By Peter K. Lam
Odysseus Tells His Story
I am Laertes son, Odysseus. For sometime now I have been traveling the ocean trying to get home but the god named Poseidon has cursed me! It has been twenty years since I left Ithaca my home. Ten years spent on the Trojan War and another ten trying to return home. I should never have become a suitor for Helen all those years ago. I was a fool to think I could win Helen’s heart. She has caused me only grief . Long ago, as a suitor for Helen, I had to vow my allegiance to whom ever married Helen and help at anytime that is she was endangered. The idiot named Paris kidnapped Helen which started the Trojan War. At the time I already had gotten married and now have a newborn child. I left my son Telemachus without a father for ten years! I wonder if he will despise me for abandoning him . My dear Penelope, how I wonder if you think of me. I miss you my love. I’m coming home soon.
The Lotus Eaters
Today I almost reached Ithaca, my homeland. I just came around Malea as ocean currents and fresh gales drove me toward Cythera. I was out at sea for nine days with raging wind but despite the dangers before me, I could only think of my son and wife. My son should be about eleven years old now and I still haven’t reached home. Around dawn the next day, I landed ashore of the island belonging to the Lotus Eaters. We came upon the island only to seek water and to have our midday meal but I had already felt that we have made a very bad mistake. I sent three of my best men to see who lives on this island but they never returned. So I went back to retrieve them myself. When I arrived on the top of the gigantic mountain, beautiful women came to help me. They tried to detain me but I fought off the spell and dragged away my three most trusted men. The Lotus Eaters tried to keep me from home but nothing will make me stop trying. Have faith in me Penelope, I will return to you.
The Cyclops
The island my crew and I found was the island of the Cyclopes. The Cyclopes were uncivilized and didn’t need to do anything for all the food they needed was already there provided by nature The Cyclopes had societies of their own and each family had different laws. When I first landed on the island, I was greeted by Zeus’ nymph daughters who served my men breakfast. So once on the island I decided to venture for a place to sleep. My men followed me into a cave which seemed dormant but comfortable enough to use as shelter. I thought it was okay to sleep in the cave for a night but I was deathly wrong. About a few hours later , a Cyclops came into the cave and closed off the entrance not noticing us. Then he turned around and saw us sitting in his cave with our own little camp.
The Cyclops’ name was Polyphemus. Polyphemus was angry that we invaded his home so he planned to eat us one by one. He ate two of my best men and I knew right away I head to think of a plan to escape the Cyclops. So I decided to let him get drunk with my gifts of wine. When Polyphemus fell asleep completely drunk, we carved a point in a giant log to stab Polyphemus with. My crew and I put the point of the log under flame to heat up the sensational agony. After the point heated up to a desired tempature, my crew and I stabbed the pointed log into Polyphemus’ eye. Polyphemus cried out in pain and I was glad about it. That was a reasonable punishment for the death of my two men. Polyphemus pulled out the stake and blindly searched for us but we were clever enough to run away from his prying hands to wait the opportunity to escape. Once Polyphemus opened the door, my men and I ran out of the cave finding sanctuary in our ship to flee from the Island of Cyclopes. Little did I know what I just done will give me dire consequences in the future.
The Sirens
I haven’t been writing in this journal for some time now but the incidents of today must be recorded. Today I encounter the unbelievable sea nymphs known as the Sirens. Through legends I learned that the Sirens are nymphs that only plan to harm those who are foolish enough to hear them sing. In the year I spent with Circe of Aeaea, the seducing enchantress, she gave advice of how to handle the events which will affect me in the future. One of those advises was her warning of the Sirens. Circe instructed me that once I near the Sirens, I should put wax into the ears of my men then order them to tie me to the pole. Circe said that by allowing only me to listen to the singing it will bring knowledge but my men must keep rowing so that’s what I did. My men rowed non-stop until out of danger. That’s a day I cannot forget.
Scylla and Charbdis
The conflict through the Strait of Scylla was most unpleasant. Circe had warned me of this and said that Scylla is a six-headed monster that eats up anybody too close to her shore. On the other side of the strait is the gigantic whirlpool known as Charbdis which is capable of swallowing a ship with all it’s contents. I didn’t know what to do. Circe advised I go to Scylla and suffer a smaller lost of six men rather than the entire crew. I wish I could have gone another route but there was no other. I had no choice but to pass through the Strait of Scylla. Scylla snatched away six of my men and I stood there doing nothing but only feeling the guilt tear through me. I have sacrificed six of my men, I can not help but think, “Should I have done something differently?” The answer, I knew, was no. I must bear the guilt and be strong for the few men I have left to lead home. My men are dropping like flys and I fear I might not be the leader I thought I was.
