Calypso: An Analysis

 

Odysseus the Valiant, Godlike Odysseus, Sacker of Cities, Man of Exploits, The Wanderer… these and many other epithets were used cleverly by good ol Homer to glorify our glorious, glory chasing glory hunter Odysseus. However, with our modern-day sensitivities and understanding of gender issues, power struggles & sexuality thrown into the Thunderdome, I’d like to add another epithet for our Man of Many Sorrows… Odysseus the Survivor.

This analysis of the 5th Book of the Odyssey, Calypso, aims to take a feminist glance at the text, primarily analyzing it to establish Odysseus as a victim of sexual assault… a victim of a proto-feminist icon, Divine Calypso, Daughter of Atlas, That Nymph of the Plaited Tresses… the rapist.

As a secondary objective, the analysis shall also aim to acknowledge various literary merits of the book.

 

 
A Quick Overview

 

Before we analyze the book, it’s prudent to go over the timeline of the text itself briefly.

At Athena’s urging, the Olympians decide to end Odysseus’ suffering. Zeus sends Hermes to order Calypso to release him from her island, Ogygia, where he has been trapped for seven years. Furious but obedient, Calypso agrees, offering Odysseus supplies, assistance with building a raft, and even immortality if he stays as her consort. Odysseus refuses, longing for Ithaca and his wife, Penelope.

Poseidon, still enraged over the blinding of his son, Polyphemus, creates a storm that wrecks Odysseus’s raft as he sets sail with favorable winds. The minor sea goddess Ino helps Odysseus, who is struggling against the wild water, by urging him to swim to safety and providing him with a magical veil to keep him afloat.

After days of fighting the sea, Odysseus arrives at the coasts of Phaeacia, the home of the friendly sea faring Phaeacians. He collapses on the comforting coast and goes into a deep sleep under the shelter of trees, kind of protected from the elements, exhausted and on the verge of death. From this moment in his story, he is finally out of captivity and is back to actively pursuing his return home.

 

Themes explored

 

Justice

Book 5 begins with a minor commentary on justice and karma. Athena addresses her father Zeus in an Olympian gathering with the words, “Kindness, generosity and justice should no longer be the aims of any man who wields a royal sceptre”. Here she was talking about wise and valiant Odysseus, who, due to mostly no fault of his own in her eyes, was suffering godly wrath and misfortune and so was his family. She argued that if a man as good as him suffered such a fate, perhaps men (royal men) should just give up on being good and indulge their deadly sins. One can also construe this as Homer’s commentary on the fact that many a time men and women, most virtuous, suffer fates not at all suited to their virtuous good doings. It can also be construed as a commentary on justice and justice systems (applies to modern ones as well) where a few badmen get to escape judgment while innocents sometimes befall legal wrath.  

Destiny

Homer then brings to our notice once again the whole destiny vs free choice debacle. If one harks back to book 1, we see how Zeus proclaims how humans make bad decisions and blame the Gods for all of their problems, implying that humans have free will and can change their future. However in subsequent books as well as book 5 we see how gods themselves are seen to refer to destiny and godly intervention determining human fates. In book 5 we see Zeus fatherly rebuke Athena for pleading for Odysseus’ plight to be alleviated. He tells her that all of this is the consequence of HER plan. He then sends Hermes to convey the edict of letting Odysseus go to Calypso. Part of the edict was him asking no god to help Odysseus during his return but this was violated by multiple gods and goddesses, thus adding another layer to the whole destiny and free will debate in the epic.

 

Consent and Calypso (A) 

Calypso’s Argument

During her exchange with Hermes, Calypso protests Zeus’s command to release Odysseus, highlighting the double standards of divine justice. Male gods, she argues, frequently seduce and exploit mortal women without consequence, while she is punished for keeping a mortal lover. She cites examples like Demeter’s love for Iasion and Eos’s affair with Orion as evidence of this hypocrisy.
While her argument resonates as a critique of patriarchal power structures, her own behavior undermines her stance. Calypso’s desire to retain Odysseus isn’t about justice or equality—it’s about maintaining her control over him, mirroring the exploitative systems she critiques.

 

Consent and Calypso (B) 

Calypso’s Actions: Power and Consent

Odysseus is not a willing participant in his relationship with Calypso. His lack of consent is evident in his grief and longing for Ithaca and Penelope, described vividly: “Days found him sitting on the rocks or sand, torturing himself with tears, groans, and heartaches.” Despite Calypso’s offers of immortality and comfort, he chooses the hardship of mortal life over her companionship, underscoring his lack of emotional and physical consent.

 This dynamic parallels modern understandings of coercion, where consent in situations of power imbalance—whether between a CEO and an intern or a captor and a captive—cannot be genuine. Calypso’s dominance over Odysseus, both as a goddess and as his captor, positions her as an oppressor rather than a feminist icon.

