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Unreliable Narrator - Listen. I really hope if you take anything away from the Odyssey, it's that “hero” does not equal “virtue.” The Greek translation of “hero” is literally closer to “warrior.” People can argue if Odyssey is a good man or not- I'm just gonna say he's an interesting narrator to follow. And that he's definitely a colonizer. Next.
Deceit - Take a shot everytime Homer and Wilson describe Odyssey as “cunning.” Ody lies, tricks, schemes, ect. It's no shocker that Athena shares this quality with him. I will say I found great joy in Penelope outwitting Odyssey with her own test in the end- she matches his freak…
Family/Home & Loyalty -
Penelope is such an interesting character with how much her story parallels Helen of Sparta. Although the Odyssey does provide enough context for the reader to understand how these two women resemble each other, I do want to read Wilson's translation of the Illiad in the future for a more in-depth analysis.
Telemachus is a wet tissue for most of this story, but wow does he try. It's interesting to see how much pressure he has as a “boy,” and what it took for him to “become a man” since his journey is the exact opposite of Odysseus’s journey.
Overall, I really like how Homer questions what exactly is a home and the relationships of family.
Gods/Mortals & Fate - Gods also ties in with xenia, but I wanted to focus more on the aspect that multiple characters knew that Odyssey's fate was to become cursed with eternal wandering?? Odyssey himself knew it would take him 20 years to comeback home before he left for troy!!! I was absolutely shocked. The concept of what is in people's fate and what isn't is such an interesting topic and I'm somewhat disappointed it's not fleshed out as much as other topics in the Odyssey… maybe because fate is just a given?
I could talk about the themes of gender, class, and power but then I would never get this review posted so I will continue rambling in my journal! Overall, I really enjoyed Wilson's translation of The Odyssey!!! I read a different translation years ago and this translation is not only more comprehensive, but has a certain rhythm that makes it feel like how Homer intended the story to be told.
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Violence, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Drug use, Blood, Alcohol, War
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cannibalism, Death of parent
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Slavery, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Confinement, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Cannibalism, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Incest
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Incest
Graphic: Sexism, Slavery, Violence, War
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Gore, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Cannibalism, Alcohol
I also think there's something really magical about reading a story that's lasted throughout the public consciousness this long. It's such a human story, and I loved reading it to see how little humanity has truly changed. It's like we're all running the same race without learning anything from the last lap.
Graphic: Animal death, Death
Moderate: Blood, Cannibalism, War
Minor: Rape
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Cannibalism, War