What a great essay,Jennifer. It evokes the feelings for the “forever anguish” and the little joys humans have and go through—which they do to themselves—that expresses the overall sentiment of the epic. Beautifully written.
I noticed Massimo’s articles on the Odyssey seem not to be working. I would like to read them. Thanks.👍
Thank you, I’d like to add Kavafy’s Ithaca - an essential addition IMO:
When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your journey may be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raises them up before you.
Ask that your journey may be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy fine merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.
Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a wonderful journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what all these Ithakas mean.
Constantine P. Cavafy
Joanna,
Thank you for this. I love Cavafy. And Egypt. I will be reflecting on these lines in today’s journal:
"And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what all these Ithakas mean."
What a great essay,Jennifer. It evokes the feelings for the “forever anguish” and the little joys humans have and go through—which they do to themselves—that expresses the overall sentiment of the epic. Beautifully written.
I noticed Massimo’s articles on the Odyssey seem not to be working. I would like to read them. Thanks.👍