Ulysses starts where Homer’s “Odyssey” left off. It appears to be some years later and although Ulysses is up in years, he is ready to let his adventurous soul take over again. He is restless. He speaks of the days of old. Reminiscing on his travels and the many people who have shared those adventures with him, Ulysses feels that he is no more than a legend, a name now. Because of this, I think he is even more compelled to seek adventure again. He is recalling the many battles that he has fought and the good friends who fought alongside him. He obviously misses those days. Like all people, he has taken something from all that he has met. They have contributed to him being the man that he is.
In addition, like my father did before he deployed, he told me that I was the man of the house in his absence. It was my responsibility to ensure that our family and home was safe. “This is my son, mine own Telemachus, to whom I leave the scepter and isle.” (p.594) Ulysses is aware that everyone knows his son, and feels that he is well loved and respected by family and friends. He feels that his son is worthy of the position and would do well in his absence.
Upon seeing his ship in the harbor, he speaks of his crew. Many of them have probably served with him for years. He knows that they have all grown old in age, but motivates them to go on what may be their last voyage. He knows that like him, they to have an adventurous soul. He does not know where their adventure will lead them, but this does not matter. Ulysses and his crew just want to be at sea. This is their comfort zone. He also knows that this may be his last voyage. Not because he will retire, but because he may never return home before he dies. He tries his best to name the many things that he and his crew could succumb. My dad told me this prepares soldiers for whatever they may meet. It keeps them alert and ready at all times. Now Ulysses knows that he and his men are not young any longer, but they still posses that will and desire to seek adventure. They have what we so often refer to as heart. They are willing to face adversity head own; even if it means the beginning to their end.
This is a great comparison! I got the sense that for Ulysses the restlessness was stronger than the normal urge to be back at sea. It seemed to me like he was restless for something else no matter where he was. In the Odyssey, he is abroad and yearning to return home. At home, he yearns to travel abroad. He never seems completely happy with his lot in life.
ReplyDeleteReggie,
ReplyDeleteGood synopsis of Tennyson's poem, with some good observations but not enough textual evidence to support and illustrate it. Good engagement with the text by comparing it to your father's advice before deployment. Note that Ulysses is leaving because he wants to go and leave his family, though, not because he has received orders to go. I think there is a selfishness mixed in with his heroism.
I sort of felt like Ulysses was trying to get away from the family as well and preferred to be on the sea with his comrades. The poem even said something about he was more himself when he was out at sea.
ReplyDeleteUlysses is still suffering from mid-life crisis, even at age 80 or whatever. I, at age 52, still harbor the prospect of riding my bicycle from home to the Keys. I have known truck drivers who worked well past the age of retirement simply because they loved the road. But most of them took their retired wives with them. A lot of us just never outgrow our adventurous spirits. I believe this goes for women, too. And I'll bet that Penelope would have loved to join Ullysses for this last adventure.
ReplyDeleteLandofgrant I bet he did take her on that voyage. The mid-life crisis is still possible. There is no set age for when a mid-life crisis starts. I like the idea of him being an adventurous spirit. He could simply just love the sea and feels more comfortable sailing the ocean rather than wondering the land.
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