Who Is Kirke In The Odyssey

The Wonderings of a Witch Kirke is one of the few abnormalities of characters that has such a complex personality to the point that a simple description is impossible to fathom in order to accurately and entirely exemplify her as an individual. In Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, Kirke exhibits herself as a multi-layered character, with numerous points of view from which she may be scrutinized. This story portrays Kirke as an evil sea witch who uses her alluring beauty and magic to execute her everyday agendas, which typically include turning sailors who happen upon her palace into swine, due to her opinion that men are pigs. Although she is regarded as being conniving and malicious, Kirke is likeable from the reader’s perspective, as she is outspoken,

This side of her is first shown upon the arrival of Odysseus’ men to Kirke’s palace on the island of Aeaea, where they witness her enchanting appearance firsthand. Combining this with the inviting nature of her palace and the innocent, safe attitude she sells herself with, Kirke is virtually irresistible. In the story of Odysseus’ journey home, author Homer writes “‘Come, come in!’ Like sheep they followed her, but I saw deceit and stayed behind,” which validates how Kirke was able to seduce Odysseus’ men to their temporary demise with such ease (173.) Using just a quick glance and her sweet song followed by a few works of alchemy and the supernatural, Kirke is able to have men intertwined in her perfectly manicured fingers; this leads to her being fully capable of accomplishing her goal aforementioned. Therefore, the seductive nature of Kirke’s personality is in fact, for her, an

This is delineated particularly in the case of Kirke convincing Odysseus to become her temporary lover in exchange for Kirke transforming Odysseus’ men back from swine to the men they were before. Her actions in this scenario were superlatively tactical, as she bargained for what she truly wanted, Odysseus’ love, with a commodity that appeared to be of high eminence to her, the punishment of the men. In reality, although this was her objective, she was able to manipulate the situation and use her resources in order to elicit the more cherished prize. Homer writes, “She swore at once, outright, as I demanded, and after she had sworn, and bound herself, I entered Kirke’s flawless bed of love,” which depicts Kirke’s vow to Odysseus that she would reverse her magic so long as he complied as she wished (176.) This characteristic is also authenticated is the false first impression Kirke releases upon meeting, where she appears sweet and hospitable, but takes a turn for the worse when she transfigures Odysseus’ men into swine; she only reverts this change when Odysseus agrees to her negotiation, proving that she manipulates occurrences only for the prosperity of herself. Due to her manipulative essence, Kirke is often able to obtain what she yearns for, and this quality within her is presented tremendously throughout The