The outcome of any situation depends on what appears to be true, and how one perceives ones surroundings. In the Odyssey, Homer stresses the idea of being cautious of ones encompassment by presenting situations in which things seem one way but in reality are completely opposite. Depending on what god was for or against a particular character, that person could either trust appearances, or be weary of their perception. In the Odyssey, when characters chose to rely on their senses alone, the outcome of their situation generally ended with difficulty and loss. However, when a character was cautions, and displayed virtues such as honesty and hospitality, he or she was rewarded.
One type of guise deception put on was that of good and evil. Circes, at first, acted very hospitable, but then turned everyone into swine, “She [Circes] opened her bright doors, inviting them [Odysseus’ men] within; and—fools—they followed… They’d taken on the bodies—bristles, snouts—and grunts of hogs, yet kept the human minds they had before.” (5.198). Although this deception is not of Odysseus’ will, his decision of only sending a few of his crew to her house at first enabled him to see past her guise. If he had taken all of his men to her originally, they would have all been turned to pigs and eaten, and that would have ended the story. But Odysseus, wisely, evaluated the situation, and looked past the “shadows.”
When Odysseus arrived in Thebes, Athena manipulated his appearance. She made him look tall and strong and, at one point, invisible, “She [Athena] wrapped him [Odysseus} in a mist so thick that none among the spirited Phaeacians… might insult or mock his ways and ask who he was.” (7.31). As a result of having won Athena’s admiration beforehand, Odysseus was not scorned or beaten for walking as a stranger through a foreign city. Because Odysseus was Athena’s favorite, the Phaeacians pitied him and provided him with a safe passage home.
When Odysseus arrived home disguised as a beggar his intention was to determine which servants were the most faithful, and which ones deserved to die. “Dear guest, I’d never slight the least of strangers.” (Emaeus to Odysseus; 14.274). When Odysseus visited the swineherd, Emaeus, he was treated as a most honored guest, and was even given Emaeus’ own bed to sleep on. On the contrary, as soon as the goatherd, Melanthius, saw Odysseus, Melanthius mocked his master. “The stupid goatherd spat these words, then kicked Odysseus on the hip.” (17.344) The integrity, or lack there of, displayed by these men when Odysseus appeared humbly ultimately determined their fates.
Odysseus’ world was a place of false appearances and shadows, much like our own. Every step had to be taken with careful consideration and thought. Although many trudged to their fates with much certainty not realizing they were running towards the edge of a cliff. I believe one of Homers purposes for the Odyssey was to show how inconsistent “truth” is. Through the guise of appearance vs. reality, he relates us, the reader, to our surroundings. After all, our judgment of the world is what determines the outcome of our lives. Homer opens up our eyes allowing us to truly see our situation, just as Homer had to do in order to restore peace and happiness to his house and heart.
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