Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Bow Test
During class today my group came up with a question that we never addressed and that question is, Why did Penelope pick the bow test as a means of picking a husband? And then why could only Odysseus string it? We thought Penelope picked the bow test because if Penelope had to pick one of the suitors for a husband we assume she would want one as similar to Odysseus as she could get, and it was said that only Odysseus could string the bow therefore whoever strung it would then be equal to Odysseus. Now we know that none of the suitors were able to string the bow and that the only other person that came close to stringing it was Telemochas , so why was Odysseus the only one that could wield the bow? We figured that it couldn't be just because he was stronger than everybody because Telemochas was not stronger than the suitors and he came close, so was it technique? Or was it something else? I think Odysseus was the only person that could string the bow, not just because he had a better technique or because he was stronger, but because he was the only one qualified to string it. Just like in the Avengers where Thor is the only person who can wield his hammer, other than Captain America, not because he is stronger but because he is the only one worthy. I think to string Odysseus' bow you have to not be strong, but have the qualities that Odysseus had, qualities like honor, bravery, and respect, all of which are things that the suitors did not have. So to put it just a little clearer, the only people who could wield the bow would have to be true Odyssean heroes.
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I also think we can compare it to the young King Arthur. None of the great knights could pull the sword from the stone; only the rightful son of Uther Pendragon. He was the only worthy one. A less manly example would be Cinderella. To marry the prince, the girl's foot had to fit in the glass slipper. She was the only worthy one.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a biblical parallel is in order. In Revelation 5, no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll with seven seals, except the Lamb. Then they praise him, saying, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!" You can see those recurring themes in all great literature.
I know when I read this section, my whole idea of Odysseus changed. I mean, I'd always thought of Odysseus as one of the weaker heroes physically, more brains than physical might. However, in this passage, he had more strength in him than I'd previously thought, but I really like the idea of having to be "worthy" to wield it. I think too it was the one "chosen by the gods" who would be able to wield the bow, because no normal man could wield it. I get a totally different picture of this hero in this particular passage, a man with physical and mental strength.
ReplyDeleteWow. I love your analogies here. I was wondering the same thing, why the bow test? I feel like it was just another way to prolong the decision. If she really had hope that Oddyseus was going to return, then she was prolonging it. Or was it rather just for mere entertainment? Also, I don't think she expected any of them to string it, if she did she would not have asked them too. Odysseus and Penelope are a perfect match, both so cunning. She gives us a major example of how cunning she really is in this scene. And again, really love the analogy!
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