Odysseus Loses Everything
This is a truly painful day. My men are all lost to me. What kind of a monster am I? I can’t even lead the few men I had left home! My leadership has costed the lives of my crew. When I was on Thrinacia, the island of Helios, I let my few remaining men alone to do as they please so I could make a prayer to the gods. Circe had warned me that Helios holds his sacred cattle very dear to him so no harm should be done to the cattle. I specifically told my men to leave the cattle alone and await for my return. When I went inland to pray, the fools disobeyed me and killed the cattle. For what? They said the ship was running low on food so the cattle meat was essential. What fools! We could have gone to another island for food resources but no! They had to kill the cattle. Awhile after we set sail, a threatening storm came looming above us and then unleashed its’ unspeakable fury killing off all my men. Now I’m alone, out in the sea with no ship. I drifted to Ogygia, Island of Calypso and was detained there for a chapter of my life. I fear, dear Penelope, that I will never see you nor my son again. Remember, I love you always.
Father and Son
I have finally been released from Calypso’s island and have been given a river raft by her. I sailed off Ogygia and have now landed on the island belonging to King Alcinous. I told him the entire story of what happened to me after the Trojan War. Alcinous was very kind to me and have me a ship and a new crew to finally set sail for Ithaca my home. When I finally landed ashore on Ithaca, Athena, goddess of wisdom and my guardian angel, gave me news of what has happened while I was gone. She told me that suitors have invaded my palace and they’re forcing Penelope to remarry. Athena disguises me as an old beggar to be safe from the eyes of others. When I saw my son Telemachus, the disguise melted away right before his eyes and he thought I was a god. I told him that I am his father and he wept in joy for finally setting eyes upon me after so long. I told him not to tell Penelope or anybody that I have come back even if it pained me so. I will reclaim my island and it will be soon.
Odysseus in Disguise
I became the old beggar again and pried my way back into my palace only to find suitors everywhere! They have invaded my home indeed! Everywhere I looked there were suitors . That was when I began thinking, ” Has Penelope been loyal to me?” I could not help but think that for there are so many men and how easily they can seduce Penelope to doing something unloyal. I went around the room to ask for some food. The suitors were kind enough to give me some crumbs but the man named Antinous gave me nothing! The food isn’t even his own and he couldn’t spare some for an old beggar?! What a selfish barbarian! To top it all off, he slaps me and I fall onto the floor glaring at him. Penelope saw me and quickly came to my aid assisting me to a nearby seat away from the suitors. She has aged and so have I but still she remains beautiful. I interview her and have discover she has been loyal. Penelope could not delay the suitors form pressuring any longer so now she must decide. I assure her that Odysseus will return before the end of the competition she has prepared. Indeed I will, indeed I will.
The Test of the bow
Penelope has gone into the storage room preparing the test that will determine her now husband. She goes to fetch my old bow I used to use for hunting for the test. The string was unstrung so I guess Penelope will have the suitors try to string the bow which I know none of them can. That special bow was a bow only I can string and no other. My queen is very clever to think of such a brilliant plan but that won’t last too long. All the suitors tried to string the bow but they were not able to. They tried and tried not even able to bend the bow a little. There was about two suitors left and they tried with no luck at all. So right after the last suitor, I proposed to have a chance to string the bow. Penelope agreed but the rest of the suitors laughed fueling my deep inner fury, “Laugh now boys then die later,” I thought furiously. I easily strung the bow then shot and arrow through tiny holes of a mallet head hitting the bullseye right on target. The suitors were shocked that and old beggar could string the bow at ease while they had much trouble trying. Then I stood tall as I allowed my disguise melt away.
Odysseus Against the Suitors
My rage took over me as my disguise of an old beggar melted away. The suitors were shocked to see an old beggar morph into a modern man, exactly the reaction I got from Telemachus, my son. I didn’t tell the suitors who I was but spoke in a deep demanding voice. I gave the fools hints to who I might be and still they couldn’t figure it out! I released the anger buried within me and lastly said, “All I want is to see you all dead.” After awhile they recognized me to be Odysseus, true lord of Ithaca. The suitors wanted to bribe me into letting them go but no fool would think of releasing these savages after what they have done. Telemachus, a few servants, and I battled and killed every single suitor in the room, not one of them left breathing. I called Nurse, my loyal servant, who leaped for joy at the sight of the dead suitors. I told her that what has happen is not something to cheer out loud but to rejoice inside us like a private victory. I’m glad the suitors are all dead. Justice has been served.
A Final Test
I have been out at sea for twenty years know and my wife isn’t even happy! I have thought of her throughout the whole twenty years even though I sleep with others, my mind and soul was with Penelope. When I was disguised as the old beggar, my interview with her proven that she has been loyal and waited for me but why does she seem so distant now that I have returned? She starts asking me ridiculous questions as if I was a stranger to her. I kept insisting that I truly am Odysseus but she continued to ask questions. As she kept asking more and more, my anger started to build. Then when she ordered nurse to drag out my tree stump bed, I exploded! Nobody had access to the bed except Penelope, nurse and me! I carved the special bed from the stump for god sakes! The bed is rooted to the ground! Then when I finally realized what Penelope was doing she came to hug me. She had tested to see if I was the true Odysseus because only I know about the special bed. She is very clever. No wonder I married her.