 The episode sheds light on the universality of oppression and the corrupting nature of power. Calypso replicates the patriarchal behaviors she criticizes, using her divine authority to dominate and exploit. This mirrors the broader societal tendency where oppressed groups, when given unchecked power, can perpetuate similar systems of harm.

 Classicist Mary Beard’s observation, “We have no template for what a powerful woman looks like, except that she looks rather like a man,” is particularly relevant. Thus Calypso… she isn’t a feminist icon deserving of praise and respect… she is a bloody handprint, serving as a blood red warning for men and women alike about the consequences of power imbalances and the universality of an oppressors will to oppress.

 

Consent and Calypso (C) 

The Lesson

Ultimately, Calypso’s actions serve as a grim reminder that sexual violence and abuse of power are not gendered phenomena. Odysseus’s plight—his daily weeping and nightly suffering—underscores that victimhood can transcend traditional gender roles. His experience of sexual coercion and captivity challenges the assumption that power imbalances and sexual violence are solely masculine issues.

Odysseus’s unwavering choice to leave Calypso, even at the cost of facing mortal dangers, highlights his resilience and rejection of an oppressive dynamic. Calypso, far from being a feminist symbol, represents a perpetuation of harmful power structures, a warning about the dangers of unchecked authority, and a call to recognize the universality of consent and justice.

 

Mommies and Peace (A)

Moving on from the sexual abuse angle, we have our 2nd last element to explore, which is quite… off, given how we just talked about a female rapist. This element is women and motherhood. In the books prior to Calypso and the books succeeding it, we see what an important role women such as Athena, Ino, Nausicaa etc play in dear Odysseus’ life. Death and rebirth are major theme’s and part of the internal plot of Odyssey and women play a major role in it. Odysseus frequently transitions from destructive, "masculine" forces (like Poseidon’s storms) to nurturing, "feminine" sanctuaries. For example, Ino saves him from the sea with her veil, leading him to the safety of Phaeacia’s shores. Similarly, Calypso rescues him after his shipwreck, offering sustenance and shelter on Ogygia. These periods of refuge echo maternal care—protection, feeding, and rest—all of which signify rebirth and renewal, vital to Odysseus’ journey of survival and homecoming.

 

Mommies and Peace (B) 

The Symbolism of the Olive Bush

The wild olive and domesticated olive growing from the same stem is one of the most poignant symbols in the epic, rich with layered meaning.

 

Sacred to Athena: The olive tree is emblematic of Athena, Odysseus’ divine protector. Seeking shelter beneath it underscores Athena’s constant guidance and protection.

 Symbolism in Greek Theology: The olive embodies peace, fertility, new beginnings, hospitality (xenia), and marriage—perfectly aligning with Odysseus’ situation. His sleep beneath the tree is peaceful, heralding the relative peace of his eventual return. The olive also foreshadows his new beginning, the reclaiming of his household, and the fertility of his estate.

 Duality of the Olives: The twin olives, one wild and one cultivated, symbolize the duality of feminine forces in Odysseus’ life. The wild olive represents Calypso, who shelters him in her raw, untamed manner. The domesticated olive represents Athena and Penelope, symbols of order, protection, and home. This duality reinforces the feminine protectorate that shepherds Odysseus through his trials.

 Connection to Penelope: The olive also nods to Penelope, whose steadfast love awaits Odysseus. Their marital bed, famously built around an olive trunk, becomes a defining symbol of their enduring bond. Even as Nausicaa’s potential as a bride is hinted, Odysseus’ true destination is his reunion with Penelope, cementing the olive as a motif of loyalty and constancy.

Conclusion

Book 5 of The Odyssey intricately weaves themes of justice, power, consent, and maternal influence into Odysseus’ journey, making it a compelling microcosm of the epic’s broader narrative. From Athena’s challenge to divine justice to Odysseus’ victimization by Calypso, the text explores the complexities of power dynamics, oppression, and the universality of consent.

Beyond the harrowing dynamics of abuse, the nurturing roles of women like Ino, Athena, and Nausicaa provide crucial moments of refuge and renewal, underscoring the themes of death and rebirth that permeate the epic. The symbol of the olive bush, with its duality of wild and cultivated branches, encapsulates the feminine forces guiding Odysseus—protecting him, aiding his survival, and ultimately directing him toward home and reconciliation.

Through its layered narrative, Book 5 highlights the struggles and resilience of its hero while offering a profound commentary on human and divine relationships, the ethics of power, and the enduring role of women as protectors and agents of renewal. It stands as a reminder of both the vulnerabilities and strengths that shape the human experience.