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The Unity of the Odyssey
Book by Dimock, George
Hardcover
First published September 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 22, 2019
Mis-shelved as “want to read”, apparently I consulted with the text extensively either for school or for a group discussion. But the book is pleasurable enough for me to reread cover to cover anyway.
I don’t agree with all the interpretations here, but that’s not an issue, I’m still grateful for books that “argue” with my interpretation and point out details I’ve missed.
People who insist The Odyssey has to be written by a woman might not like this one. Dimock dismisses those who argue Penelope recognized Odysseus and knowingly played along to entrap the suitors; if women helped they helped unknowingly, merely by chance and luck. Dimock also argues male aggressiveness and assertiveness over women are proper and positive developments, especially if they were previously too docile (Telemachus, Alcinoos). Piracy and cattle-raiding are also defended as complete non-issue. In fact, the central theme here is that Odysseus is a bringer of pain, the embodiment of hostile force, and the poem justifies hostility as satisfying and just in face of nemesis. So Zeus’s hostility to Odysseus is a kind of gift, a chance for him to prove himself and become a song, and for Athena to play out her divine revenge plot, as opposed to anger against Odysseus.
But what about injustice for the so called “usurpers,” the Argives owed compensations for their kins who died following Odysseus to Troy? The grandparents seeking justice for the killing of their sons and grandsons? How is peace at the expense of one side of the conflict “justice”?
I don’t agree with all the interpretations here, but that’s not an issue, I’m still grateful for books that “argue” with my interpretation and point out details I’ve missed.
People who insist The Odyssey has to be written by a woman might not like this one. Dimock dismisses those who argue Penelope recognized Odysseus and knowingly played along to entrap the suitors; if women helped they helped unknowingly, merely by chance and luck. Dimock also argues male aggressiveness and assertiveness over women are proper and positive developments, especially if they were previously too docile (Telemachus, Alcinoos). Piracy and cattle-raiding are also defended as complete non-issue. In fact, the central theme here is that Odysseus is a bringer of pain, the embodiment of hostile force, and the poem justifies hostility as satisfying and just in face of nemesis. So Zeus’s hostility to Odysseus is a kind of gift, a chance for him to prove himself and become a song, and for Athena to play out her divine revenge plot, as opposed to anger against Odysseus.
But what about injustice for the so called “usurpers,” the Argives owed compensations for their kins who died following Odysseus to Troy? The grandparents seeking justice for the killing of their sons and grandsons? How is peace at the expense of one side of the conflict “justice”?
April 23, 2011
I think I may be one of about five people in the world who would enjoy this book, but holy cats, I LOVE IT. Dimock's analysis of the text is transparently written and possesses both a deft clarity and a thorough synthesis of literary and cultural influences. Hello, UofC sentence! My favorite part was the explication of the Greek, and getting some insight into how beautifully the language supports the story. The puns! The wordplay! Ohmygosh, it makes me want to try learning Greek all over again.
I won't lie, the bit where Dimock tried to explain that the lotus-eaters were actually vegetarians luring the Ithakan sailors into a meat-free life was a little hilarious. But this book is shot through with gloriousness, and even if you're only glancingly familiar with Homer, this would be, I think, a really neat critical read.
I won't lie, the bit where Dimock tried to explain that the lotus-eaters were actually vegetarians luring the Ithakan sailors into a meat-free life was a little hilarious. But this book is shot through with gloriousness, and even if you're only glancingly familiar with Homer, this would be, I think, a really neat critical read.
December 12, 2013
I read this along with teaching the Odyssey this semester.
November 2, 2007
Great book on the Odyssey. If you only read one book of Homer criticism on the Odyssey....
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews