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NAUSICAA; HOMER THE ODYSSEY BOOK VI INTRODUCTION A close look at book V 1 and others in Homers Odyssey may lead us to this observation. Far be it from one to lay blame at the door of a Goddess but as far as Nausicaa is concerned surely Athena did contribute by leading the poor girl on to believe that Odysseus was The One, she was to marry. This will be taken into account as we look in more depth at the poem. Virgil acquaints us with similar facts in his book The Ahead whose content look at Aeneas abandoning Dido at the instigation of the gods, infact Virgil's work is classically dubbed as a conscious effort to imitate Homer. We should also look at the myth of Theseus and Ariadne for comparison when Ariadne aided Theseus, as did Nausicaa aid Odysseus, these two stories feature abandonment at the instigation of Athena and Aphrodite. Abandonment as a theme can be looked at certainly, along with the gods interference in the affairs of men.
C. M Board the late eminent author and professor of poetry (warham college 1946 - 51) puts to us that Despite her early hopes Nausicaa is left with only the consolation that after all she saved Odysseus and that he will remember it. Which along with the afore mentioned themes we will discuss. THE MEETING This part of the Odyssey begins with Athena appearing to the sleeping Princess having a beautiful dream convincing her that all too soon her wedding day will be upon her. It is clearly assumed by Nausicaa that this is all real because the gods wouldnt lie!
Athena arrives in disguise of Dumas whom Nausicaa has affection for, a ploy by Athena to gain trust from the innocent Nausicaa who would then not question the content of her dream. Homer tells us that Athena insists she prepare for her wedding by going outside the city to the river with her maids to clean and prepare her trust. Homer lets us know that Athena is all too aware of the sleeping shipwrecked Odysseus in need of rescue. Nausicaa probably for her naivet and youth is the chosen subject to assist the rescue of this man. Odysseus is discovered after a ball the maidens play with lands near him. Nausicaa discovers the partially naked man and again Athena interrupts the proceedings by placing courage in her heart to face this bedraggled spectacle of a man without fear.
Odysseus then goes into a great speech that can only be described as flattery and supplication. He admires the princess and speaks of anyone marrying this elegant creature should be proud and blessed as he likens her to the Goddess Articles. To be fair to Odysseus at this time he is unaware if she is human or Goddess. It is a little odd to choose marriage as a compliment but perhaps due to apprehension he feels for another unknown land and people after his many years of trying to get home. He is in effect playing to the vanity of the princess incase this is another enchanted isle or hostile place. Athena adds to his charisma by adding a glow, stance and prowess of a demi-god.
A simile from Homer at this point in the narrative is appropriate for the listening audience. Then he advanced like a mountain lion, sure of his strength, sho goes his way with blazing eyes through wind and through rain, hunting the wild deer or ranging among sheep or cattle: (Odyssey V 1. 121 - 200). This is colourful and descriptive of the emergence of the hero from his shipwrecked state. Athena plays the guardian to our hero making sure of an imminent rescue and acceptance by the young princess. Nausicaa has to tell her maids to not run away and hide, because she believes this man is harmless which of course is a result of Athena giving her courage to assume so. She then proceeds to tell him how to enter the city to gain help from her father King Alcinous and her mother Queen Arte.
There are in phaeaecia at this time many suitors anxious for the hand of Nausicaa and she is graceful in her explanation to Odysseus telling him why is appropriate for her to accompany him into the city. Basically she doesnt want gossip and presumably she wants acceptance for our hero to enter the city on his own merit to gain help from her parents. Once could wonder here if the audience questioned this point and even wondered why Nausicaa would have suitors who would gossip so and berate her if she appeared with the stranger. Gerald Vallillee says that once Odysseus is shipwrecked that Homer lays him to rest until such time as he can devise away in the plot to get him into the court of the King (jstor e. org). This maybe one observation to consider, moreover later in the tale Odysseus tells of a visit to Hades.
This brings confirmation that Odysseus will eventually return home. Teiresias tells him that a full and long life is assured for him after retuning home. Teiresias the blind profit is always known to tell the truth, an omniscient source of oracle gives us leave to understand the outcome of the journey. Further confirmation is from Odysseus own mother in Hades who tells her son that Penelope his wife waits patiently in the halls no other holds your noble domain (Odyssey X 1. 132) she reassures him. There should not be a surprise at this point that our hero will be saved, because in book V when Hermes comes with a message to Calypso to let Odysseus go and continue on his journey home, the land of the Phaeacians is mentioned so the audience would be well aware of Odysseus reaching these people with the promise of rescue.
Therefore it would surly have not been at all puzzling that Odysseus would have been saved from his flimsy craft once his journey was underway and washed up on the fore tolled land of the Phaeacians. Odysseus is not alone in the wild sea the daughter of Cadmus (sea nymph) aided Odysseus in his trials in his journey and advised him to lose his heavy clothing that Calypso had provided him with to survive the high sea. She also mentions to Odysseus that he should not be unhappy because he is fated to reach the isle of Scheria home of the phaeacians people. This opens the door for Nausicaa to find Odysseus and become part of his salvation. THE WEDDING QUESTION When Athena gave Nausicaa the prophetic dream alluding to her impending marriage it is little wonder then that she feels Odysseus is the fine figure of the man she hopes to marry. Perhaps this was a challenge to the audience to suppose that a marriage may take place there is a position on this very question later.
On the other hand the beginning of the tale explains that Telemachus son of Odysseus is already introduced in the narrative along with the suitors and Penelope faithful and loyal wife. It is therefore already advertised that Odysseus will return home to them both safely. The audience may contemplate the necessity of the false hope of a wedding here because we follow on with the suggestion that feasts, games, and gifts bear the resemblance certainly of preparation of an impending wedding. Odysseus is certainly treated like a king even though the Phaeacians do not know he is such; indeed king Alcinous offers his daughters hand in marriage to Odysseus not knowing anything about him. This is unique and discerning considering the mystery surrounding the stranger. The whole process of feasting and bathing is a little confusing.
Why does Odysseus behave like a bridegroom in offering the choices cuts of meat to Demodocus at the feast given by Alcinous? Curiously we may question why Odysseus is showered with gifts for his voyage home which are reminiscent of wedding presents? Even the queen presents him with a chest and a cloak and king Alcinous gives him one of his own goblets as a present. This is the kind of behaviour one would see at an authentic marriage ceremony so it is odd that a physical marriage does not take place between Odysseus and Nausicaa. Thankfully Odysseus has at this point in the poem been given the chance to regale his tails including a trip to the underworld of Hades as well as availing of the Phaeacians overwhelming hospitality. On Odysseus journey to the underworld he encounters Achilles and also some of the departed souls of women he new.
As he is telling his tale he refers to seeing the lovely Ariadne and tells of her fate. That daughter of subtle Minos whom Theseus bore off from Crete towards the hill of sacred Athens (Odyssey X 1. 135). The myth for Theseus and Ariadne contains an episode where princess Ariadne helps Theseus to escape the labyrinth. He could not do this without her help and afterwards he does as he promised initially and marries Ariadne for her service to him. Theseus then abandons her on the Isle of Naxos.
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