Re: Archetype- The Final Battle

[Harshita Singh]

The citation is incorrect. It is Book 22, 9-22.

On Sep 15, 8:17 pm, Harshita Singh <harshita_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> The final battle. The very words bring about the aura of a time of
> utmost climax and significance. The moment, where all seems to stand
> on end, where either victory or defeat is the only possible
> consequence, of which only one will prevail, where an instantaneous
> second will determine the fruit or failure of endless preparation and
> sacrifice.
>
> However, the image appearing seems to be surrounded by yelling bearded
> men on dark horses with various weapons and extensively heavy armour,
> ironically much like the story of Iliad and the Trojan War of which
> The Odyssey is a sequel. In creating the image of such an archetype,
> it seems as if the final battle has already passed!
>
> Yet, the true boundaries of a final battle are not so limited. It is
> believed by the most avid readers that the end of book is never the
> end of the story, any more than the beginning of the book is the
> creation. Regardless of when the greatest plysical battle may have
> occurred, there is never a crisis in which the most defining moment of
> climax does not arise. Despite what the conflict may be, both in a
> literary world or reality, encounter with a final decision is
> inevitable.
>
> Odysseus, who spends 10 long years in mere anticipation of the day he
> would be able to unite with his faithful wife and beloved son once
> more, comes home only to encounter the presence of ungrateful suitors
> who cherish only the power behind becoming the companion of his
> Penelope and the death of his only son, Telemachus. For Odysseus, who
> longed only for peace and reunion in Ithaca once more, that moment
> began from the end of Antinous.
>
> “Antinous had just reached for his fine cup to take a draught of wine,
> and the golden, two-handled beaker was balanced in his hands. No
> thought of bloodshed entered his head. For who could guess, there in
> that festive company, that one man, however powerful he might be,
> would bring evil death and black on him against such odds? Odysseus
> took aim and shot him at the neck. The point past clean through his
> tender throat. The cup dropped from his hand as he was hit and he
> lurched over to one side. His life-blood gushed from his nostrils in a
> turbid jet. His foot lashed out and kicked the table from him; his
> food was scattered on the ground, and bread and meat lay there in the
> dark.” Book 22, 9-17.
>
> The intensity and significance of such a period of time is clear in
> the words. Seconds before the uproar of the suitors and the
> commencement of the final battle, even with the absence of Odysseus’
> state of mind in the action, portrays the victory and defeat of the
> two parties. The fall of the bread and meat shows not only the triumph
> over the first suitor, but that of the unforgivable greed and lust
> that brought about such behaviour. The global concept of ever-
> prevailing power of truth and justice is becomes the fate of the tale.
> Even with the first swing of the bow, the victory of Odysseus is
> inevitable. The battle shall begin.

[Harshita Singh]

The final battle. The very words bring about the recollections of
times of utmost climax and significance. This is the moment where all

seems to stand on end, where either victory or defeat is the only

possible consequence.

However, the image appearing seems to consist of yelling, bearded men
on dark horses with various weapons and heavy armour, ironically
similar the Trojan War featured in The Iliad and of which The Odyssey

is a sequel. In creating the image of such an archetype, it seems as

if in the Odyssey, there is no such battle can be found! After all,
the most climatic moments of Odysseus’ life have already passed.

Yet, the true boundaries of a final battle are not limited to wars.
The end of the book is never the end of the story, any more than the

beginning of the book is the creation. Regardless of when the greatest

physical battle may have occurred in a protagonist’s life, there is

never a crisis in which the most defining moment of climax does not
arise. Despite what the conflict may be, both in a literary world or

reality, Greek or otherwise, an encounter with a final decision is
inevitable.

Odysseus, has spent 10 long years in mere anticipation of the day he

would be able to unite with his faithful wife and beloved son once

more. Yet, he comes home to encounter the presence of ungrateful
suitors who cherish only the power that would be brought about by
marriage with his Penelope and the death of his only son, Telemachus.

For Odysseus, who longed only for peace and reunion in Ithaca once

more, that moment of serenity began with the end of Antinous.

“Antinous had just reached for his fine cup to take a draught of wine,
and the golden, two-handled beaker was balanced in his hands. No
thought of bloodshed entered his head. For who could guess, there in
that festive company, that one man, however powerful he might be,
would bring evil death and black on him against such odds? Odysseus
took aim and shot him at the neck. The point past clean through his
tender throat. The cup dropped from his hand as he was hit and he
lurched over to one side. His life-blood gushed from his nostrils in a
turbid jet. His foot lashed out and kicked the table from him; his
food was scattered on the ground, and bread and meat lay there in the

dark.” Book 22, 9-22.

The intensity and significance of such a period of time is clear in
the words. Seconds before the uproar of the suitors and the
commencement of the final battle, even with the absence of Odysseus’

thoughts, the reader can foretell respective victory and defeat of the

two parties. The fall of the bread and meat shows not only the triumph

over the first suitor, but that of the unforgivable gluttony and lust
that brought about such behaviour. The global concept of the ever-
prevailing power of truth and justice becomes the fate of the tale.