Odyssey Books 6-10

Nausicaa encounters Odysseus on the beach at Scher while she is washing her clothes after Athena appeared in her dream telling her that she is lazy and needs to make more of an appearance for the men that wait on her. Odysseus tells Nausicaa how he has been stranded in the water for 20 days. She reacts sympathetically and tells her maids to clothe him. When Odysseus finds out that Nausicaa is the daughter of King Alcinous his automatic assumption is that he would show hatred towards him because he is a foreigner. This reflects on his past experiences with war and violence. When asked by King Alcinous how he was clothed he says,  "she is not to blame. She did tell me to follow along with the maids, but I was ashamed and afraid, for I thought you might perhaps be displeased if you saw me. Every human being is sometimes a little suspicious and irritable."  The peace and harmony he encounters is unfamiliar and reliving to him. He is surprised that King Alcinous and Queen Arete take such a huge likeing to him. King Alcinous insists he marries his daughter, Nausicaa."I am not the kind of man to get angry about nothing; it is always better to be reasonable; but by Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, now that I see what kind of person you are, and how much you think as I do, I wish you would stay here, marry my daughter, and become my son-in-law. If you will stay I will give you a house and an estate, but no one (heaven forbid) shall keep you here against your own wish, and that you may be sure of this I will attend to-morrow to the matter of your escort..." This move represents his journey home because he is on land and in a very civilized, wealthy, home which resembles his own. He finds a guaranteed way home and his journey has begun. Odysseus embodies King Alcinous by maintaing power and authority in his home the way King Alcinous does. 


Odysseus' appearance plays a huge role in the appeal King Alcinous sees in him. "Every one was struck with the appearance of Ulysses, for Minerva had beautified him about the head and shoulders, making him look taller and stouter than he really was, that he might impress the Phaecians favourably as being a very remarkable man, and might come off well in the many trials of skill to which they would challenge him." King Alcinous really goes out of his way to ensure that Odysseus gets home saftley. He assigns "two and fifty" of his smartest sailors to help Odysseus embark on his journey. He also orders that a new ship be made to embark on the voyage. Lastly, he commands that a feast be made and his favorite singer, Demodocus obtained a "divine gift of song." Demodocus' songs are so touching and over whelming that Odysseus begins to sob, and hide his face to save him from embarrassment and humility. Odysseus is then challenged by Eurylaus to compete in their olympic games after the feast. Odysseus refuses as he wants to embark on his journey home. After being accused of not obtaining any athletic ability or will power, Odysseus replies, "Now, however, I am worn out by labour and sorrow, for I have gone through much both on the field of battle and by the waves of the weary sea; still, in spite of all this I will compete, for your taunts have stung me to the quick." His personality and morals are demonstrated. His "war-hero" mentality has been taken from him and he reacts very manly and assertively. As Odysseus is saying his goodbyes he says to Demodocus," Demodocus, there is no one in the world whom I admire more than I do you. You must have studied under the Muse, Jove's daughter, and under Apollo, so accurately do you sing the return of the Achaeans with all their sufferings and adventures. If you were not there yourself, you must have heard it all from some one who was. Now, however, change your song and tell us of the wooden horse which Epeus made with the assistance of Minerva, and which Ulysses got by stratagem into the fort of Troy after freighting it with the men who afterwards sacked the city. If you will sing this tale aright I will tell all the world how magnificently heaven has endowed you." Odysseus is taken back by his songs when he sings about the quarell between he and Achilles  Demodocus becomes a key player in Odysseus' voyage home by singing tales of Odysseus' and his men encountering sufferings and adventures. Demodocus' songs enact King Alcinous to ask about his warrior stories, past, and identity.