Wednesday, April 23, 2014
What a Tangled Web We Weave When We Practice to Deceive
Odysseus tells two elaborate lies in Books 13 (to Athena) and Book 14 (to Eumaeus) about his identity, his history and his reasons for coming to Ithaca. There is an old saying "once a liar, always a liar." Does the fact that Odysseus has the capacity to fabricate such lies cast doubt on the veracity of his story in Books 9-12? Or does something about the content of the stories (e. g. he admits to mistakes of judgment) or his situation in Phaecia (e. g . they have already demonstrated they are superb hosts) suggest he is truthful? Or perhaps he doesn't tell boldfaced lies but bends the truth a little? Does it call into question the truth of the entire epic itself?
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ReplyDeleteWhat a Tangled Web We Weave When We Practice to Deceive
DeleteOdysseus is a brilliant man famous for his incredible tactics, which would make him a convincing liar. In book 13 he tries to convince Athena that he is not Odysseus. Athena is the smartest of the immortals and his attempt to dissuade her that he is Odysseus is an unwise decision because a mortal cannot trick a God. However his lie is well crafted and is believable the only problem was that his audience was Athena, perhaps the smartest being. “’Any man- any god who met you- would have to be/ some champion lying to get past you/ for all-around craft and guile! You terrible man,…’” (13: 329- 331). In the next chapter, chapter 14, Odysseus must make up a believable and very detailed story of his journey to Ithaca. He is a great liar that speaks with great confidence in an influencing matter that makes his audience believers. His audience in chapter 14 is Eumaeus, a swine herder who is not very educated and gullible. Odysseus tells his story of how he was born in Crete and fought in Egypt and eventually how he found his way to Ithaca. In these situations, Odysseus is entitled to lie, because he is informed to hide his identity. Odysseus is a very diligent liar that can thoroughly convince his audience his lie, which makes us wonder if the Odyssey is just a lie. I don’t believe that the Odyssey is made up but rather it is exaggerated to make Odysseus fame even greater. Homer wrote the Odyssey after Odysseus’s time, so I don’t believe the epic is just a story tale for our entertainment.
Although Odysseus is known for his intricately woven tales and cunning plans, he only lies when he absolutely needs to or for a serious purpose, leading to no reason to believe that the story of his journey between the Cicones and Phaeacia is anything but the truth. The only reason Odysseus lies when he arrives in Ithaca is because Athena tells him that it is completely necessary: “And to no one—no man, no woman, not a soul--/ reveal that you are the wanderer home at last.” (13.350- 13.351). The lie told to Eumaeus and others in Ithaca causes little to no harm, it only restricts the knowledge of the people for a short time, and is essential in protecting the lives of Telemachus and Odysseus from the suitors. This particular lie, and most other lies told by Odysseus are essential for his and others’ wellbeing. When telling his story to the Phaeacians, Odysseus has no motive for lying: “Grant that here among the Phaeacian people/ I may find some mercy and some love!” (6.359- 6.360). Odysseus greatly wants and needs the help of the Phaeacians to complete his journey home. Lying to them could potentially destroy the trust in and support of him, which could diminish his chances of returning to Ithaca. If Odysseus has shown in the past to only lie out of necessity and lying to the Phaeacians would not only have been unhelpful but detrimental, then the story of Odysseus’ journey that he told to the Phaeacians is most likely truthful.
ReplyDeleteIn books 13 and 14 of The Odyssey, Odysseus fabricates lies to tell to Athena and Eumaeus regarding his identity. His ease and capability of creating successful lies suggest that his schemes have been effective in the past. In book 13, Odysseus attempts to convince Athena that he is not Odysseus, but rather a man hailing from Crete. Although Odysseus is talking to Athena, the goddess of cunning trickeries, he crafts his lie well and is confident that Athena will believe his words. Odysseus uses details and talks about Crete in an effort to make the lie unverifiable. Based on past experience, Odysseus is well aware of how to create a convincing lie in any situation. Athena has more knowledge than Odysseus and does not fall victim to Odysseus's lie. However, in book 14, Odysseus convinces Eumaeus that he is a beggar from Crete, whose ships were destroyed in Egypt. Trying even harder to generate an authentic lie, Odysseus adds more detail and strays even farther from his reality, desperate to get Eumaeus to believe him. Eumaeus does end up believing Odysseus. Because Odysseus is able to tell lies easily, everything he has said may not be the truth. In fact, all the information we have learned about Odysseus may not be true. Rather, Odysseus has been fabricating lies either to generate fame or hide his identity. Every sentence Odysseus has spoken about himself is possibly false. There is no method of determining whether or not Odysseus is lying because of his proficiency in telling lies. Readers of The Odyssey, as well as characters in the book, should not believe Odysseus's words because the truth is most likely not being told.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus is a thoughtful, witty liar that hints of bending the truth at times, but also demonstrates honesty characteristics. When one says this they are saying that Odysseus will lie about something to fabricate it and seem more courageous, but he will not lie out of his “socks” because then one would know that he was lying and so he can stay safe. For example, he explains his story of how he got to Ithaca in such fine detail and imagination that no one would question if that story is true because of how far away he came. Odysseus says that he came from Crete. “I hail from Crete’s broad land, I’m proud to say, and I am a rich man’s son. And many other sons he brought up in his palace, born in wedlock, sprung of his lawful wife… She was a slave, a concubine he’d purchase, yes.” (11. 228-232) This quote here is an eloquent example of when Odysseus is a witty liar because he wants to see if Eumaeus is faithful and will not question his descent. Odysseus though, can be known to lie just so he will become famous after his mortality dies out and he passes. One final thought; in the story, Odysseus will also be called the “Teller of Tales” which means that he tells great stories. But, could the writer be anticipating to the audience that he is a deceitful liar? Or does this mean that Odysseus has lived through many great stories that later, become great tales that will be talked about?
