This Paper Attempts To Discuss The Comparisons

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This Paper Attempts To Discuss The Comparisons And Contrasts Between Penelope, Kalypso, Klytaimnestra, Kirke, And Nausikaa In The Odyssey. Essay, Research Paper This paper attempts to discuss the comparisons and contrasts between Penelope, Kalypso, Klytaimnestra, kirke, and Nausikaa in the Odyssey. All five of these mortal and immortal characters share a close encountered with Odysseus’ life. The goddess Kalypso takes Odysseus in her care when she saves him from the jaws of death at sea. Kalypso’s island was a place that “even a god found this place would gaze at and feel his heartbeat with delight”(OD.v.80.83). Even though Kalypso held back the “heart groaning” Odysseus from returning home, she makes every attempt to cater to his every need. Somehow I can compare

Kalypso to Penelope in that the goddess shares this strong bond for Odysseus as well. A bond that holds a husband and a wife together. The women are both in love with Odysseus. Just as Penelope yearns for Odysseus return home, so has kalypso for Odysseus to stay with her in her divine place of beauty. Both women have learned some of Odysseus ways; ways in which Kalypso and Penelope have encountered close relationships with Odysseus. Kalypso and Penelope show signs of faithfulness to Odysseus. For example, Kalypso is faithful in that she protects him from harm, and Penelope keeps this remembrance of her husband which keeps her for marrying any other man. Kalypso and Penelope are heart-broken by the decisions of the gods for Odysseus departure of them both, kalypso makes reference

to this when she confronts the goddess Hermes and says:” oh you vile gods, in jealousy supernal! You hate it when we chose to lie with men immortal flesh by some dear mortal side”( OD.v.120.84). Even though Kalypso and Penelope share some similarities, on the other hand they are different in so many ways. Kalypso is immortal, and Penelope is mortal. Kalypso can offer Odysseus the life that every human-kind dreams of having, and that is to stay forever young and never die. “I fed him, loved him, sang that he should not grow old, ever in all the days to come”(OD.v.140.-150.85). Whereas Penelope does not have the option of a life of immortality. Kalypso holds certain magical powers over Penelope. Kalypso holds the desire to be with a man of flesh and blood, and to find a

husband who’s already married. Penelope will forever be connected to Odysseus because they share a special bond together, and that is their son Telemakhos. On the other hand it is forbidden for a goddess to have any physical contact with that of human-kind. Penelope traps herself in her own little world of thought, while kalypso shares all the pleasures of Penelope s husband. “Though he fought shy of her and her desire he lay with her each night, for she compelled him” (OD.v.160-170.85). Odysseus’ encounter with Kalypso has enabled him to share close moments with a goddess. Being trapped on Kalypso island has taught Odysseus the true meaning of marriage, and that is when two people become one. Odysseus has proven to Kalypso that life of flesh and blood is worth living and

dyeing for. The strong love that Odysseus has for his family keeps him to stay alive in a world which is filled with trials and tribulations. Klystaimnestra, Agamemnon s wife is compared to Penelope as being” too wise, too clear eyed, sees alternatives too well” (OD.Xl.510-520.199). Both women were young bridges when their husbands sailed off to war, and gave birth to sons. Nevertheless they were left in the same position of loneliness, not knowing if their husbands were going to make it back from the war or not. Loneliness leaves them in a position of being a “true wife”. I cannot say that these two women are heart-broken, but surely they must have felt so type of insecurity, insecurity of not having a father figure around as a positive role models for their sons. On the