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Odysseus has been held captive on Calypso's island for 7 years. Though an argument could be made that he enjoyed his time with Calypso, he yearns to return home to his wife Penelope. Zeus sends Hermes to order Calypso to allow Odysseus to leave the island.

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Quote: "No finer, greater gift than that…
when man and woman possess their home, two minds
two hearts that work as one"

Speaker: Odysseus

Context: Attempting to win Nausicaa over so that she will grant him aid on the beaches of Phaeacians, where she is a princess.

Significance: This demonstrates Odysseus' thoughts on his relationship to his wife, Penelope. Though he tells Calypso in book 5 that his wife could never compare to her beauty, he still longs for the connection him and Penelope have as partners. This also demonstrates Odysseus' suaveness and ability to manipulate people into trusting him. Though these words may be sincere, it could also be a way of charming Nausicaa into helping him. Odysseus has a tendency to think quickly and get himself out of tricky situations, as he did when he disguised himself as a beggar and when he tells Polyphemus that his name is "nobody."

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Odysseus uses his charm to get Nausicca to assist him on the beaches of Pheacians, where he lands after Poseidon attempts to wreck his ship.

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Quote: "Great Odysseus melted into tears,
running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks…
as a woman weeps, her arms flung round her darling husband,
a man who fell in battle, fighting for town and townsmen."

Context: When the bard Demodocus sings a story about Odysseus' victories in war Odysseus begins to cry at the thought of all the damage he has done.

Significance: This is the second time we have seen Odysseus, who is described as more of a God than a mortal, cry at the thought of his own actions. It signifies a deep feeling of regret for his own life choices and that Odyseeus' character is not what it is perceived to be. It is implied that Odysseus was not fighting for his country and even stated in the play that his opponents were the ones fighting for "towns and townsmen."

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Quote: "Crowds of vagabonds
Frame their lies so tightly none can test them. But you,
What grace you give your words, and what good sense within!
You have told your story with all a singer’s skill."

Speaker: Odysseus

Context: Odysseus is speaking to King Alcinous, and although Odysseus is a gifted storyteller who uses his words to manipulate those around him, this time Odysseus is telling the truth.

Significance: This story is true but Odysseus tells it with an ulterior motive to make King Alcinous transport him home. His words were so powerful that it revealed who Odysseus really was and explained his role in the Trojan war. In addition to means of getting home, Odysseus manipulates Alcinous to give him enough riches to make up for what he lost in his storm at sea through his speech. This emphasizes Odysseus's ability to charm people and expresses Odysseus' true self.

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The first real image we get of Odysseus, who is highly regarding as a tough and "masculine" man, commonly referred to as a mortal God.

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Quote: "We know all the pains that the Greeks and Trojans once endured
on the spreading plain of Troy."

Speaker: Sirens to Odysseus

Context: Sirens are singing about the pains of Troy.

Significance: Odysseus's reaction to the Sirens' song shows his inability to move on from Troy. It reveals that Odysseus cannot cope with his own mental battle wounds and move on from Troy. This could be why he was "stuck" on the island, he was stuck mentally and could not find ways to cope with his wrongdoings. Though the Sirens are glorifying him, they leave him feeling awful about himself and his decisions.

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It can be concluded that Odysseus suffers from PTSD because of the Trojan war. This is what made him feel trapped in his past without hope of moving on to the future. This could also explain why he is such a gifted storyteller and liar, as those who suffer from a traumatic event tend to fabricate the truth to avoid dealing with it.

Below is an explanation of PTSD in everyday life.

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Those who come back from a war are more likely to suffer from Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder

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Those who come back from a war are more likely to suffer from Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder

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This video explains Odysseus' character for those who are looking to adapt him in a performance of the Odyssey. I think it does a great job of giving context on Odysseus and his story while also making his character even more 3-dimensional than the poem does.

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“-your last hour has come. You die in
blood.”

Speaker: Odysseus
Context: Threatening the suitors who came for his wife
Significant: I find it ironic that he could have a mistress (Calypso) who he said he knew his wife could not compare to, but when suitors came for her he got very protective and combative with them. In a way this reflects modern day toxic masculinity.

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Though he was gone for 20 years, it was Odysseus' dog (Argos) who was the first to recognize him!

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Argos recognized him even when his wife did not! He was Odysseus' faithful companion.