Nausicaa And Odysseus Relationship

Nausicaa's encounter with odysseus; analysis

At the beginning of book six thanks to minerva we are presented with a dramatic scene between the desperate battered hero, odysseus and a young fragile girl, Nausicaa. A confrontation between two polar opposites could go in any direction. Odysseus displays cunning intelligence in order to save his fate.

Minerva lures nausicaa encourages nausicaa to the resting place of odysseus with not only thoughts of pleasing her father and mother but the idea of marriage.

"Nausicaa, what can your mother have been about, to have such a lazy daughter? Here are your clothes all lying in disorder, yet you are going to be married almost immediately, and should not only be well dressed yourself, but should find

Odysseus's recent experiences with Circe and Calypso attempting to bewitch him or keep him prisoner has scared him. After Odysseus has heard voices and begins to wonder whether he is in the presence of mountain goddesses or humans. Odysseus asks himself

“What kind of people have I come amongst? Are they cruel, savage, and uncivilized, or hospital and humane” (6.119-120)?

Odysseus's fear is of reason Considering Odysseus experiences with the Cyclopes, Laestrygonians, Lotus Eaters and Circe.

Odysseus decides he must approach them and now has to devise a plan on how to approach them. Keep in mind odysseus is naked and beaten from fighting the sea and being stranded. Odysseus is even described as “some lion of the wilderness that stalks about exalting his strength and defying both wind and rain; his eyes glare as he prowls in quest of oxen, sheep, or deer, for he is famished” (6.129-134).

One can imply that a bunch of maidens wouldn't respond well to that sight. Odysseus breaks off a branch to cover himself and approaches them. “Odysseus is well aware of the sexual threat he poses” (jones

As any reasonable person would guess they ran for the hills. All of them scattered except nausicaa who had been given courage from minerva. Odysseus from afar pleads his case

“I implore your aid-but tell me are you a goddess or are you a mortal woman? If you are a goddess and dwell in heaven, I can only conjecture that you are Jove's daughter Diana, for your face and figure resemble none but hers; if on the other hand you are a mortal and live on earth, thrice happy are your father and mother—thrice happy, too, are your brothers and sisters” (6.149-155).

The speech could not have been executed more perfectly; asking for aid, flattering her, imploring she has brothers to protect her giving her assurance, while complimenting himself making him appealing. “If any speech possible for a naked hero in front of a young girl, then odysseus has made it, and when he goes on to tell her his troubles and beg for her assistance, we know that nausicaa knows that this is the kind of man she can bring home to mother” (Clark