The Odyssey presents its readers with many moments of grief – Penelope mourns the possible loss of her husband, Telemachus is riddled with the grief the suitors give him while trying to come to terms with responsible for his disappearance. father's estate. Perhaps the most striking example of grief is that of Odysseus's entrapment on Calypso's island, Ortygia. Odysseus's grievances and desire to return home deviate from the strong and courageous attitude we expect from a "hero of the Trojan War." An important question we face in trying to achieve a deeper understanding of the text is what “nostos” or “going home” meant to the soldiers. Odysseus leaves home for the same reason as most of the other soldiers: to achieve “kleos,” or “glory.” However, “nostos” has a double meaning for Ulysses: the general meaning of returning home and the personal meaning he attaches to it of “coming to”. By dramatizing the difference between Odysseus's current circumstances on his journey home and his inner desire to return home, Grief opens and elaborates his character's inner space in a way that his heroic actions do not. . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Until book 5, we only heard glorious war stories about Odysseus from King Nestor, King Menelaus, and Helen as they passed information about Odysseus to Telemachus. However, Ulysses is presented to us in volume 5 in a very emasculated manner, crying on the beach of Calypso's island. This disappointing introduction contrasts sharply with the Odysseus described in the stories and indicates a change in his character. “But as for the Great Odysseus, Hermes could not find him in the cave. as always, wrenching his heart with sobs, groans and anguish, during his seven years on Calypso's island, Odysseus faces the absence of active challenge. There's no way he can be a hero in Ortygia. He has no control over his entrapment because he has no way to escape. The word Calypso means "eclipse" and Odysseus' stay on his island is like an eclipse of the life he has known and of what he has known of himself up until now, as a warrior and hero. He experiences a wave of emotions like longing and frustration as he mourns his home while stuck in Ortygia. This represents his transition from the trajectory of a "war hero" to a man who accepts his grief, despair, and helplessness on the island. Odysseus' identity is redefined through his period of mourning. This can be seen by comparing his former behavior with the difference in how he handles situations that arise after his encounter with the Underworld. Previously, Odysseus' behavior seemed reckless, as he always wanted to explore the new lands he encountered on his journey home. For example, he wants to explore the land of the Cyclops: “I will cross it with my own ship and crew and survey the natives who live there. What they are: violent, savage, lawless/or friendly to strangers, God-fearing men” [217/173-177], although they are not sure if this is safe or not. He tries to achieve fame by making a name for himself in as many foreign countries as he passes through. This creates a tension between “kleos” and “nostos” as readers question the urgency with which Odysseus wants to return home. Odysseus makes an error in judgment when he reveals his name to Cyclops, thus putting himself and his men in danger and prolonging his stay. their sufferings and their arduous journey. While the ship.