[viii] The sturdy bow

[Henry Li]

[viii] The sturdy bow
a) Identify what the symbol refers to in the Odyssey and what it
means.

The sturdy bow refers to the one owned by Odysseus – one which cannot
be strung by anyone other than its owner. In Book 21, Penelope
presents the bow as final a challenge to the Suitors because it is
highly likely that all of the suitors will fail. The person who can
string the bow the easiest and shoot through twelve axes will get her
hand in marriage.

Antinous, Eupeithe’s son, called out: ‘Come forward, friends, one by
one, from left to right, beginning from where the wine is poured.’
This was agreed, with the result that the first man to get up was
Leodes, son of Oenops, who used to officiate at their sacrifices and
always sat by the great win-bowl in the far corner. Unlike the rest,
he abhorred the Suitors’ recklessness, and their conduct filled him
with indignation. Rising now to take the first turn, he picked up the
bow and arrow, took his stand on the threshold and tried the bow. But
long before he could string it, the effort of bending it tired out his
delicate, unhardened hands. (Book 21, 140-151)

As expected, none of the Suitors manage to accomplish anything thereby
meaning none of them are as competent in terms of strength, accuracy,
experience, and etc. In the end, it is Odysseus who appears,
disguised, and accomplishes the feat.

While they were talking Odysseus, master of stratagems, had picked up
the great bow and checked it all over. As a minstrel skilled at the
lyre and in song easily stretches a string round a new leather strap,
fixing the twisted sheep-gut at both ends, so the strung the great bow
with effort or haste. Then with his right hand he tested the string,
and it sang as he plucked it with a sound like a swallow’s note. (Book
21, 406-412)

The bow is essentially the representation of the hero Odysseus’ power.

b) What might its parallels be in the wider realms of global
narrative?

This archetype appears in other narratives such as King Arthur’s
Excalibur where only Arthur is able to extract it from the rock and
wield it. Also, I believe (not a knowledge claim) that in the Harry
Potter series, the wands also have to be with a specific owner.