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The most important part of that episode is the way Odysseus develops a plan to hear their song and live to tell the tale. Today it might seem minor, but people

The most important part of that episode is the way Odysseus develops a plan to hear their song and live to tell the tale. Today it might seem minor, but people have been fascinated by this character for centuries (Fatti non foste a viver come bruti, and so on). To sum it up, Odysseus is the pursuer of knowledge par excellence, hero and everyman at the same time. And this is arguably one of the cornerstones of the (western, at least) way we see ourselves.

watwut 8y ago
The goddess tells him what to do, he does not devise the plan. Odysseus is not everyman in any meaningful sense nor is he seeking knowledge except that short incident and even there knowledge seem to be info about war he fought in the past. And frankly, I dont think he really represents something you should strive for.
- lou1306 8y ago
  She gives him the choice to steer clear of them, or to risk his life and that of his party to listen to them. He decided to take the risky road just for the sake of knowledge, which was a powerful message in prehistoric Greece. Again, it is so ingrained in today's culture that it seems trivial. > nor is he seeking knowledge except that short incident Well let us just agree to disagree here. Most of the episodes boil down to "The gang lands to get (rest/food/water), Odysseus wants to know more about the place, many die". Just look at Book Nine: the Lotus Eaters and Polyphemus incidents are totally Odysseus' fault. There was no need at all to explore these lands. > And frankly, I dont think he really represents something you should strive for. I agree with you: while in the antiquity he has been regarded as a model, today Odysseus represents who we actually are, as beings torn between knowledge and suffering.
  - watwut 8y ago
    1.) Both choices are risky. There is no way for Odysseus to avoid danger. There is high chance the other road would be even more dangerous then sirens. 2.) She tells him exactly what to do. He does not devise plan. 3.) No Odysseus is not seeking knowledge unless you are really trying hard to see it there. Looking what I can steel can be twisted into knowledge seeking, but I don't think it is too good interpretation. 4.) There is no reason to think Odysseus was seen as model in antiquity. That is projecting 19 century adventure books interpretation into much more nuanced and much better written text. Odysseus is not torn between knowledge and suffering. He seeks to go home plain and simple and weeps when it fails. He wants to go home and he led all his men to death.

watwut 8y ago

The goddess tells him what to do, he does not devise the plan. Odysseus is not everyman in any meaningful sense nor is he seeking knowledge except that short incident and even there knowledge seem to be info about war he fought in the past. And frankly, I dont think he really represents something you should strive for.

lou1306 8y ago
She gives him the choice to steer clear of them, or to risk his life and that of his party to listen to them. He decided to take the risky road just for the sake of knowledge, which was a powerful message in prehistoric Greece. Again, it is so ingrained in today's culture that it seems trivial. > nor is he seeking knowledge except that short incident Well let us just agree to disagree here. Most of the episodes boil down to "The gang lands to get (rest/food/water), Odysseus wants to know more about the place, many die". Just look at Book Nine: the Lotus Eaters and Polyphemus incidents are totally Odysseus' fault. There was no need at all to explore these lands. > And frankly, I dont think he really represents something you should strive for. I agree with you: while in the antiquity he has been regarded as a model, today Odysseus represents who we actually are, as beings torn between knowledge and suffering.
- watwut 8y ago
  1.) Both choices are risky. There is no way for Odysseus to avoid danger. There is high chance the other road would be even more dangerous then sirens. 2.) She tells him exactly what to do. He does not devise plan. 3.) No Odysseus is not seeking knowledge unless you are really trying hard to see it there. Looking what I can steel can be twisted into knowledge seeking, but I don't think it is too good interpretation. 4.) There is no reason to think Odysseus was seen as model in antiquity. That is projecting 19 century adventure books interpretation into much more nuanced and much better written text. Odysseus is not torn between knowledge and suffering. He seeks to go home plain and simple and weeps when it fails. He wants to go home and he led all his men to death.