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An Analysis of Odysseus' Pedestrian Journeys in the Odyssey

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An Analysis of Odysseus' Pedestrian Journeys in the Odyssey From Fleet to Foot: An Analysis of Odysseus’ Pedestrian Journeys in the Odyssey by Jessica Higgins A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Classics University of Toronto © Copyright by Jessica Higgins 2015 From Fleet to Foot: An Analysis of Odysseus’ Pedestrian Journeys in the Odyssey Jessica Higgins Doctor of Philosophy Department of Classics University of Toronto 2015 Abstract This dissertation examines the narratives of two pedestrian journeys made by Odysseus in the Odyssey in apposition to the Apologue’s narrative of his fleet’s destruction. The first journey takes place on Scheria (6.254-7. 135) and the second on Ithaca (17.182-17.341). Though the Phaeacian episode, and that of Odysseus’ return to Ithaca have been studied extensively, the pedestrian narratives within them have generally been overlooked. These narratives depict the hero in lowly circumstances, enduring the anonymity and dishonour that other heroes would not. I thus argue that the walking journeys serve a characterizing function. My analysis is informed by spatial and phenomenological theory. Odysseus’ fleet is interpreted as a “centre” of Hellenic culture that implaces him and its destruction as his social and spatial displacement. I conclude that Odysseus’ displacement is both a consequence and a reflection of an overall shift in his ethos from one that was balanced between the active, (violent and assertive) and passive (enduring and deferential) to one that favours passivity. For Odysseus, walking produces ambivalent results. Pedestrianism, in the ancient world, is born of necessity and lowliness. Nevertheless, walking allows the pedestrian a great degree of engagement, both somatic and mental, with his surroundings. The two pedestrian journeys under consideration are read as narrative doublets. Both begin with the hero in lowly circumstances, on the social and spatial margins of society. They conclude with his (re)integration into the ii respective communities. But while the Phaeacian journey, through his somatic engagement with the cultural landscape, leads to the hero’s integration into the Hellenic-type society, the Ithacan walk is part of his beggar’s disguise and highlights his exteriority. During this walk Odysseus avoids engagement with the landscape and suppresses signs of his familiarity with it. Consequently, the disguised hero is able enter his palace, to test his household while incognito, and ultimately to take revenge on Penelope’s suitors. Overall the pedestrian journeys are read as emblematic of Odysseus’ mental and physical endurance. These narratives are seen as the Odyssey’s celebration of its hero’s uncommon ability to passively endure and to prioritize nostos over heroic glory. iii Acknowledgments The support and guidance that I have received during this process have been such clear and steady beacons on a sometimes-murky path. As I reflect back on this journey, I realize that I ought to individually acknowledge the people who have helped me along the way. I am extremely grateful to my supervisor Dr. Johnathan Burgess whose thoughtfulness, keen insight, and ingenuity have been much appreciated through the years. I have long admired his work and his willingness to engage with very new readings of very old texts. Without his patient guidance, this project would not have seen completion. My committee members, Dr. Victoria Wohl and Dr. Dimitri Nakassis, have been wonderfully constructive and insightful guides and for this I owe them great gratitude. I also very much appreciate the involvement of my external examiner, Dr. Alex Purves, in this project. Her perceptive comments and questions have both clarified and complicated my view of the Odyssey. I must likewise thank Dr. Alison Keith, who directed my Minor Field comprehensive exam and who sat as internal examiner during my defense. It has been a pleasure to be her student and to work with her so closely. My thanks are also consummately with Dr. Riemer Faber from the University of Waterloo for his candor and constant support. In the years that I have been at the University of Toronto, I have been fortunate to develop such close bonds with my classmates. I would like to take this opportunity to record my thanks for posterity. Megan Campbell, Sarah McCallum, Miranda Robinson, Robert McCutcheon, Melanie Racette-Campbell, and Kevin Lawson have been the perfect compatriots. I cannot thank them enough for their support and for their wonderful ability to get together and forget about everything else. Above all, I must thank my family. Theirs was often a thankless task. From sitting through phone calls in which I explained my latest roadbump, to their honest but not-so-successful attempts at understanding why anyone would write about such an esoteric topic, they have stood by my side. My mother and father have supported me and encouraged me without question and without reservation. They will always have my deepest gratitude and love. I must also thank my sister iv Stephanie, brother-in-law Matt, nephew Cole, and niece Lucy for being the most hilariously distracting family members that a PhD student could have. They constantly challenge me to peak back in on real life; everyone needs that reminder. I owe my greatest debt of gratitude to my husband, Nick. You are right when you say that together we will go places. And I will never lose my way because with you, I am home. v Table of Contents Chapter 1—Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1 Walking .................................................................................................................................... 3 2 The Sea, Ships, and Maritime Travel in Archaic Greek Literature .......................................... 9 3 Theories and Methodology ..................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Modern Spatial Theory and Phenomenology .................................................................. 15 3.2 Narratology ...................................................................................................................... 20 4 Outline of the Work ................................................................................................................ 21 Chapter 2—From Fleet to Foot ..................................................................................................... 25 1 Odysseus’ Apologue: Fleet to foot .......................................................................................... 30 1.1 The Cyclopeia: From Active to Passive and Back Again ................................................ 34 1.2 From Aeolia to Ogygia: Odysseus’ Endurance ............................................................... 42 2 Ogygia: Landscape of Stagnation and Isolation ..................................................................... 54 Chapter 3—Odysseus on Foot in Scheria ..................................................................................... 69 1 Setting the Scene in Scheria: Odysseus’ Outsideness (Exteriority) ....................................... 73 2 Nausicaa and Odysseus: Proxemics, Non-verbal Communication and the Pedestrian Journey ................................................................................................................................................ 83 3 Two Feet In/To Fit In: Odysseus’ Experiential and Place-making Journey to the Phaeacian Palace ............................................................................................................................................ 93 4 Nature and Culture, Periphery and Centre, Outsideness and Insideness: The Ramifications of Odysseus’ Centripetal Movement ................................................................................................. 98 Chapter 4—Odysseus on Foot on Ithaca .................................................................................... 107 1 Insideness on the Periphery: Hospitality, and Ithaca’s Unique “Ethical Geography” ........ 113 2 Towards the Centre, Away from Belonging: Periphery and Centre, “Insideness” and outsideness .................................................................................................................................. 127 3 Odysseus’ Spatial Relations: Proxemics and Non-verbal Communication .......................... 142 Chapter 5—Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 150 References ................................................................................................................................... 157 vi 1 Chapter 1 – Introduction This dissertation examines the narratives of two pedestrian journeys made by Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey. Both walking journeys take place after the hero has lost his ships and companions during his maritime wanderings through unknown and exotic places; the first journey takes place on the Phaeacian island of Scheria in Books 6 through 7 (6.254-7.135) and the second, in Book 17, begins on the outskirts of Ithaca and ends at the hero’s palace (17.182- 17.341). Both of these journeys will be investigated in apposition to Odysseus’ maritime adventures in the Apologue in order to consider their relationships to the plot of the Odyssey and their effect on the characterization of Odysseus. Though the Phaeacian episode (Books 6-8) and the episode encompassing Odysseus’ return
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