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Finding Meaning In Homer's Odyssey

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The storytelling in the Odyssey is told in a way that creates or solidifies memory depending on who the audience is. Odysseus, throughout his journey, has told his story to the Phaiacians to solidify, or at least make sense, his suffering that was endured on his journey back home. Later, he creates multiple variations of a story to protect his identity as he attempts to create bonds built on trust with anyone who has not betrayed him while he was gone. By telling these stories, either being about his journey home or about being from Crete, Odysseus is fermenting a memory in his audience that portrays himself as a strong leader/soldier that has endured much pain on his journey home. After telling the Phaiacians his story thus far, Odysseus …show more content…
Penelope receives a story about Aethon’s perspective of Odysseus’ arrival to Crete and a story of how he entertained Odysseus. Again, for being a made-up story, Odysseus has an act of portraying himself as a strong leader who has the appearance of a god. Going to the city, barely escaping the “teeth of the storm” and, while being there, Odysseus wore a fleecy purple cloak fashioned with gold. For both occurrences, Penelope became swelled up with sadness as she teared up from both stories. “And as she listened, her face melted with tears,” (Odyssey 19.220, Lombardo translation). Again, “She recognized the unmistakable tokens Odysseus was giving her. She wept again,” (Odyssey 19.237-274, Lombardo translation). Although being a made-up story, it still has the sense of solidifying memories of Odysseus as a strong leader. Within the Odyssey, storytelling can be used to create or solidify memories of a person more fulfilling. Odysseus tells and creates stories that perceive himself as this god-like leader who has been dealt a bad hand on his way home. Either being real or from a different perspective, each story is able to solidify a memory of Odysseus that makes him feel like the whole journey wasn’t completed on bad

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