Book 10.1-301

As I said in class, your discussion of Odysseus’ relationship with his crew was the best discussion you’ve had all semester because people on both sides of the debate supported their assertions with specific readings of the text. Some argued that Odysseus cared for his crew only in that they were instruments in his return to Ithaca. The opposition argued that Odysseus cared deeply enough for his crew to be willing to sacrifice his life (if not his pride) for them.

Interestingly, both sides cited Odysseus’ response to Eurylochus, who tries to keep Odysseus from attempting a rescue of his men from Circe. Odysseus tells his second in command, “’Necessity drives me on’” (10.301). That Odysseus identified necessity as his motivation led many to argue that he really didn’t care for his crew. He needed them for his own purposes and therefore must try and rescue them. Others noted that according to Eurylochus, who urges a quick exit from the island, they “could still escape” (10.297). Eurylochus’ statement reveals that the crewmembers trapped by Circe were not necessary for the operation of the ship.

Furthermore, Odysseus reports being “sick at heart for the dear companions” he lost (10.14). Only people one cares for are dear, and heartsickness or grief connotes an emotional attachment to his men. For some reason, though, no one contrasted Odysseus’ willingness to face danger to Eurylochus’ craven flight from Circe’s lair. In the end, I side with those that argue that Odysseus cares for his crew, though perhaps not as much as he should. Think of how his pride leads to misfortune for his crew.

Notice that second paragraph of this blog contains a mix of past and present tense verbs. Normally when writing about literature, one writes in the present tense. However, because the story told in Book 10 is in the past from the perspective of Odysseus, who at present is safe among the Phaeacians, I wrote about it using the past tense.