Odysseus Nostos In Homer's Odyssey
The sun rises on one side of the world, while it sets on the other. Odysseus’ nostos is a difficult journey where he experiences the worst chaos anyone could imagine, as if everything he possesses is beginning to fade away. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus is seen to persevere through many chaotic experiences, similar to the sun setting. Through determination, he is able to reestablish his life and restore order back to his oikos that resides in Ithaka, as if the sunshine in his life is returning. Although chaos and order are contrary to one another, they exist in conjunction with each other. During Homeric Greece, soldiers are called to serve in the military during the Trojan War while others are at home living a blissful life. Nestor, when
…show more content…
Odysseus’ wife, Penélopȇ, weeps every single day. When Penélopȇ expresses, “If he returned, if he were here to care for me, / I might be happily renowned! / But grief instead heaven sent me – years of pain” (19.151-3), she is conveying that she is in disorder because Odysseus is missing. Without Odysseus, his entire oikos crumbles merely because of the fact that he is the head of his household. He should be keeping it organized. This includes being with Penélopȇ to keep her content. Instead, he is absent from his duties as the head of the house. Odysseus’ household is in ruins without him. The suitors that exploit the fact that Odysseus is missing merely make the situation worse. They are able to live contently, especially when they take advantage of Odysseus’ servants in his absence. His servants become, “the suitors’ harlots” (22.483). The servants essentially betray him when they have sex with the suitors in his absence. The servants’ loyalty is required for an oikos to be considered organized. With their betrayal, the oikos is further ruined and put in disarray. Chaos for Odysseus and his household is only resolved when he kills the suitors as well as his treacherous servants. These events signify that chaos is no longer present for Odysseus. Only calm and peace remain for him. Vice-versa is also true in reference to the suitors. The tranquility in their lives disappears because chaos symbolized by their deaths replaces it. Since Odysseus is the Homeric hero, it is only right for him to end up as the party that lives
Odysseus’ wife, Penélopȇ, weeps every single day. When Penélopȇ expresses, “If he returned, if he were here to care for me, / I might be happily renowned! / But grief instead heaven sent me – years of pain” (19.151-3), she is conveying that she is in disorder because Odysseus is missing. Without Odysseus, his entire oikos crumbles merely because of the fact that he is the head of his household. He should be keeping it organized. This includes being with Penélopȇ to keep her content. Instead, he is absent from his duties as the head of the house. Odysseus’ household is in ruins without him. The suitors that exploit the fact that Odysseus is missing merely make the situation worse. They are able to live contently, especially when they take advantage of Odysseus’ servants in his absence. His servants become, “the suitors’ harlots” (22.483). The servants essentially betray him when they have sex with the suitors in his absence. The servants’ loyalty is required for an oikos to be considered organized. With their betrayal, the oikos is further ruined and put in disarray. Chaos for Odysseus and his household is only resolved when he kills the suitors as well as his treacherous servants. These events signify that chaos is no longer present for Odysseus. Only calm and peace remain for him. Vice-versa is also true in reference to the suitors. The tranquility in their lives disappears because chaos symbolized by their deaths replaces it. Since Odysseus is the Homeric hero, it is only right for him to end up as the party that lives