Theme Of Violence In The Odyssey

Although violence is a necessary and appraised part of Homer's The Odyssey, as it characteristic of traditional epic poetry, from a modernist perspective, it is excessive. In the 3000 odd years since it was written, society's values have changed such that what used to be glorified, may now be unrighteous.

At certain points in his journey, Odysseus is faced with adversaries who stand between him and his return to Ithaca, thus, it is imperative that he do battle. For instance, when he arrives at the land of the Cyclopes, he and his crew find themselves entrapped in Polyphemus's cave. He cleverly escapes by offering the Cyclops wine, so that he would topple and be vulnerable to the olive stake stabbed in his eye. Note that Homer's attitude towards this scene seems to imply innocence on the part of Odysseus: "When the fierce glow from the olive stake warned me that it was about to catch alight in the flames, green as it was, I withdrew it from the fire and my men gathered round. A god now inspired them with tremendous courage" (Homer 135). After all, the blinding of Polyphemus was promoted by none other than the gods themselves! Homer shows that Odysseus, who displays such traits of

masculine heroism as courage and command, is justified in his actions because he is held hostage by what is described as a savage: "Our hearts sank. The booming voice and the very sight of the monster filled us with panic." (Homer 131). Is Polyphemus just a brute who is a threat to Odysseus? When considering Homer's attitude, or tone, towards him, he apparently is.
However, when viewed through a post-colonial lens, Odysseus and his men can be classified as colonizers who attempt to conquer over the Cyclopes. From this perspective, Odysseus and his company subject Polyphemus to colonial oppression. Since The Odyssey is told from a Greek standpoint, there are inherent biases in the way the Cyclopes are portrayed; that is to say that they are seen as the other. For instance, even before Odysseus travels inland with his twelve man company, he is predisposed to believe that they are savages: "for I had an instant foreboding that we were going to find ourselves face to face with some barbarous being of colossal strength and ferocity, uncivilized and unprincipled." (Homer 130). Without first understanding the occupants of the land, he is already set on antagonizing them. This contradicts what would be expected in a regular relationship between a guest and his host where both parties would adhere to the principles of xenia, which say that respect should be reciprocated between the two. Surprisingly, as soon as he enters the cave, Odysseus sees the inverse of what he expected: he describes baskets laden with cheeses and well-crafted vessels and pails and bowls with whey in abundance. This suggests that perhaps the earlier characterization of the Cyclopes as other and barbaric was inaccurate. Yet still, Odysseus, along with his men, helps himself to the cheeses in the cave. Hegemony is extended over the Cyclopes when Odysseus decides to take from his supposed host. In fact, with a modernist perspective, one might even interpret the cheese as a symbol of happiness in life, good health, or financial gain — all of which Odysseus and his men strip away from their host. Moreover, when Odysseus stabs Polyphemus' eye, it is an outright rejection of xenia and a severe effect of the colonizers on the colonized. Otherwise, Poseidon would not have reacted as vehemently: "So Polyphemus prayed; and the god of the sable locks heard his prayer." (Homer 140). This prayer, of course, was one that beseeched the Lord Poseidon to grant that Odysseus may never reach his home. If what Odysseus did to the god's son was not viewed as sinful, Poseidon would not have had much of a reason to punish Odysseus. While some may say that Odysseus' violence against Polyphemus was necessary and thus justified, a post-colonial critic might argue that it was cruel and oppressive.
Another example of violence in The Odyssey is the hanging of the twelve maids who "behaved disgracefully" (Homer 341).

As Telemachus plans their execution, Homer uses an epithet with a positive connotation to describe him: "Then the thoughtful Telemachus spoke." (Homer 342). The use of "thoughtful" implies that Telemachus is being obedient to his father's requests and that he shows meticulousness and diligence. This passage shows Telemachus' command and heroism, and that he knows right from wrong—knowledge that allows him to rightfully punish the maids for their supposed infidelity: he is putting them into their place. Thus, from an Ancient Greek standpoint, Telemachus and his father are simply doing what needs to be done: reinstating integrity in social order by making

retribution.
In contrast, from a feminist critic's perspective, the killing of the maids is a double standard. On his journey, Odysseus sleeps with Calypso and Circe on many occasions — acts that one could argue portray infidelity. However, Odysseus is unpunished for his sleeping with the goddesses per se. Why then, were only the maids killed for their actions when Odysseus essentially did the same thing? To further complicate this issue, in her telling of events from the perspective of Penelope and the maids, Atwood recounts the fact that it was Penelope who compelled the twelve maids to hang around her Suitors: "I told my twelve young maids — to hang around the Suitors and spy on them" (Atwood 115). So, in fact, social order is being respected since the maids are following instructions from their superior. In addition, the maids seem to remain in the domestic sphere throughout the story. For instance, after Penelope's suitors are slain, Odysseus orders the maids to dispose of the bodies and wash down the furniture: "First [the maids] removed the bodies of the dead, which they laid under the portico of the walled courtyard [...]" (Homer 341). According to Kuersten in Women and the Law: Leaders, Cases, and Documents, the separate spheres doctrine defines a private sphere for women which encompasses housekeeping (Kuersten 16). Thus, there is a lack of insubordination too. Are the insults that the maids "heaped" on Telemachus' and his mother's head justification for their killing? A feminist critic arguing that the killing was wrongful might cite Homer's use of an epic simile to compare the maids to doves: "As when long-winged thrushes or doves get entangled in a snare, which has been set in a thicket — they are on their way to roost, but find a grim reception — so the women's heads were held fast in a row, with nooses round their necks, to bring them to the most pitiable end." (Homer 342). Doves traditionally symbolize peace and passivity, and while these can be interpreted as Homer's stereotyping of women, it is almost as if Homer implies that perhaps the maids are not as impure as they are made out to be; hence the symbolism. From this perspective, Odysseus makes an immoral decision to execute the maids.
Nonetheless, The Odyssey is a timeless work, although Homer's use of violence may be subject to criticism in today's society. Namely, while one may still appreciate and enjoy the story, one might argue that perhaps Odysseus' brutality was extreme, especially when considering the perspectives of others whose purposes are not necessarily to glorify a hero.