Natasha Marsalli

The Morality of the Odyssey

October 28, 2009

Homers Odyssey is the epic tale chronicling the adventures of

Odysseus, the ruler of Ithaca, as he struggles to return home after the

fall of Troy. Odysseus decade-long journey is fraught with peril at every

turn, from the six-headed monster Skylla to the bewitching goddess

Kalypso and conniving enchantress Circe, constantly testing Odysseus

and his men physically, mentally, and morally. The tale illustrates the

consequences of either failing or triumphing over temptation and trial;

in the Odyssey, all characters are given just rewards or punishments

according to their deeds. However, most importantly, The Odyssey

follows the development of Odysseus as he grows in wisdom through

the purifying fire of his adventures. While all the characters in The

Odyssey are granted justice, Odysseus himself matures and changes

from a mere recipient of justice to its minister.

Fresh from the conquest of Troy, Odysseus starts off just like the

men he commands, receiving just punishments for his transgressions.

His first misstep is the pillage of the Kikonian village, where he violates

the Greek law of xenia by plundering and stealing instead of coming as

a benevolent guest: I sacked their city and killed their people, and out

of their city taking their wives and many possessions we shared them
out (Odyssey, 9.39-43) Odysseus men make a further blunder when

they celebrate their victory on the shores of the Kikonian coast against

Odysseus advice, giving the inhabitants time to assemble and lead an

attack against them: There I was for the light foot and escaping, but

they were greatly foolish and would not listen but meanwhile, the

Kikonians went and summoned the other Kikoniansthen at last the

Kikonians turned the Achaians back and beat them.) (Odyssey, 9.44-

61) While this fight is the appropriate punishment for the disobedience

and foolishness exhibited by Odysseus men, both Odysseus and his

crew feel the consequences for their violation of xenia later on, at the

hands of Polyphemos.

As guests of the Cyclops Polyphemos, Odysseus and his men

are denied the hospitable reception and entertainment that xenia

demands of a host: but now in turn we come to you and are

suppliants at your knees, if you might give us a guest present or

otherwise some gift of grace, for such is the right of strangers he

answered me in pitiless spirit for fear of the hate of Zeus I would not

spare you or your companions either. (Odyssey, 9.267-271)

Polyphemos not only refuses them the guest-present and kind

treatment that they are entitled to but also locks them up as prisoners

and devours them (Odyssey, 9.286-298); Thus, Odysseus violation of

xenia as a guest is justly punished by Polyphemos violation of xenia as

a host. It is only through Odysseus cleverness that he and his

remaining men are able to escape. Yet here Odysseus makes his

second error: proud of his craftiness, he calls back to the Cyclopes to

brag, going so far as to give Polyphemos his name and homeland:

Cyclops, if any mortal man ever asks you who inflicted upon your eye

this shameful blinding, tell him that you were blinded by Odysseus,

sacker of cities. Laertes is his father and he makes his home in Ithaca.

(Odyssey, 9.502-505) This causes Polyphemos to call down a curse

upon Odysseus and his men, and puts them out of favor with Poseidon.

(Odyssey, 9.530-535) While Poseidon causes the loss of his crew and

ship, Odysseus true punishment for his pride comes upon his return

home, as we shall later see.

As Odysseus matures, he receives just rewards as he overcomes

the trials set before him. Even though he is tempted by the goddess

Kalypso to live on Aiaia as her immortal husband, the promise of an

easy life does not convince Odysseus to forget his family, particularly

Penelope; he remains staunchly faithful to her (Odyssey, 5.215-224).

Odysseus fidelity is finally rewarded with Penelopes own faithfulness;

she too holds out against the suitors and the two are reunited at last,

each as each others reward (Odyssey, 23.205-212). Odysseus

obedience is also rewarded. Lost at sea, the goddess Ino gives him a

magical veil, which allows him to swim to land unharmed, under the

condition that he throws it back into the ocean with his eyes averted

once he reaches the shores. Odysseus obeys and returns the veil
accordingly, rewarded with a safe (albeit uncomfortable) passage to

firm land (Odyssey, 459-462).

At the end of The Odyssey, Odysseus must pass one final test in

order to make amends for his pride. Forgoing the grand entrance into

his homeland that he, as a victorious warrior, is entitled to, Odysseus

must enter into Ithaca disguised as a beggar, led by a swineherd

(Odyssey, 13.392-403). He is even forced to beg from the rapacious

suitors that are invading his home and disrespecting his household,

who feed him scraps from his own table and abuse him (Odyssey,

17.360-367). Odysseus accepts abuse from the suitors and from the

goatherd Melanthios, yet he does not reveal himself or strike back at

them, instead keeping their actions in mind.

Having passed this final excruciating trial of humility, Odysseus is

elevated to the status of a minister of justice; he is finally worthy to

cast the gluttonous suitors out of his household and punish them

severely, as they rightly deserve. He slaughters all that schemed

against his family and disrespected his household, justly sparing those

few who remained faithful, and hangs the maidservants who slept with

the treacherous suitors. (Odyssey, 21.35-41) Finally, in a both practical

and symbolic gesture, Odysseus cleans his household, restoring it to its

original state. His journey completed, he is united with his wife as a

wiser, more mature man.