Summary
Summary Family in the Odyssey
- Course
- Institution
in depth notes on the Family in the Odyssey - includes all characters
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
chloeshao
Reviews received
Content preview
The FamilyFamilies are at the heart of the Odyssey, from the gods on Olympus, to the households Odysseus meets on
his journey, from the fantastical Phaeacians to Odysseus’ own family in Ithaca.
Family relationships influence the actions of the gods: Aeneas asks her father to release Odysseus
only when her uncle is out of the way, and Poseidon punishes Odysseus because of a prayer from
his son
Mother-Child
o Penelope-Telemachus
Close, but Penelope listens to her son because he is her social superior now that he
is grown up – a patriarchy
o Penelope-Melantho
She has brought her up like a daughter, but Melantho has betrayed her, and this
makes her betrayal all the more treacherous
o Arete-Nausicaa
She cares very much for her daughter and is very attentive towards her
Her children and her husband hold very much respect for her, and it is implied that it
is she who makes most of the decisions in the kingdom
o Scylla’s Mother–Scylla
Scylla’s mother is said to be the only one who can calm her daughter, showing the
effects of mothers on their children (and also showing that even the monsters aren’t
excused from the bounds of family)
o Anticleia-Odysseus
Odysseus weeps when he sees her in the Underworld and tries to hug her, showing
the extent of the love and feeling between them
Anticleia has died because she misses her son so much, showing the strength of
feeling between them
o Eurycleia-Odysseus
Eurycleia treats Odysseus like her son – she was the one who put him on his
grandfather’s knee and told him to name the child, she brought Odysseus up, and
she glories in his return
She tells him to change his clothes after the massacre because they’re covered in
blood, showing maternal care.
o Eurycleia-Telemachus
She also treats Telemachus like a son, and tucks him into bed in Book I after his
confrontation with the Suitors; she also jibes him for not locking up everything that
he owns and taking more care of his possessions
Father-Child: cross-generational aspect of heroism and obligations
o Odysseus-Telemachus
Telemachus barely knows his father at the beginning of the Epic, yet thinks very
highly of him, despairing when he thinks that he might have died
Stephen Tracy: ‘Father and son have come a long way towards knowing one
another in this one day.’
They have a very emotional reunion in Book XVII – with tears
The son revenges the father, eventually – and with his father’s help
He is still learning from his father – he tells his mother not to be so rude in a rather
petulant manner when she doesn’t immediately acknowledge Odysseus, and they
have to get him out of the way
Jasper Griffin: ‘Odysseus comes from a close and affectionate human family,
and his attitude to Penelope and Telemachus is that of the good husband and
gather. Such a man does not throw away his life for glory.’
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller chloeshao. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.28. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
78310 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now