Odysseus Pursuit of Nausicaa: A Tale of Love and Strategy

In Book 6 Odysseus runs into the princess of the island he had landed on, who’s name in Nausicaa. He knows he needs to impress her if he is to get her help, so he delivers a speech. In this speech he says “Are you some goddess or a mortal woman? ” This shows he is trying to flatter her through the use of religious imagery. In Homer’s Odyssey Telemachus and Odysseus are often referred to as “god-like” and this would have been seen as a prestigious compliment.

However, the fact that Odysseus suggests that he has actually mistaken her for a goddess would make her feel as if her beauty is incredible and would make her view Odysseus with more kindness. He then continues to compare her specifically to the goddess Artemis, who has been chosen by Odysseus so that he shows her respect. The fact that Artemis is a virgin goddess may help Nausicaa to feel safer around Odysseus as he is saying her beauty isn’t sexual, and this is necessary for him after his aggressive entrance, where he is described as a “mountain lion” to hunt prey.

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The use of religious imagery could also be a way to subtly remind Nausicaa that Zeus looks after the Phaeacians, and so she should show him xenia and help him so as to not anger the gods. While complimenting Nausicaa he says “Thrice blessed are your father and your mother... and your brothers too” Mentioning her family is a good tactic as the role of women in Ancient Greece would mean she would want their approval and to make them happy.

Odysseus continues to flatter Nausicaa when he says that she reminds him of “a fresh young, palm-tree” from “Delos. ” Delos is an island in Greece which was the mythological birthplace of Artemis and Apollo, yet again showing Nausicaa his amazement at her beauty. The reference to a “sapling” might be a reference to Nausicaa’s age and virginity, and could be another attempt by Odysseus to show her that he doesn’t have any intentions towards her. When talking of his travels to Delos he mentions his past, when he had a “fine army.

” This could be to ensure that Nausicaa knows he is a noble man who is wealthy, and has just had bad luck. This would make her more sympathetic than if he was a slave or a beggar. This could also be a way to insinuate that he has money, and so will pay her family back generously if they help him, as is the custom of Xenia. He says the trip was “doomed to end so fatally for me” which again evokes sympathy as he is telling the princess about his pain. This story would make her feel sorry for him and want to change his luck by helping him.

Throughout the speech he is supplicating to Nausicaa, which shows he is aware of her higher status, and would make her feel in control of the situation and therefore not be afraid of Odysseus. However, normally supplication involves touching someone’s feet or legs, and Odysseus doesn’t do this, he tells her he “dare not clasp your knees. ” This is a sign of self-awareness that he may have frightened her previously and that he is dirty and so doesn’t want to anger Nausicaa by making her unclean. This would reassure Nausicaa that Odysseus respect her and will not cross any boundaries.