Oh Robert, you are ever so good..! I love thé poem, it’s teasing cadence, the back and forth lilt of it - it puts me in the boat sailing to Ithaca! I love the last line. Really interesting piece…
Lovely Robert. I am not sure about the film, though the actors are very fine!! I like the Greek word you use to illustrate your point, and the poem too. Well done.
Thank you Mary. You’ll have to let me know which one you like best. When I was younger I loved the violence and heroism in the Iliad, but now that I’m older I come back to the Odyssey more.
Nostos. I love this Robert. Kavafy’s poem dancing in my head. The final test of Penelope after Odysseus travels from ego (Iliad) to soul (Odyssey) -slaying some trojans, monsters, suitors of mind on the way to being twice born into the heart and spirit of home. My question is what lies beyond Ithaka?
Thank you Jamie. I love Cavafy. He’s one of my favorites. In the book Odysseus says he has to go on a final journey. He has to travel north and bury an oar to settle his dispute with Poseidon.
Though I did not entirely agree with Pasolini's interpretation, I don't think his artistic choices were made in poor faith or poor understanding, but rather with intentions to convey a different way of telling the story. Again, this is not the kind of interpretation of classics I enjoy or look forward to, but I made an exception for this given how well the resolution captured the spirit of Penelope's grace and I think the essence of "homophrosyne."
Thank you Wil. I did really like that last scene of them together. It’s what the whole movie should have been leading to, that reconciliation. The dialogue there is beautiful and touching. She’s going to help him bear the burden of his troubles. They’re going to heal together. I just didn’t buy it when they got there, although I wanted to. I’ll check it out your post today and see your thoughts on it.
Really good stuff! I've read the poem(s), now I guess I need to see the movie.
Your article reminded me of an old Wallace Stevens poem, one of my all-time favorites: https://www.brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/the-world-as-meditation
I love that poem Bill. Stevens is a favorite of mine. It paints such a beautiful picture of her resolve, of the way she thinks as she waits for him.
Oh Robert, you are ever so good..! I love thé poem, it’s teasing cadence, the back and forth lilt of it - it puts me in the boat sailing to Ithaca! I love the last line. Really interesting piece…
That’s very kind of you to say Wrenness. Thank you.
Lovely Robert. I am not sure about the film, though the actors are very fine!! I like the Greek word you use to illustrate your point, and the poem too. Well done.
Finished the Aeneid. Halfway through the Iliad. You make me look forward to the Odyssey.
Thank you Mary. You’ll have to let me know which one you like best. When I was younger I loved the violence and heroism in the Iliad, but now that I’m older I come back to the Odyssey more.
The end lands just right. Nice use of assonance/internal rhyme there. Harmony matching harmony.
Thank you Tullius. I wrote it awhile ago, and while I think it’s clunky in places, I do think the ending is the best part.
I enjoyed your piece. Thanks!
Thank you Sue.
Nostos. I love this Robert. Kavafy’s poem dancing in my head. The final test of Penelope after Odysseus travels from ego (Iliad) to soul (Odyssey) -slaying some trojans, monsters, suitors of mind on the way to being twice born into the heart and spirit of home. My question is what lies beyond Ithaka?
Thank you Jamie. I love Cavafy. He’s one of my favorites. In the book Odysseus says he has to go on a final journey. He has to travel north and bury an oar to settle his dispute with Poseidon.
Indeed. Was having some metaphorical fun. Thanks for sharing.
Though I did not entirely agree with Pasolini's interpretation, I don't think his artistic choices were made in poor faith or poor understanding, but rather with intentions to convey a different way of telling the story. Again, this is not the kind of interpretation of classics I enjoy or look forward to, but I made an exception for this given how well the resolution captured the spirit of Penelope's grace and I think the essence of "homophrosyne."
I wrote a review on my substack: https://wilprice.substack.com/p/my-thoughts-on-the-return I would be curious of your thoughts on it, as you clearly have a mastery of Homer's work.
Thank you Wil. I did really like that last scene of them together. It’s what the whole movie should have been leading to, that reconciliation. The dialogue there is beautiful and touching. She’s going to help him bear the burden of his troubles. They’re going to heal together. I just didn’t buy it when they got there, although I wanted to. I’ll check it out your post today and see your thoughts on it.
Look forward to seeing it and thinking about the comments here.
I definitely see how you could feel it was unearned.
Ah this one gets two?