Theme Of Innocence In The Odyssey

“…Man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end, after he plundered the strong hold of the proud height of Troy.” In this quote from The Odyssey translated by Robert Fitzgerald (page 1045) Odysseus’s strenuous journey home to Ithaca is addressed. Plundered is a term often used in texts with older settings; meaning to take goods by force. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is faced with many trials before he returns to Ithaca. Once of these trials occurs in the Land of the Dead; Odysseus meets three ghosts and reveals certain aspects of his character that were not formerly shown.

Odysseus’s reaction to the three ghosts he saw in the Land of the Dead were similar in various ways. First of all, Odysseus treated all three with a high level of respect and kindness. “I promise you the barrow and the burial.” In this quotation from, Robert Fitzgerald’s translation of The Odyssey (page 1067); Odysseus treats his fallen comrade with utmost respect for the dead. He promises to return to the Island of Aeaea and give Elpenor his much deserved respect. Also, Odysseus is awestruck at

first when he sees familiar faces in the crowd exiting Erebus.
Although, Odysseus reacts similarly in some ways, he also treats the individual ghosts differently.

One example of this behavior is when, Odysseus greets Elpenor vs Tiresas. To greet Elpenor, Odysseus is joking comfortably and at ease; with Tiresas he is solemn and respectful. Anticlea is treated extremely different that the other two ghosts. Odysseus holds back and doesn’t have an actual face to face conversation with her. “Seeing this ghost I grieved, but held her off, through pang on pang of tears…” In this quote from Robert Fitzgerald’s translation of The Odyssey, Odysseus has just learned of his mother’s death (page 1067; line 617-618) Odysseus doesn’t fall apart and sob like a normal person would. Instead, he holds together because he knows Tiresas will be near soon and he can’t miss his opportunity. Obviously, the reactions to all three ghosts vary in some

ways.
In the Land of the Dead, Odysseus displays a character trait he has not previously revealed. This newly acquired trait is obedience. Formerly, in the Odyssey, Odysseus is always the lead, hero role; making all the decisions, but in this exert he listens to the prophet, Tiresas very respectfully. He even ignores his mother as a ghost in order to meet Tiresas. Another example of Odysseus’s freshly developed characteristic is when, without a moment’s hesitation Odysseus obliged to Tiresas’s instruction. “At this I stepped aside, and in the scabbard let my long sword ring home to the pommel silver…” (page 1068; line 628 & 629) This quotation from The Odyssey, interpreted by Robert Fitzgerald shows Odysseus’s new found respect and obedience.
Odysseus’s new character trait was revealed on one of the many trials he faces on his journey home. Odysseus treated all the ghosts he met in a kindly way. On the other hand, there were many differences between the individual ghosts. Also, a new side to Odysseus was revealed during this adventure. As The Odyssey continues, Odysseus will continue to reveal more about himself.