Odyssey
The Odyssey, by Homer, is a classical piece of Greek literature. Throughout The Odyssey, Homer makes use of many literary techniques in order to give meaning to the poem beyond its significance as a work of historic fiction and help his readers in the comprehension of the story. One of these techniques is the use of motifs. In The Odyssey, perhaps the most important of Homer's motifs is the symbolic death and rebirth theme. This motif is used throughout The Odyssey to emphasize the growth and maturation of the characters.The first example of this motif occurs with Telemachus early in the book. Telemachus, in book I, is visited by the goddess Athena in disguise. In their conversation, Telemachus reveals the pain and suffering that he is experiencing as a result of living without knowing the status of his father, fearing that he is dead. ". . . and he left pain and lamentation to me. Nor is it for him alone that I grieve in my pain now (The Odyssey, Latimore, I. 242-3)." Symbolically, at this point in the text, Telemachus is dead. He is willing to take no action to save his home from the suitors or take any initiative to determine the status of his missing father. However, his symbolic death is not without a rebirth.
Primarily, it helps the reader gain better understanding into what is one of the more important underlying themes in the entire book: one should never give up on living. Penelope awakens looking younger, taller, and more beautiful. Homer uses many light and dark references to emphasize the death and rebirth theme in this book-- darkness symbolizing death and light symbolizing life and therefore rebirth. This naked emergence can also be seen as symbolic of birth. Another instance in which Homer makes use of the death and rebirth motif occurs with Odysseus's adventure with the cyclops Polyphemus. The next example of the death and rebirth motif is a rather obvious one that has little symbolic inference: Odysseus' descent into the underworld in book XI. His rebirth is further carried out in the story when he is reunited with his father; together, the two act to regain control of their household from the suitors. He is washed ashore with nothing--his raft is destroyed and he is completely naked. While in the underworld, Odysseus gains insights about his eventual return home. This death is further emphasized when Odysseus refers to himself as "Nobody".
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Acceptance Essays
