We read The Odyssey in freshmen composition, and this was my first essay for, yeah, you guessed it: Dr. Yuckman.

Question:
•Basically, he wanted to know what the mention of Aegisthus so early in the book could mean, and if there were reasons for it, etc. It was the usual English prof. stuff. Symbolism, symbolism, symbolism!!!

Response:

     Within the first few lines of Homer's The Odyssey the dangers of recklessness are made poignantly clear. Beginning with the invocation to Muse, the author explains the difficulties Odysseus faced in his attempts to return home safely with his men. Their thoughtlessness and brash actions led to their utter demise: "But he could not save them from disaster, hard as he strove- / the recklessness of their own ways destroyed them all, / the blind fools..." (Homer 77). Immediately following this passionate statement is a conversation among the gods in which Zeus is vexed over the mortals' behavior in relation to carelessness in which readers are first introduced to the mortal Aegisthus. Aegisthus is a fine example of recklessness for this story. His situation closely resembles that which Odysseus may face upon his return to Ithaca, as well as driving home once more the desperate need for caution. The occasion of the gods' discussion about Aegisthus is the equivalent of Homer ringing a bell and shouting, "For the love of Zeus, please don't be reckless!"

     When Homer asks the Muse to begin the story where she pleases (Homer 77), the song begins with a council of the gods on the matter of intervening in Odysseus' situation. The Muse immediately sings of Aegisthus and the fate he suffered due to his own carelessness. This mention does not merely define caution as a solid theme for the epic poem; it also introduces a character that can be referred to in a juxtaposed parallel to the story of Odysseus' homefront. Agamemnon wanted just as badly as the former to return home and was reckless in his arrival, thus his welcome of blood and death in lieu of wine and merriment. The suitors that plague Odysseus' home in Ithaca could be just as deadly as Aegisthus was to Agamemnon if he is not careful upon his return, and readers know that from the very start. It's a big bad world out there, and even the gods know how frightfully dangerous it is not to be careful.

     Another important point made clear by the Aegisthus episode is the importance of heeding signs from the gods. By mentioning Hermes' unappreciated warning to Aegisthus, Homer prepares the audience for the sign sent from Zeus to the suitors via foreshadowing. The simple equation is this: warning from gods + ignorance = reckless = death. When the reader arrives at the council of Ithaca, it is unlikely that the memory of Aegisthus will be lost and that is certainly what Homer intended.

     Aegisthus' situation is somewhat related to that of the suitors. He wooed a woman who was married to an absent husband, who was murdered immediately upon his return. One the other side of the fence you have the suitors that are courting Penelope (who is a stark contrast to Clytemnestra) and certainly intend to kill Odysseus if he ever comes back. The difference is that the situation in Ithaca is the situation in Mycenae to the tenth power. The suitors are obviously greater in numbers than the single Aegisthus, and Telemachus is hardly ready to avenge his family when he is first introduced. The only positive in the situation (for Odysseus) seems to be the will of Penelope, whose cleverness has kept the unwanted company barely contained. Perhaps the greatest similarity between Aegisthus and any of the suitors is the apparent desire to ignore what the gods grant as a warning. Aegisthus paid no heed to Hermes, just as the warning sent from Zeus to the council in Ithaca was ignored, even scoffed at by the suitors. The reaction of the suitors to the warning of the gods would not be as potent if the reader did not already know what happened to Aegisthus.

     It is apparent from the very beginning of the story that one who is reckless is one who will suffer. Homer states it clearly in the invocation and immediately after through the gods. It is a theme that carries on throughout the entire epic and is characterized in Odysseus, who rarely lets his guard down. Yet, even he faces years of suffering for a few reckless deeds. On the other side of the wall there are the Aegisthuses of the word, the kind of people that throw caution and good sense away and go on living as if no harm could ever befall them. In the act of telling an interesting story, these people are just as important as the hero because it is their personalities that make the title character so great. If the world were full of Odysseus- like people, no one would care about the original man. Aegisthus is the poster lad for recklessness; he is so reckless and ignorant in his actions that he is used as the example by Zeus to define carelessness among mortals. Not only does he show no regard for the trust held by Agamemnon, he disregards an obvious directive from the messenger god. Even other gods pay attention to Hermes' messages, but not Aegisthus.

     If The Odyssey did not begin its journey with the story of Aegisthus and the consequences he faced for his actions, the plot threads that follow shortly after involving the suitors would be less evocative. Also, if readers were not immediately made aware of the dangerous world in which the characters live, the various signs and omens from the gods and other sources would make no sense. The need for caution is a universal invariant in that world, as important as keeping the time in a modern setting, and without being told of its importance the audience could fail to understand and appreciate situations such as Agamemnon's. The crime he faced is terrible enough, but when a reader knows that it could happen to anyone at any time it becomes instantly more disturbing. Aegisthus' story tells readers everything they need to know about the ancient world in a few lines while also preparing them for what is to come.

Cited Works:
• The Odyssey, Homer (We used the Fagles translation.)

Grade/Dr. Yuckman's Comments:
     93/100 - Again, I don't have the comments right now, but he was cool with this one, too.

This paper is © Zelda. It is an expression of her thoughts and ideas, and should not be used for any reason without her permission. Touch it and die.

(Navigation)
; (zelda)
     ::zelda info
     ::quiz results
     ::email
     ::
     ::X

; (awesome)
     ::art
     ::deviantART
     ::writing
     ::links
     ::layout

; (etcetera)

/link entropy







Donated by Lilly