ReplyDeleteAlthough Odysseus seems to be a fantastic liar and can fabricate brilliant and believable stories on the spot, he always keeps some of the truth in his stories. But, it is not known to the readers, when Odysseus is lying. Homer only gives a few examples where he tells us outright that Odysseus is lying. But given his skills and nature of lying, it can be guessed that those are not the only time he bends the truth. For example, in books 9-12, Odysseus is in Phaecia, telling the king and queen of his return from Troy. Some of the events that he describes are really far-fetched. Such as all of his men being turned into pigs by a magical sorcerer or being held captive by a giant one-eyed monster that herds sheep. This is evidence that Odysseus could be lying or at least bending the truth, but earlier in the Odyssey when Telemachus is at the house of Menelaus, he also tells a far-fetched story about Proteus, the old man of the sea. He tells of how he and his men caught Proteus, and the ways he tried to escape.
ReplyDeletehe’d lost nothing,
that old rascal, none of his cunning quick techniques!
First he shifted into a great bearded lion
And then a serpent—
A panther—
A ramping wild boar—
A torrent of water—
A tree with soaring branchtops—
But we held on for dear life braving it out.
This passage proves that although Odysseus is shown as the master of lies, there are other people who support his far-fetched ideas. This being said, the far-fetched stories of Odysseus and Menelaus must either be true, or the whole book a fictitious hyperbole.
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ReplyDeleteWhile Odysseus’ shows that he is willing to stray from the truth in Books 13 and 14, this series of lies is not powerful enough to cause one to assume that Odysseus falsified any aspect of the story of his journey he told the Phoenicians. It may not be great for your reputation as a man of the truth when many of your phrases of prefaced with the epithet of “The Great Teller of Tales”, but Odysseus, the great tactician, only lies when it is necessary. For instance, before lying about his identity to a disguised Athena in book 13, he is told by Athena regarding his return to Ithaca, “And to no one – no man, no woman, not a soul – reveal that you are the wanderer home at last” (13.350-1). Athena recognizes that if it is known to Penelope’s suitors that Odysseus has returned to Ithaca, he will be attacked in an instant, so, by giving Odysseus these instructions, she essentially required the lies in both Book 13 and 14. In the case of Eumaeus, Odysseus had to keep his identity concealed for the same reason as in Book 13. Odysseus had to maintain this fake identity for fear that Eumaeus would not be able to contain the excitement of meeting the master he had missed for so long. Had he told Eumaeus his true identity from the stat, he risked the ruin of the plan Athena and he had put together to be rid of Penelope’s suitors, the potential of seeing Telemachus for the first time in years, and potentially his own life. Again, the possible undoing of his entire plan coupled with the instructions from Athena essentially required these lies to be told. And, being the cunning warrior that he is, Odysseus knows that if the difference between life and death is to tell a lie, you must tell it. Clearly, the circumstances involved in telling these lies influenced the decision to tell them in the first place. As such, one can not entirely assume based on the lies told by Odysseus in Books 13 and 14, that any or all of the stories he has told in the past have been fabricated.
ReplyDeleteWho is Odysseus? We are aware that he is the hero of our story, but what do we know of his moral character? It is quite possible that Odysseus has been lying his way through life, and that his amazing tales from books 9 to 12 are more made up stories. His well-constructed lies in books 13 and 14 only reinforce the lack of validity in his stories. For example, before Odysseus launches into the story of his return home, he is introduced as, “Odysseus, the great teller of tales launched out on his story:” (9:1). When he begins his lie to Eumaeus he is introduced in the same way, “The great teller of tales returned at length,” (14: 219). How are we, as the audience, to believe a man who is introduced the same way when one time he is supposedly an honest man and the next a known liar? The shared epithet in these scenarios may very well be intentionally placed there to signify that Odysseus is indeed a liar. Athena also solidifies this negative side of Odysseus’ behavior complimenting him on his ability to lie, “’Any man- any god who met you- would have to be/ some champion lying to get past you/ for all-around craft and guile! You terrible man,…’” (13: 329- 331). Athena, the goddess of wisdom, recognizes Odysseus’ tale easily, making the audience wonder had his audience been her instead Phaecians for his return story, would she have stopped him then too? There is no solid evidence proving that Odysseus is telling the truth at any point in any of his stories, because we are forced to go off of his word alone, so it is quite possible that the epic itself is founded upon lies made up by a misguided hero.
ReplyDeleteI think that Odysseus is a so-so leader. I think this because Odysseus has made some good choices and some bad choices as a leader. He showed that he is a good leader when he saved his men form being killed by some of the gods. Even though some might think that it is his fault, it is not. It is not his fault because the gods are out to get him. He showed that he can be a bad leader when he did not tell his crew about the bag of winds. This lapse in judgment causes the boat to go in the opposite direction, away from their destination. They opened the bag because it is not unheard of for the men to look through what they have gotten during their travels. If he told his crew what was in the bag then they might not have opened it.
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