The Odyssey: Book 23

Book 23 (Alli & Makeena)

Important Quotes:
“The more she spoke, the more a deep desire for tears welled up inside his breast- he wept as he held the wife he loved, the soul of loyalty, in his arms at last (463. 259-261).”

This is the happy part of The Odyssey. Odysseus and Penelope are finally reunited, for real. Penelope knows that it is her husband, and she is happy to have him home. You can feel how much they missed each other. They have been telling each other their stories about what has happened over the past 20 years. It is sweet to know how Odysseus was feeling at this time, he felt so sad that his wife had to go through all of those hard times; he wanted to cry for her. They both felt whole again with each other, their missing piece had finally become whole.

“Dear woman… We have still not reached the end of all our trails. One more labor lies in store- boundless, laden with danger, great and long, and I must brave it out from start to finish (463.282-285).

This is a major turn in the plot. We finally thought that Odysseus and Penelope were done with all of their troubles. We thought that they could finally live happily ever after together. Now Odysseus has to leave once again, leaving Penelope alone again.

“Penelope’s heart burst in joy, she leapt from bed, her eyes streaming tears, she hugged the old nurse and cried out with eager, winging word, “Please dear one, give me the whole story (456.35-37).”

This shows good Homeric style, he describes the feelings of Penelope in great detail. This was we can connect with her emotions, and really feel what she is feeling. This quote is important because this is when Penelope finds out that Odysseus may be home finally. Her hopes arise and she is excited to see her husband after 20 years of separation.

Elements of a Monomyth:
This book is the last stage, stage 4, the return home, Odysseus has already had his magical flight home and he has also overcome his last obstacle, the suitors. His Elixir was his wife and son, his palace and his status was given back to him after many years with out it. He has become the master of two worlds, his real life, and his life as a warrior. Although, Odysseus is at the fourth stage of the monomyth, he has not yet started living at peace, because he still has a task to complete, he will have to go back to the “Land of Fulfillment”.

Book 23 (Sarah & Linnea)

Important Quotes

"A long while she sat in silence... numbing wonder/ filled her heart as her eyes explored his face./ One moment he seemed... Odysseus, to the life-/ the next, no, hew was not the man she knew,/ a huddled mass of rags was all she saw" (23.106-110).

This quote shows Penelope's internal struggle with accepting Odysseus. It shows the reader how lost she is because she doesn't know what to make of the man before her. She wants him to be Odysseus, her husband, the man she loves, but she doesn't want to get her hopes up to find that it was never him.

"There's our secret sign, I tell you , our life story!/ Does the bed, my lady, still stand planted firm?-/ I don't know- or has someone chopped away/ that olive trunk and hauled our edstead off?" (23.226-229).

In this quote, Odysseus gives Penelope the secret sign that confirms to her that she is talking to her husband and not another man. The secret sign is the story of the olive tree that Odysseus built his bed and room around. No one but Penelope and Odysseus know that story, so when Odysseus tells it to her, she knows that it is really him.

"Joy, warm as the joy shipwrecked sailors feel/ when they catch sight of land- Poseidon has struck/ their well-rigged ship on the ocean sea with gale winds/ and crushing walls of waves, and only a few escape, swimming/ struggling out of the frothing surf to the shore,/ their bodies crusted with salt but buoyed up with joy/ as they plant their feet on solid land again,/ spared a deadly fate. So joyous now for her/ the sight of her husband, vivid in her gaze,/ that in her white arms, embracing hi neck/ would never for a moment let him go..." (23.262-272).

This is an example of Homer's style. He uses an epic simile. It is significant because this is when Penelope finally accepts Odysseus back home. When Penelope realizes that it is him. It is Odysseus's return to his family. Penelope had not believed he was Odysseus, but in the passage, she believes it is him and she is filled with joy. Her hoy is so great that it is compared to a sailor seeing land for the first time after a long and rough travel on the sea.


Elements of the Monomyth
In this book, Odysseus is in the "return" stage of his hero quest. He is back to his "real world" life with his wife. Specifically, this is his "rescue from without" where he gets help to overcome a final obstacle. The obstacle he has to overcome is Penelope not believing that he is Odysseus. Penelope helps him overcome this obstacle by prompting him to give their secret sign. She says, "Come, Eurycleia,/ move the sturdy bedstead out of our bridal chamber" (23.197-198). She knows that the real Odysseus would know that the bed can't be moved and that he would object to moving it. After she prompts him, he gives the sign and Penelope welcomes him home at last.