Monday, February 8, 2010
Fame -- I Want to Live Forever
Odysseus demonstrates a passionate desire for kleos or fame through much of the Odyssey. Consider, for example, his taunting Polyphemus with his name as he escapes his island (and there are other examples) Yet, is it presented as an unequivocally good pursuit? Does the search for kleos help or hinder his journey? What about situations in which he disguises his identity? What is the importance of kleos to Odysseus and the Odyssey (the two may not be the same answer)?
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YES!
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In my opinion, Odysseus’s journey is hindered by the desire for kleos(fame) especially in book 9 when he tells his name to Polyphemus and in book 12 when he decided to take the hard way back to Ithaca by wanting to fight instead of listening to Circe. The journey of Odysseus is hindered by taunting Polyphemus with his name for kleos because when he does Zeus is angered by Odysseus’s actions as it states “Zeus was still obsessed with plans to destroy/my entire oarswept fleet and loyal crew of comrades.” ( 9.618-619). This shows how Odysseus only cares for the desire of kleos, also in book 9 Odysseus’s crew begged Odysseus to not taunt Polyphemus because he almost got them killed the first time he mocked Polyphemus and he threw a rock that almost washed Odysseus’ ship ashore.
ReplyDeleteIn the other situation, Odysseus hinders the journey home through his wanting to fight and get fame for killing Scylla and the deadly Charybdis. Even after Circe tells him how stubborn he is and how he should give up his desire for kleos(fame) if he wants to go home. But even after Circe’s warning Odysseus does not take Circe’s orders and goes out to fight Scylla himself but later discovers that he cannot and ends up escaping death once again all for the desire of kleos.
As you can see from these examples and quite more from the book Odysseus is out to get kleos and does not really think about going home as his first priority and goes to great lengths to try to get it.
In the Odyssey, kleos, or fame, does effect the story and the actions the characters make. Fame is basically a form of immortality, so kleos is one of the biggest achievements in this culture. I agree with Grace, that the pursuit for kleos does hinder Odysseus’s journey. Odysseus at first conceals his identity when he defeated Polyphemus in book 9. But as soon he is out of reach to Polyphemus, he reveals himself as Odysseus. Odysseus’s problems most definitely could be linked to him revealing his identity to Polyphemus, which causes Poseidon to interfere with Odysseus’s attempts to arrive back at home. Basically, everything was fine as long as he was disguising himself, and he was able to avoid the temper of Poseidon. But, Odysseus’s eventual disclosure of his true name proves to be a foolish move on his part, because his lack of foresight pretty much automatically guarantees that he will suffer for his craving for fame. I think this action shows that Odysseus obviously longs for kleos, because he did not simply speak his name, he provided two epithets with it.
ReplyDelete“Cyclops-
If any man on the face of the earth should ask you
Who blinded you, shamed you so - say Odysseus,
Raider of cities, he gouged out your eye,
Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca!” (9.558-62)
This quotation shows that he wants his name to be known, and Odysseus wants to be the legendary man who blinded Polyphemus, and he obviously believes that fame and glory is accomplished by making his name known as being responsible for a significant deed. But in the end, he will ultimately pay for that craving for fame. To relate this idea with the question of the importance of kleos to Odysseus and the Odyssey, I think the importance is largely similar. The Odyssey is Odysseus’s claim to fame. The Odyssey reflects his deeds and accomplishments, even though that doesn’t necessarily mean kleos is the most important role in the Odyssey. The Odyssey is a story which serves three main purposes; entertainment, life lessons, and kleos. So, in conclusion, Odysseus is very much concerned with his status of achieving kleos by revealing his identity to Polyphemus, and the Odyssey is one mean of providing this, although kleos is not the most important factor of the story overall.
I agree with everything that Grace and Sarah Toil said. The examples they used clearly shows that Odysseus only wants kleos. Of course he wants to get back home to his wife and family, but that is not his first choice. It seems that he would rather be famous and dead than alive and happy. This is pretty much the opposite of what Achilles said. Achilles would rather be poor and very low on the class system than dead in the House of Death.
ReplyDeleteThe times when Odysseus disguises himself is when he is the safest along his journey. When he disguised himself as Nobody when trapped in Polyphemus’s cave he was able to figure out an escape plan and get out of the cave in one piece. Sadly his crew didn’t all make it out, but quite frankly Odysseus is only looking for kleos and does not care about his crew that much. But the worst move, like Grace said is when he told Polyphemus that it was him, Odysseus. Poseidon cares very much fir Polyphemus because he is his son and hearing that Odysseus did this made him want revenge. Polyphemus called out to his father, “Hear me – Poseidon, god of the sea-blue man who rocks the earth! If I really am your son and you claim to be my father – come grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, Laertes’ son who makes his home in Ithaca, never reaches home. Or if he’s fated to see his people once again and reach his well-built house and his own native country, let him come home late and come a broken man – all shipmates lost, alone in a stranger’s ship – and let him find a world of pain at home!” (9.585-95). So, according to this quote, Poseidon followed through. Since it was fate for Odysseus to return home, he came home in a stranger’s ship and broken. Nobody knows he is home and he is completely disguised as an older man. I can only think next that he is when he finally gets to his castle as himself; he will find a ‘world of pain’.
