Have you noticed the importance of narrators in the Odyssey?
If someone reads the Odyssey we notice there are many characters that narrate a story.
We firstly have Phemius, the self-taught singer who sings against his will for the suitors the tales of the heroes of the Trojan War especially their fate after the war
Second we have Nestor, Helen and Menelaus that focus on Odysseus in particular or the events that surrounded him
Then we have Demodocus the blind singer of the Phaeakes who sings the events of the Trojan War
Last but not least Odysseus himself who tells us his own story the infamous Odyssey
All the narrators or storytellers cause something to happen or emotions to their audience. For example Phemius causes Penelope to come down, for us to see and hear her. Helen Menelaus and Nestor introduce us to our hero. Demodocus is causing the reaction of Odysseus that reveals him to his audience and forces him to tell his story. However something differentiates Odysseus from the other narrators within the Odyssey
Odysseus tells his own story
And that shows to his narrative. Odysseus is not just aligning some facts or information he knows. He is telling his own story: traumatic events that happened to him, memories that scarred him, memories that seem pleasing to him...and that shows to "inconsistencies" to his narrative
He speaks positively or negatively in several places showing the ups and downs of his mood as he speaks
Some parts of his narrative he slides over (see for example Ismarus) as if he doesn't want to talk about it or elaborate and extends other parts (see Polyphemus)
Sometimes he speaks positively of himself or his men and at others he berates them depending on how the events of his narration go
Oftentimes he stops to breathe and the Phaeakes encourage him to go on and he does collecting his thoughts
At times he inserts some small information to the story while others he omits it
He starts by speaking about his homeland. He is nostalgic, positive, dreamlike even
He becomes dryer as we get to the events of the trip
He sometimes needs to stop and collect himself
He is encouraged to speak which means he hesitates
He stops sometimes to possibly enjoy the praise he receives
He waits for people to stop talking or ask him questions and assist his narrative
Homer didn't just give us a flashback story of someone speaking in first person. HE GAVE US A LIVE NARRATION a narrator who appears to speak in real time with all the "flaws" of the conversations such as the fact not all events are given the same severity, the pauses and all.
I believe this is a massive reason why the Odyssey is being retold and loved. Because imagine how lively it was in antiquity to have your narrator pause and speak and think instead of directly singing the whole thing like someone else telling it but instead we see Odysseus live being affected by the emotions of his own narration and adding or omitting details. We can almost imagine him tearing up or being angry or sad or happy or relieved as he speaks!
HOMER YOU WERE A FUCKING GENIUS!
Thank you @annoyedbreadstick for the inspiration for this!
ellievsbear
