Question

"Great Odysseus melted into tears,

running down from his eyes to wet his cheeks...
as a woman weeps, her arms flung round her darling husband,
a man who fell in battle, fighting for town and townsmen."

Describes the emotional state of Great Odysseus. How does this passage illustrate his emotional vulnerability and inner turmoil?

Answer 1

Great Odysseus's tears illustrate his emotional vulnerability, showing a profound level of sorrow and nostalgia that humanizes the legendary figure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage depicting Great Odysseus weeping serves as a powerful illustration of his emotional vulnerability and inner turmoil. It likens his tears to those of a bereaved woman, suggesting a level of sorrow that overwhelms his usual stoic persona.

This display of emotion in a hero challenges traditional notions of masculinity, revealing a depth of character and a poignant sense of loss and nostalgia for his past. Such instances of outward emotion were rare among legendary figures such as Odysseus, yet here they serve to humanize him and connect his experience to that of the readers; they depict a man touched by his memories, capable of profound grief and reflection on his arduous journey and the losses therein.