Odysseus tries to convince his wife in lines 23.183 – 204 of the Odyssey that he’s not just a figment of her gods. Penelope tricks Odysseus to betray himself by asking a servant to take Odysseus bed out of his room. Odysseus’ anger at the order is due to the fact that he made the bed and knows how difficult it is to move. Homer then asks Odysseus for a monologue where he describes the construction of his bed. Homer uses Odysseus’s descriptions of the construction and use of the mattress to reflect the forming of Odysseus’s life. Homer’s diction is a key element in the allegorical nature of this passage. The tone also portrays Odysseus as a very different character from that of previous chapters.
Odysseus’ tone reveals that he is a sensitive warrior. This is evident from the first line of the passage. Odysseus, when he said “What you had said, dear woman, has deeply wounded my heart”, is the very first time he proves he misses his wife. Odysseus said in previous chapters he missed and wanted to be with his wife. On Kalypso’s isle, he misses Kalypso so much he chooses freedom over eternal life. Homer only reveals how much Odysseus loves Penelope in their first private conversation.
Homer makes Odysseus speak in an anxious and pleasurable tone when he describes how he made the bed. He describes the bed in great detail, as though Penelope would doubt him if something was left out. Odysseus’ tone changes back to that of love at the end. In the last lines, Odysseus reflects on his love for Penelope through the tone of his speech. The monologue finishes on a sombre note. Odysseus seems to be overcome with emotion. Homer creates a tone of pained pleading throughout the passage. He carefully selects words to convey this. Odysseus may have been distracted when he said “no mortal man is alive, no man strong”; his repetition shows he was trying to convince his mind that such an act would not be possible. Homer makes Odysseus talk in a distracted and imploring way to demonstrate how Penelope is important to Odysseus.
Odysseus’s monologue is a parallel to his character, and also the events that shaped his life. Homer’s diction contributes to the allegorical nature of this passage. Homer uses the bed’s sturdiness to illustrate the uprightness and strength of Odysseus. Odysseus endured many trials, but he never lost his focus or his commitment to his goals. Nothing could ever sidetrack his progress or cause him to change his opinion. Odysseus goes on to say that he “made it” with one feature (l.188-191). Homer is stating that Odysseus is like a bed that he has made himself. It is not the fault of anyone else. Odysseus was very independent when he first started building his character. It is easy for him not to let others influence him. Homer uses a strong diction to highlight how Odysseus is a particularly intelligent person because he built his character himself. This phrase emphasizes the fact that Odysseus has all of his morality and intelligence within himself.
Odysseus’s description of how the bed is constructed (l.190-194) can be compared to his own character. He begins with the “bole”, which is the trunk of an Olive tree. Odysseus is represented by this trunk. It “grew strongly” and became “thick as a column”. Homer’s word choice “column”, conjures up an image of Odysseus as colossal and as beautiful as a Greek Marble Column. Odysseus uses the phrase “I built up my chambers all around” to represent his character, intellect, and body. Odysseus was perfecting his body, soul and mind until he became a man. The “closed stones” are Odysseus mental coherence, while the “compacted door” is the link between his intellect and physical actions. Odysseus showed that he could open “compacted doors” to his mind when he came up with the idea to blind Cyclops.
Odysseus claims that he perfected his bed after constructing it (and his character). (l.195-201). He “cut down the leaves on the long-leaved fig tree and trimmed up the trunk starting at the roots”; metaphorically speaking, he finished his mind. Homer uses the “brazen-adze” to plan the bed. It is a sign of perfection. The brazen adze, a brass ax with a head mounted at 90 degrees, is a tool that looks like an ax. Odysseus “trues it (the bed’s plane) straight to a chalkline” with this tool. Homer’s choice of word “true” highlights Odysseus’s commitment to himself. The construction of the bed is summarized in the phrase “I started here and built it until I was done” which shows how Odysseus, who had a natural intellect, built on that intelligence until he could match the mental and physically talents of immortals. The “gold, ivory, and silver” that he decorates the bed with represent his honor, affluence and attractiveness.
Odysseus concludes the description by saying “there’s its (the bed) character…moved [it] elsewhere”(l. 202 – 204). Odysseus contradicts himself by saying that the bed is strong and will not change. Homer wants to show the reader that Odysseus is now doubting his own abilities for the very first time. Odysseus does not know what to do now, despite the fact that he is a man with more mental fortitude than any other mortal. Odysseus is convinced that someone has “cut under the stump and moved (the bed) it elsewhere” and this would be equivalent to a person removing and disposing his entire physical and mental power. A powerful conclusion follows a monologue that explains his great strength.
Homer’s diction gives Odysseus a desperate, anxious tone by giving him words like “I am weak” and “I have no strength”. Homer’s use of language also allows for a bed-related passage to reflect a character’s mental power. Homer sends the message that even men who are the strongest have weaknesses. These weaknesses will cause the suffering and the journeys of their lives. Odysseus is a man who loves Penelope. This love makes him return to his home and reclaim his family.