Below I am starting the book club, as promised previously. It has probably taken longer than I originally led on. I expect that this can be forgiven. Whether you took up the challenge or not, there may be something for you in the following post. I have made an effort to give some original thoughts, followed by a character list and book summaries. As mentioned before, I am reading a hard copy of the translation of W.H.D. Rouse, but I can also recommend the digitized version of the translation of A.S. Kline.

leading themes and ideas

• post-war society leads to excess and decay
• culture, values, family, country -- all need to be defended by their inheritors
• the most commonly held belief is not always the correct one

Commentary

The first three books show how Telemachos has been living and responding to the apparent death of his father, Odysseus. Unbeknownst to Telemachos, his father is lost at sea, dealing with cyclops, and upsetting Poseidon in the meantime. With the help of other greek heroes (Achilles, Agememnon, Nestor, Menelaus etc.), Odysseus led the Achaeans to victory at the battle of Troy, and since then, things have not been going so well back home. This is the setup for the poem.

This is a story of what happens in the aftermath of war, when a great society produces heroes that defend its culture and norms against outsiders, and how, despite their victory on the battlefield, this same culture must be defended in their absence. This is seen at the outset, when the gods discuss what has become of the house of Atreus, whose son, Agememnon, finds himself the victim of Agisthos. The latter is eventually murdered by Agememnon's own son, Orestes, in an act of revenge for the murder of his father and the destruction of his household. Zeus laments the fact that, although they have brought this terrible fate upon themselves, men continue to hold Zeus to account. Wherever the fault lay, the poem tries to reckon with the phenomenon where society grows weak in the absence of the warriors who will defend their culture.

As the drama of the poem ensues, it is revealed how political infighting led the Achaeans to split up after Troy, leaving Agememnon and Odysseus away from their homeland. In the latter's absence, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachos have been left to defend what is left of his household. Suitors consume Odysseus' wealth, as they loiter, courting Penelope.

So far, I have taken the following from the poem, summarized in a few sentences:

• A great culture, such as the Greeks had, will produce great warriors, in whose absence its greatness will quickly fall to shambles.
• There will always be those willing to feast on the spoils bought by the sweat and blood of another person's brow
• Even when an entire population believe one thing, it may not be true. Truth is not easily discerned, but found out through persistence, struggle and adventure.

So, to you, reader of Epic poetry, I ask the question:

• Where do you see yourself on this cycle (i.e. good times --> weak men --> bad times --> strong men?)
• Is there an analogue in modern culture to the suitors feasting on Odysseus' wealth?

Reading notes:

key characters

• Odysseys: a great warrior from Ithica. Never returned from the battle of Troy, in which he earned his stripes as a hero.
• Telemachos: the son of Odysseus.
• Penelope: the wife of Odysseus. Awaiting Odysseus' return.
• Suitors: men gathered in Ithica, enjoyers of Odysseus' house and belongings, as they vie for Penelope's hand in marriage.
• Zeus: Father of the gods. Feels let down by mortal men because of what happened in the aftermath of the battle of Troy concerning Agememnon.
• Aigisthos: killed Agememnon and married his wife. Is then killed by the latter's son, Orestes.
• Agememnon: in the aftermath of the battle of Troy, did not wish to sail home, for fear of displeasing Athena. He splits from Diomedes and Nestor, and stays in Troy
• Athena: Zeus' daughter. Favors Odysseus, intervenes for him so as not to see his house come into ruin
• Poseidon: god of the seas
• Mentes/Mentor: Athena in the form of a man, advises Telemachos in Ithica and in Pylos.
• Aigyptios: Wise councilman, blesses Telemachos
• Nestor: son of Neleus, king of Pylos.

Book Summaries:

Book I

These men amuse themselves with music and song, freely, since they consume another’s wealth without repayment, one whose white bones are tumbling in the waves, or rotting in the rain on some far shore
--Mentes.

Zeus and Athena meet on Olympus. Lament Agememnon's murder and betrayal by Aigisthos. Athena descends from Olympus to intervene into the affairs of Telemachos, to keep him from a similar fate. His father, Odysseus, suffers the ire of Poseidon, who keeps him from returning home against the will of the other gods. Suitors, who think Odysseus is dead, harass Penelope and Telemachos, and take advantage of the latter's good manners. No one really knows whether Odysseus has died. Telemachos answers Mentes that he does not stop the suitors from courting his mother for the dread of not knowing what has come of his father. Before transforming into a bird to depart, Athena rouses Telemachos to gather the lords together and order them to stop, and moreover, that he should go out in search of his father.

Book II

‘My lords, my Suitors, though Odysseus is dead and you are eager for me to marry, have patience till I complete this work, I do not want it wasted, this shroud for noble Laertes, ready for when pitiless death’s cruel end overtakes him: since I fear some Achaean woman of this land would blame me, if he who won great wealth lay there without a shroud.’
--Penelope

Telemachos assembles the lords of Ithica and makes his case, demanding that and end be put to the suitors' behavior. Antinous rebukes him, saying that Penelope has tricked them for the past three years, by saying she would choose a husband when the finishes weaving the shroud of Odysseus' father, Laertes, which she would work on during the day only to unravel the work she had completed under the darkness of night. Zeus sends an omen portending the destruction of the suitors. Athena again urges Telemachos to go in search of his father, provisions a ship and a crew for him, and even afflicts the suitors in Telemachos' home with drowsiness. Telemachos sets sail for Pylos in search of news of his father.

Book III

Telemachos arrives at Pylos, where the people all pay sacrifice to the gods. Telemachos and Mentor make an offering to Poseidon, in Nestor's name. Telemachos appeals to Nestor, who also fought at Troy, to give news of what happened to Odysseus. He reports that the latter was caught in the middle of a feud between Menelaus, who wished to depart after the battle of Troy, and Agememnon, who feared the angering the gods, and wished to wait. Nestor and Odysseus went with Menelaus, leaving Agememnon behind. In a moment of hesitation, however, Odysseus turned back to join Agememnon. Nestor and Menelaus sail from Troy together and in the meantime, Aigisthos overtakes Agememnon, killing him and taking his wife for marriage. Nestor urges Telemachos to look on the heroism of Orestes, who took revenge against and murdered his father's murderer, Aigisthos. He tells Telemachos he needs to visit Menelaus for news of what came of Odysseus. Nestor offers Telemachos his men and ships, his hospitality, they sacrifice a heifer to Athena, and set off at dawn.