The Characterization of Nausikaa in the Odyssey
             Characterization is the process that the author will use to make, build, or create a character. In the Odyssey, a great epic written by Homer, Nausikaa, King Alkinoos' daughter, is a good example of a girl who is an excellent hostess to Odysseus (she provides him a bath, clothing, food, and simple advice), as well she also cares about her image as a virtuous woman. Nausikaa is characterized by what she does, what she says, and what others say about her.
             Nausikaa is characterized by what she does. In the opening scene where The "people of the sea," the Phaiakians, live on Skheria island (Skheria is where Odysseus ends up after his final shipwreck and where he tells the story of all his adventures), which is governed by King Alkinoos' and his wife Arete. Their daughter, princess Nausikaa, offers clothes to Odysseus when she sees him naked while down bathing and washing the Marriage linen with her maidens. She tells him to come to her father's palace alone to avoid any gossip. Nausikaa is portrayed in this epic as young, virginal, bright, and lovely.
             Nausikaa is characterized by what she says, at one point in Book VI, to Odysseus when he impresses her so much that she says. At one point "I wish my husband could
             be as fine as he." Though Nausikaa is young enough to be Odysseus' daughter,
             and he has lived too long and been through too much to find lasting appeal in her
             youthful innocence. We seem to think there could be a romance here and this is clearly seen on Nausikaa's mind.
             Nausikaa is further characterized by what others say about her. In book VI, Nausikaa is asleep in her bed, and Athena, in yet another disguise, comes to Nausikaa in a dream, in the form of one of her girl friends, and Nausikaa asks her father to give her a cart and mules to go and wash the marriage linen. She sounds sweetly self-important, lively, housewifely and very marriage min...