Theme Of Tears In The Odyssey

In this passage, Odysseus weeps as the minstrel sings a song about the Trojan War; moreover, Alkínoös, “hearing the low sob in the man’s breathing,” asks Demódokos to “touch his harp no more” (556, 560). The Phaiákian king informs the people that “since [the] fine poet sang, [their] guest has never left off weeping” (562-563). He then asks Odysseus for his name and “native land” (577). Finally, Alkínoös tells Odysseus that Poseidon is enraged at the Phaiákians for helping him; in fact, they were told that one of their ships “homeward bound over the cloudy sea would be wrecked by the god” (591-593).

The speaker employs an epic simile to describe Odysseus’ weeping and an implied metaphor to describe his tears. Odysseus’ tears are compared to molten lava. Just as hot lava flows down a mountain causing sorrow as it destroys buildings, so too do Odysseus’ warm tears roll down his face, ending Alkínoös’ party and causing unease for his guests. Homers purpose is to allude to Poseidon threatening to put mountains around the Phaiákian’s island. Odysseus is compared to “a wife [who] mourns for her lord” (546). Just as a wife

An example of this in the twenty-first century is in Star Wars. At the end of episode 6, Darth Sidious, the emperor of the galaxy, is torturing Luke Skywalker by electrocuting him, so Darth Vader, Luke’s father, kills Darth Sidious. While he was killing Darth Sidious, Darth Vader was also electrocuted and ends up dying; in fact, he betrayed the emperor and gave up his own life to save his son. Another example is in episode one, when Anakin Skywalker offers Qui-Gon Jinn and Queen Amidala a place to stay. Because Qui-Gon Jinn and Queen Amidala were both on a ship that broke down on tatooine, Anakin decided to guide them around Tatooine; in fact, he let them stay in his house. Both of these scenes are examples of people caring for others, just like how Alkínoös cared for