Odysseus Unmasks
In Robert Fitzgerald's translation of the Odyssey, many scenes exist that parallel, predict, and contrast each other in various ways. For example, the self-revelation scene in book IX from line 548 to line 592 where Odysseus announces his name to the Kyklopes, and also in book XXII from line 36 to line 84 when he reveals his identity to the suitors in his great hall. These two scenes closely relate to one another in both similar and contrasting ways. Both scenes are based primarily on the self-revelation of Odysseus and tend to differ regarding the times at which Odysseus introduces himself, and the overall effect the revealing aspects have on Odysseus, be it positive or negative; however, they are also similar in that they both result in identical responses from his adversaries and portray the glory of battle. In order to completely analyze these two closely related scenes, one must consider both the differences between them as well as their similarities. One of the primary differences between the scenes in which Odysseus reveals his identity to Kyklops and to the suitors is the time at which Odysseus chooses to do so. When dealing with Kyklops, he does not reveal himself until after he h
He then offers to be nice to Odysseus when he says, "come back, Odysseus, and I'll treat you well, praying the god of earthquake to befriend you - his son I am" (9. Odysseus then rejects the offerings in both of the scenes with furious death threats. In these times battle was regarded as a very glorious event, and the winner was crowned as a champion and known to far away lands for his accomplishments. This theme of the glory of battle can be seen throughout this story, but is clearly shown in the way in which Odysseus reveals himself in these two particular scenes. This luckily turns out to be beneficial to him due to that fact that Kyklops had been warned about the harm that great Odysseus would be certain to bring him. The Kyklops prays to Poseidon to hinder Odysseus' return to his homeland and hurls a boulder at his ship, while the suitors begin to charge Odysseus and take him on in the way that they would attack a Roman army. Upon learning Odysseus' true identity, Kyklops prays to Poseidon, "should destiny intend that he shall see his roof again among his family in his father land, far be that day, and dark the years between" (9. Conversely, Odysseus chose Vickers 2to reveal his true identity to the suitors before he fought them to the death. Odysseus recognized this glory, and in yearning to gain it he wanted all of his adversaries to know exactly who he was. On the other hand, these same scenes contain strong similarities in the ways in which Odysseus' adversaries respond to his identity, and in the portrayal of the theme concerning the glory of battle. 69-70), he also informs them that "there will be killing till the score is paid" (22. 547), that person's eyes are certainly "glaring" (22.
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