BOOK FIVE THE ODYSSEY

BOOK FIVE After talking to Athene Zeus instructs Hermes to go to Calypso to tell her to release Odysseus, who has been in her care for seven years. Calypso is not happy but even she must yield to the will of Zeus. The hero is to be told to build his own raft and after twenty days he will end up on Scherie land of the Phaeacians. These people will take “Odysseus close to their hearts” and convey him, by ship, to his own home. Calypso joins Odysseus, who is feeling sorry for himself, and tells him he must depart. She tells him to cut trees and make a raft. Calypso says she will stock this raft with food for him. He thinks it is a trick at first.

BOOK FIVE Calypso says to him that he could stay with her at her cave and share immortality with her. Odysseus replies, it is his “never failing wish” to see his wife and home again and rejects the offer. Although he has been Calypso’s lover, his desire to return home to his land and wife are made very clear (P.76). With Calypso’s help, Odysseus cuts trees to make a raft and armed with food/wine he sets off on the high seas towards Ithaca. He sails for seventeen days and on the eighteenth day he sees the land of the Phaeacians in the distance.

BOOK FIVE Poseidon, god of the sea, who had returned from Ethiopia notices him and using his trident stirred up the seas to topple him from his raft. The raft sinks and Odysseus is tossed about the oceans. A goddess called Ino sees the distressed hero and takes pity on him. She instructs him to abandon his raft and gives him a veil and tells him to head for the shore, swimming as fast as he can. Ino rescues Odysseus after Poseidon shipwrecks his boat.

BOOK FIVE Poseidon continues to whip up the seas tormenting Odysseus. The hero thinks he is going to die. Poseidon then decides to stop whipping up the sea; he has caused the hero enough anguish. Athene also calmed the winds to assist Odysseus, she also directed him from the rocky coastline to the safety of the land of the Phaeacians. Having finally reached land, an exhausted Odysseus falls into a sleep, sheltered by a blanket of woven branches and leaves.

BOOK FIVE: IMPORTANT POINTS Note: Our first glimpse of Odysseus is not impressive: he is weeping, resentful and distrustful. However, his desire to return home, loyalty to his homeland and his wife is admirable. These values were important for the ancient Greeks. Odysseus fidelity to Penelope is beyond doubt: He pines for Penelope at the beginning of book 5 (alone staring out at the ocean etc.) He would also rather spend the rest of his days with his beloved Penelope rather that commit a life time with Calypso. Something the nymph finds baffling, for Penelope is an aging mortal.

BOOK FIVE: IMPORTANT POINTS Note that Odysseus may be demonstrating double standards: He has two affairs, one with Calypso and Circe, whist he is away from Ithaca. Penelope, on the other hand is expected to be celibate. The Greek audience of Homer’s time would have seen no such contradiction. Odysseus is, after all, in the thrall of two immortals and this might, perhaps, enhance his status as an epic hero. Note the hero’s capacity to endure and his ability to think quickly in dangerous situations.

BOOK FIVE: IMPORTANT POINTS Note the role of the gods in the background which is also important. Ultimately they plan, plot and orchestrate human affairs. All that happens on earth takes place only with their approval. In this book the Gods in Olympus convene, once again, to discuss the fate of Odysseus. Calypso is furious to have to release Odysseus: but she has no choice. In the hierarchy of things, she is merely a nymph and must do Zeus’ bidding.

BOOK FIVE: IMPORTANT POINTS It is clear that Poseidon is not yet finished with Odysseus and wrecks his boat just off the coast of Scheria. Odysseus is saved by Ino’s veil and Athena’s intervention. The Gods, who support Odysseus, are proactively on hand to save the day. Note Odysseus’ emergence from the stormy waters which may represent his rebirth.

BOOK FIVE: QUESTIONS 1.Explain how Odysseus is released from Calypso? 2.How does Poseidon harass Odysseus? 3.What help do Ino and Athena give to Odysseus?