The Role of Justice and the Banquet in The Odyssey
Discusses the major themes of justice and hospitality in regards to the climax of the epic, the penultament battle of Odysseus and the suitors.
In every novel we read or film that we watch there comes a point when everything seems to fit nicely together. That point can be labeled as the dramatic climax. The height of the story has been reached and all the events that have occurred are confronted and dealt with at this time. The major themes shine the brightest here and most of our understanding of the work centers around that single event. The dramatic climax of The Odyssey is the battle of Odysseus and Telemachus against the suitors. This event signals the height of the epic with the unification of the two major themes, the idea that justice always prevails and the sacred nature of the banquet.
Human nature in every sense requires that the fair and just cause always triumphs. This was the cause that Odysseus was fighting for against the suitors, who symbolized the death and destruction of the civilized way of life practiced by the Greeks. At the same time they also were a constant threat to the lives of Odysseus and Telemachus. Had the suitors discovered the identity of Odysseus they would have killed him on the spot. Also, on more than one occasion they had unsuccessfully attempted to murder Telemachus. The first attempt was during his return voyage from Pylos and Sparta. The other was to be executed at the prince?s own palace, but that plan was halted by Penelope. That alone in most societies, even ancient ones, is a great offense requiring harsh repercussions. Additionally, the suitors committed certain crimes against humanity, such as the soon to be mentioned destruction of the principle of the banquet. For all to end well the proper administration of justice is vital. Greek culture lays that job upon the all-powerful gods, their supreme beings of the universe; therefore they make sure that justice always prevails. This can be witnessed in the direct intervention of Athena during the battle with the suitors. By itself that is a testimonial for the deaths of the suitors being just and the righteous cause coming out on top. We are raised from birth to think this, believing that good always defeats evil, and The Odyssey reinforces that archetype.
That leads to the second theme, the interruption, perversion, or desecration of the banquet in Greek culture was a signal of chaos. Conversely, a great feast would symbolize social order in their world. To understand the overall importance of the banquet in the epic, one must know how highly it was regarded. In ancient Greece the banquet itself was the traditional scene of hospitality, a theme in the novel that closely parallels the banquet. That said, the behavior of the suitors in regard to the idea of the banquet was completely and utterly unacceptable. Admission to the meal was a sign of peace and protection while at the same time a creation of significant bonds among those attending. The practices of the suitors were contrary to these widely held ideas of the time. Attending a feast held by these lowlifes was dangerous because crime and corruption were always at the forefront. On several occasions Odysseus in disguise attended these banquets and had witnessed the crimes the suitors had committed against the concept of the banquet. At one of these, Odysseus is almost hit by the ill-fated end a stool thrown through the air. The irony of it all is that Odysseus interrupted the suitors banquet with their untimely murders just as they had ruined the principle of the banquet. In essence, the suitors themselves represented a grave threat to a way of life that the Greeks held dear. Their deaths restored the purity of the banquet feast.
The battle leading to the deaths of the suitors combine the Greek virtues of justice and the banquet. The need for justice is universal making their deaths a necessity in the epic. It is they who committed the crimes and require punishment. On the other hand, the concept of the banquet is one that is unique to the culture of ancient Greece, yet just as important as the aforementioned idea of justice. Again, the suitors? deaths allow for the banquet to be returned to its former glory. By today?s standards their executions may seem like an overreaction, however, if we had the same convictions about our own beliefs there would be much more honor and dignity within our society.
Bibliography
1. Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Group, 1996.
