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If there is any possibility that a comparison could be made with the famous
journeys of Odysseus and Aeneas, it must be known that Aeneas is actually a hero
in search of his own soul while Odysseus is a hero trying to find his old life
and in a sense, his old soul. The Aeneid is very much of a spiritual quest,
which makes it unique in ancient literature and in contrast with the Odyssey.
Only Virgil admits to the possibility that a character can change, grow, and
develop. In the story’s earlier stages, the character of Aeneas is obviously
unsure of himself, always seeking instructions from his father or from the gods
before committing himself to any course of action. In the underworld he sees a
perspective of the future history of Rome down to the time of Augustus, and that
vision gives him the self-confidence to act on his own initiative.
Comparatively, Odysseus is driven though his journey beginning with apparent
self-confidence and continuing with a vengeful vigor. While reviewing the myth’s
fantastic journey, I wondered if Aeneas was great because his fate made him
great or was he great because he had the courage and determination to live up to
the role fate handed him? There is a side to Aeneas, I noticed that is not very
impressive, even when I could almost understand why he feels the way he does. He
is sad, tired, always waiting for his father or the gods to tell him what to do.
But Aeneas always fulfills his duty to his family, to his country, and to the
gods, even when he is depressed. He is never selfish.
He always puts his
responsibility to others first. In that way, his actions throughout his journey
to the underworld were somewhat different that Odysseus’. In Aeneas’ case, he
too was as great of a survivor as Odysseus. In fact, he at least matches him in
the way that he is one of those people who can lose everything and still start
all over again. Aeneas goes from being a victim of the Greeks at Troy to
becoming a conqueror in Italy. Virgil’s Aeneas is the first character in Western
literature who actually changes and develops. His struggles help him discover
who he is and what he thinks is important. If I had to name one quality that
defines Aeneas throughout his journey, it is his devotion to duty, a quality
that the Romans called pietas or piety. This quality keeps him going even when
he would rather forget about his fate. Ultimately, this same quality makes him
accept, even welcome, that fate. Because, when Aeneas finally realizes that all
his efforts will make the glorious Roman Empire possible, his love of his family
and his country are fulfilled. The result is that the Aeneas we see at the end
of the Aeneid is determined, sure of himself, and confident that he knows what
is right. He has become a great leader who is able to impose order on people who
display more selfish and unruly emotions. Odysseus, as the classic definition of
his name suggests, is truly and individual who causes great trouble. Throughout
the Odyssey, there are many direct and indirect circumstances in which Odysseus
wreaks havoc upon others.
He leaves Troy, fights at the island of Ismaros, and
witnesses the sleepy life of the Lotos Eaters. He blinds and then tricks the
one-eyed cannibal, Cyclopes, the son of Poseidon. Eventually, he even buries
Elpenor, one of his crew members who was killed during all this trouble. Never
does he begin nor end with a lack of self confidence anywhere close to the one
exhibited by Aeneas at the commencement of his journey. After his first stage of
havoc, Odysseus resists the song of the Seirenes, and sails between the
whirlpool and the cliff, personified by the names of Skylla and Kharybdis. But
his men make the mistake of eating the forbidden cattle of the sun god, Helios.
So Zeus wrecks Odysseus’ ship, drowning all of his men. Odysseus manages to
survive Skylla and Kharybdis again, and washes up at Ogygia Island where he
stays eight years with Kalypso. After all that, he is still able to build a ship
and set out again for Ithaka, but he becomes shipwrecked by Poseidon and swims
to Skheria, where Nausikaa, King Alkinoos’ daughter, finds him. Homer seems to
purposely intrigue us by having other characters describe Odysseus, “He had no
rivals, your father, at the tricks of war.” described Nestor rather early in the
story.
If all of the graphically horrid events and “warrior descriptions” do not
help to classify Odysseus as a troublemaker, I do not know what would! In
extensive recounts of the story, his killings are graphically described in a
vulgar fashion adding to his troublesome image “Did he dream of death?” Homer askes later on when Odysseus kills Antinoos. “How could he?”. Antinoos’ nostrils
spurt blood and in his death throes he kicks over his table, knocking his meat
and bread to the ground “to soak in dusty blood.” It is indeed a graphic
description and it exemplifies Odysseus’ “pain-inducing image.” Even with such
stories, however, it is indeed very suitable to label Odysseus as an epic hero.
He is in fact a legendary figure with more than the usual amount of brains and
muscle. Sometimes throughout the stories it appears almost as though he is a
superhuman. At the end of the story, with only his inexperienced son and two
farm lands to help, he kills more than one hundred of Penelope’s suitors. He is
able to do it because he has the help of the goddess Athena. He embodies the
ideals Homeric Greeks aspired to: manly valor, loyalty, piety, and intelligence.
Piety means being respectful of the gods, acknowledging their control of fate
and evidently, consciously knowing you need their help. Odysseus’ intelligence
is a mix of keen observation, instinct, and street smarts. He is extremely
cautious. Also, Odysseus is good at disguises and at concealing his feelings. As
is necessary for “his line of work”, Odysseus is a very fast and inventive liar.
In these respects, his random lack of integrity put him in sharp contrast with
Aeneas and his actions on his journey.
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