Casual Reader
27 de julio de 2026
Fagles is again excellent, and transports the reader to the past and into myth
The Odyssey is said to be written by Homer, who we know little about and even his very existence is in question. It is set in the late Bronze Age, a time of great interest in Greek history but one shrouded in much darkness. It is a sequel to the Iliad, although not a direct one, since much has transpired since the events which was either lost or not recorded by Homer. Many of these events are described in flashbacks, such as the deaths of Agamemnon and Achilles, and the storming of Troy through the ingenuity of Odysseus and his famous Trojan Horse.The English word odyssey is taken directly from Odysseus, hero of this book, and has come to mean a great and eventful journey, although Odysseus's name is more associated by Homer with pain and wrath, which refers to his misfortune in being waylaid for ten years on his way home to Ithaca despite many heroic exploits at Troy. The book is indeed about a journey, much of which is told in hypnotic fashion by Odysseus, whose great talent as a storyteller is one of his greatest assets. The second half is an account of Odysseus reclaiming his rightful throne from aggressive suitors seeking to court his faithful wife. This part too is primarily a testament to the hero’s ingenuity and self-control, and only book (in the chapter sense) showcases his martial prowess, as the suitors meet their doom.The journey of Odysseus contains many characters which have become well known in Western culture: the sirens who seduce and shipwreck sailors, the one-eyed cyclops Polyphemus, the witch Circe, and the nymph Calypso, who holds Odysseus as a sexual hostage through much of the time that elapses between his leaving troy and reaching home. The gods too are present in this book, most prominently Athena, goddess of wisdom, who guides and assists Odysseus in his journey and Poseidon, whose wrath waylays Odysseus on his way home. Given the wily nature of the hero and his time spent on the sea, it is appropriate that these gods are the most prevalent. Zeus is present too, but mostly as final arbiter; he leaves much of the decision making to the other gods.Unlike the Iliad, the Odyssey is not a book about war. As mentioned before, there is one only book devoted to wanton bloodshed. Odysseus solves his problems through deception and tact more often than the tip of his spear. There is a great deal of time spent describing the pastoral activities of common people, the great feasts of the nobility, and the exploits not just of men but of women as well, who play a great role in the book as seductresses, loyal wives, villains, and servants. Homer fleshes out these characters a great deal and each has his or her own motivations and story. Penelope is ambivalent at best toward the suitors but often ponders marrying one of them out of practicality and is cautious when Odysseus reveals himself instead of jumping straight into his arms. Odysseus himself is not always moral or wise, and his pride creates great obstacles that work against him, such as revealing his name to the cyclops, beloved of Poseidon. If anything, the Odyssey is about hospitality, expected by the gods, as the best characters are shown to extend it and the worst to abuse it.The translation by Robert Fagles is excellent, and while the book does not have the thrilling pace of the Iliad, it is far more subtle and an interesting look at Homer’s portrayal of a culture and its values. Odysseus himself is a fascinating character who acts in a very individualistic fashion, eschewing simple straightforward honesty while still having heroic pride in his reputation as a warrior and host, which perhaps explains his lasting appeal in Western culture to this day.Ver másVer menos
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