Victor Kwan
IB English Higher 1
Period 5
Ms. Graciano
World Lit 2
Word Count: 1228 words (not including list of sources)
The Antagonist
The Odyssey is an epic depicting the journey of Odysseus’ homecoming; it is concerned with the result and the consequences of the Trojan War. Homer wrote The Odyssey approximately in between the years of 700 B.C – 500 B.C. In the epic, Odysseus is returning from the Trojan War but is cursed by the God, Poseidon, after he blinded his son Polyphemus. He is exiled to wander the Aegean Sea aimlessly for ten years before returning to his kingdom; during this time suitors from all over the Greece came to live in Odysseus’ hall to seek his wife’s hand, Penelope for marriage. In the epic, The Odyssey, there is no primary antagonist although there are many antagonists. Antinoos is one of the major antagonists, he is the leader of the suitors who are waiting to marry Odysseus’ wife, Penelope. Greek culture is one that is the core of all Western and Latin civilization. It is one that respects kindness, honor and hospitality towards strangers. The Greek culture is an old one lasting more than 2,000 years. Antinoos is the most arrogant out of all the leaders; he represents the characteristics, which are scorned by the Greeks, in addition Homer never portrays him sympathetically.
Antinoos is one of the supporting characters in the story shown as an evil character to give contrast against the determination of Odysseus. He is the leader of all the suitors and he openly plans to assassinate Telemakhos, Odysseus’ son. He sees Telemakhos as his main obstacle to clear in order to win Penelope’s heart. Although he seeks to marry Penelope he does not mind receiving attention and advances from Penelope’s maids “But the women giggled / glancing back and forth laughing in his face… / … Her bold voice rang now in Odysseus’ ears” (XVIII.395-404). He is a very treacherous man, and comes up with the plan to send Telemakhos in a wild goose chase. He convinces Telemakhos to set sail to foreign lands in search of his father. During Telemakhos’ journey he hopes Telemakhos would come to a perilous end. He is a villainous man who justifies his evil behavior by distorting the good intentions of other people. He is always constantly harassing Telemakhos and Penelope; he can be deemed as a major antagonist because it is only he that is the enemy of Odysseus, Penelope and Telemakhos. He symbolizes foolishness, brashness, and an aura of extreme arrogance. During the Assembly initiated by Telemakhos “The call sang out and the men came streaming in; / and when they filled the assembly ground, he entered.” (II.9-10). In this assembly Telemakhos demands that the suitors leave Odysseus’ estate soon and in good manner so there would be no need of bloodshed. Although Antinoos is so stubborn that he rebukes Telemakhos and incurs the wrath of Athena. During this Assembly a pair of eagles appeared in the sky and started to fight. The soothsayer Halitherses interprets this sign as a sign that Odysseus is returning to his homeland and will slay all the suitors, “Now Zeus who views the wide world sent a sign to him, / launching a pair of eagles… and in havoc / dropped on the heads of the crowd a deathly omen.” (II.155-160), he advises them that they should leave without any bloodshed now. Antinoos does not take the soothsayer seriously telling him to go away and speak to children in book II “Old man go tell the omens for your children / at home and try keep them out of trouble...” (II.188-189). this is a sign of his foolishness and arrogance. He condemns Penelope for seducing them although does not choose to marry either one of them “Here is an instance of her trickery / …she makes a name for herself, / but you can feel the loss it means for you.” (II.100-134), a sign of his arrogance.
