The Literary Uses Of Similes In Homer's Odyssey

Similes are, in the broadest sense of the word, a way for writers to express a certain idea by comparing and connecting two elements in order to give the reader a better understanding of the situation. One can argue that no author uses this literary device better and with such artistry than the Greek poet Homer. The epic similes found in Homer’s Odyssey are so complex, that they introduce a level of sophistication to his poetry that still has us studying his work centuries later. More specifically, there are two pairs of similes that, when examined, have a close relationship with one another. These pairs can be found on pages 240 and 246, and on pages 122 and 360. Both of these pairs of similes can be bridged together by the messages they

The first simile represents the nostos that Odysseus should have had were it not for the wrath of Poseidon. It signifies the joy in homecoming, rejoicing in long-awaited union. However, in the moment that Odysseus laid eyes on his son, his plans and disguise prevented him from expressing such joy without improperly exposing himself. Yet Homer does not let these emotions to get lost, but transfers them to the swineherd, a man who closely resembles Odysseus. Being both a cunning man and Telemachus’ closest father figure, Eumaeus acts as the perfect surrogate to adopt these strong emotions from Odysseus, showing the loving and brotherly connection between the king and the swineherd. The second simile then serves to fill the gap of the negative side of the nostos, the pain that comes from knowing how long two people have been apart, as there cannot be a homecoming without an initial separation. Telemachus has journeyed from boy to man without his father, learning to mature and take care of himself and his mother alone. Odysseus has survived the most painful trials of his life without ever seeing his only son. It is only when these two similes are put together that we can truly understand the range of emotions felt from the reunion of father and son. The second pair found on page 122 and 360, while different in structure, also shows the

The first is a sad, painful cry – the cry dealing with intense trauma. The second is a joyous cry. The first, experienced by Odysseus, represents the fate of all of the women whose husbands died in Troy. This shows the connection to Penelope, who felt the same sense of grief after being certain that Odysseus had been lost at sea and would never return. The second, experienced by Penelope, shows the connection to Odysseus, who after ten years of being held away by Poseidon should have felt this sense of overwhelming joy when arriving home. However, both Penelope’s and Odysseus’s cunning and self-control prevented them from expressing such emotions. Penelope, although at times losing her composure in the presence of her son, never did so in front of the suitors. Odysseus was much too cautious of possible dangers when he returned to Ithaca to feel such joy. As neither of them could allow themselves to be compromised by such intense feelings, their loving connection allows them to experience each other’s emotions. This perfectly reflects the unbreakable bond between husband and wife that will eventually bring the lovers together again. Homeric similes give us a much better understanding of the psyche of the Odyssey’s characters than what we would have through dialogue and narration alone. All of these similes show Homer’s way of connecting the characters in such an interpersonal level, that their emotions transcend