
The language in the book and the storyline: I personally find the language really irritating and would like to read the book instead of interpret it; maybe the language is important to the storyline but I think they should make it a book instead of a poem.