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So it's Monday and perhaps people are wrapping up the first six books of The Odyssey? Not to worry if you're lagging; this is a fluid thread and people are welcome to roam ahead or take their time. Comments always welcome.
I'm just home from work and drinking a glass of wine, and I'll kick things off. My thoughts are not as organized as I'd hoped! No one need worry about following me, lol.
Upthread, I commented that I remembered The Odyssey as being an easier read than The Iliad and I found that is clearly the case. The narrative zips along. Instead of high issues of bravery and destiny and the strategic maneuvring of gods and men, what we mostly have is a domestic tragic comedy. Telemachus is being eaten out of house and home by his mother's boyfriends, and it's time he did something about it. This is his coming-of-age story.
I enjoyed the indirection in telling Odysseus's story. We only get bits and pieces to heighten our anticipation and I'm really, really looking forward to hearing his account. I admit I was glad when he finally showed up in Book Five. High time!
We get a lot of references to Agamemnon's fate and I think we can infer that things will go differently here, although in both cases it's up to the son to redeem the family honor. My memory of the Agamemnon tale was that told by Aeschylus and I was surprised to realize that Clytemnestra (Helen's half-sister) counts for naught in this rendering. And speaking of Helen, do she and Menelaus have a weird marriage, or what? Where the account of her long infidelity is served up to guests!
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