So, to fully answer this post, Odysseus when he is disguised has someone else, is relatively safe from all the anger of Poseidon and the hurt of the whole world. But when he reveals himself, as he always does, he enters a world of danger. He reveals himself because quite frankly he is just looking for kleos and nothing else. Odysseus’s return home keeps being pushed back until he has nothing left of his crew and boat because of kleos. And really, he only thing he has left is kleos because the word of him is slowly traveling around the world.
I would not care to discredit the claims and interpretations of the evidence of Kate, Sara, and Grace, but I think that the situation with Odysseus’ desire for Kleos is slightly more complicated. Odysseus, being a wealthy, physically strong, and intelligent warrior would naturally seem to want to preserve his reputation. This is even more enforced by the fact that lesser citizens seem to revere, honor, and even fear those who have gained Kleos for their heroic accomplishments. It is Odysseus’ natural inclination to want to outdo his contemporaries, especially ones who blatantly challenge his authority. One clear example of this is Odysseus’ confrontation of Circe. Circe had apparently turned Odysseus’ comrades and loyal shipmates into pigs and Odysseus could not stand to let such an action come to pass. He saw it as an insult and a direct challenge to his power, and so he was set on confronting her personally without careful consideration. Although he ultimately upheld his reputation in the end, his actions were a spur of the moment, hotheaded, reaction. Though it is his natural tendency to want to preserve his reputation, Odysseus has the maturity to realize that a reputation is just an inconsequential concern that will ultimately hinder his overall goals. As Kate stated, characters such as the valiant Achilles realized that fame means very little, if one cannot prevent himself from dying in the end. When insulted on his level of athleticism by the young, immature Broadsea, Odysseus, too, seems to realize this notion as he states,
ReplyDelete“I’ve held my place in the front ranks, I tell you,
long as I could trust to my youth and striving hands.
But now I’m wrestled down by pain and hardship, look,
I’ve borne my share of struggles, cleaving my way
Through wars of men and pounding waves at sea” (8.208-12)
Odysseus starts to realize how insignificant little challenges and competitions are in the greater scheme of life. He has the maturity to realize that a reputation means very little in the context of the woes and hardships one faces through life and therefore building a reputation of one’s prowess is not something worth pursuing. Now although he understands this and wishes to embrace it, he cannot bring himself to let go of his craving for kleos and acts irrationally in this manner whenever he is confronted by an opponent. Kleos drives him to act impractically which generally seems to hinder his journey home. Finally, I also believe that as Odysseus matures through his life experiences (and becomes more desperate and broken on his journey home to Ithaca), he more so develops the positive and practical perspective I have just discussed.
I agree for the most part with what everyone has said about Odysseus' search for kleos, and how it hinders his journeys in many ways. Odysseus often takes time to make sure that his name is remembered throughout the ages as a man of strength and also as a redoubtable man. His search for kleos often results in risking his men or his life, and in some cases taking them. I believe that Odysseus would be a much better leader if he was not also concerned with the idea of his name living on after his death, as this often makes him stubborn and selfish throughout his journeys. For example when Odysseus yells his name back to the injured and furious cyclops Polyphemus after he has sailed away from the island. After Polyphemus hears this boasting he hurls a massive boulder which barely misses the ship. This put not only Odysseus' life in danger but also the life of his crew. I think that this makes him a worse leader. Another aspect of kleos is presented to Odysseus when he says to Achilles,
ReplyDelete“But you, Achilles,
there’s not a man in the world more blest than you—
there never has been, never will be one.
Time was, when you were alive, we Argives
honored you as a god, and now down here, I see,
you lord it over the dead in all your power.
So grieve no more at dying, great Achilles.” (11.548-554).
Achilles rebukes,
“No winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus!
By god, I’d rather slave on earth for another man—
some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive—
than rule down here over all the breathless dead.” (11.555-558).
This conversation between Achilles and Odysseus is a very powerful one. It provides a first hand account of the great warrior Achilles who was provided with the choice between kleos and a long and happy life. Achilles as we learn chose the path of kleos, and now he regrets it, as it shortened his precious time on earth. He says that he would rather be a nobody and still be alive than to be remembered and dead. I think that this is a prime example of how the Odyssey is trying to show the readers that the value on life should be higher than the value of fame. Odysseus needs to learn from Achilles and live his life without searching for kleos. I also believe that if you truly deserve to be remembered the kleos, or fame will come to you without you having to search for it.