Nausicca :: History

NausiccaNAUSICAA HOMER THE ODYSSEY BOOK VIINTRODUCTIONA close reflexion at book V1 and others in Homers Odyssey may lead us to this observation. Far be it from one to lay blame at the door of a Goddess except as far as Nausicaa is concerned surely genus Athene did contribute by leading the poor girl on to believe that Odysseus was The One, she was to marry. This exit be taken into account as we search in more depth at the poem. Virgil acquaints us with similar facts in his book The Aneaid whose content look at Aeneas abandoning Dido at the instigation of the gods, infact Virgils work is classically dubbed as a conscious effort to imitate Homer. We should also look at the novel of Theseus and Ariadne for comparison when Ariadne aided Theseus, as did Nausicaa aid Odysseus, these two stories feature abandonment at the instigation of genus Athene and Aphrodite. Abandonment as a theme pot be looked at certainly, along with the gods interference in the affairs of men. C.M Bowra the l ate eminent author and professor of poetry (wadham college 1946-51) puts to us that scorn her early hopes Nausicaa is left with only the consolation that after all she saved Odysseus and that he will remember it. Which along with the afore mentioned themes we will discuss.THE MEETINGThis part of the Odyssey begins with genus Athene appearing to the sleeping Princess having a beautiful dream convincing her that all too soon her wedding day will be upon her. It is clearly sham by Nausicaa that this is all real because the gods wouldnt lie Athena arrives in disguise of Dymas whom Nausicaa has affection for, a ploy by Athena to gain trust from the innocent Nausicaa who would then not question the content of her dream. Homer tells us that Athena insists she prepare for her wedding by going immaterial the city to the river with her maids to clean and prepare her trusso. Homer lets us know that Athena is all too aware of the sleeping shipwrecked Odysseus in need of rescue. Nausicaa prob ably for her naivet and young is the chosen subject to assist the rescue of this man.Odysseus is discovered after a ball the maidens play with lands near him. Nausicaa discovers the partially naked man and again Athena interrupts the proceedings by placing courage in her heart to face this bedraggled spectacle of a man without fear.