Part 3

Everytime I've read the poem or seen one of the movies I always look forward to the scene where Odysseus strings the bow. There's such a build in that moment. All of this time and it leads up to a simple physical action, demonstrating his superior strength and grace. Of all the weapons it's a bow. It seems like a unique choice, a weapon specific to Odysseus, that you don't see him use once in the entire poem. There's also the just absolute awe and then mayhem that occurs after. He's a force of nature through the entire poem. He leaves a wake everywhere he goes. He's so powerful that he is the focus of the greek world as well as the world of the gods. There's also the beauty of the question of the bed. The suggestion of an immovable union between the two of them. And the organic association with their love. Fate plays a huge role in the poem, and Penelope and Odysseus are described as not just perfect together but meant for each other. It's sort of like the original tough love couple.