The Metaphor of the Dawn in The Odyssey

Throughout Odysseus' journey, the metaphor of the dawn symbolizes his odyssey from immaturity, maturity, and fulfillment. The progression of Odysseus' development of strength is like the development of day, from dawn to dusk. The epithet, "rosy-fingered dawn" marks the beginning of Odysseus' odyssey. After his journey, the epithets "gold-throned dawn" and "bright-throned dawn" replace the "rosy-fingered dawn" however, after Odysseus returns home from his journey, he plans to rid his house of suitors, and the "rosy-fingered dawn" returns. After accomplishing the destruction of the suitors, finally, the "gold-throned dawn" replaces the "rosy-fingered dawn"

In the beginning of Odysseus' journey, the "rosy-fingered dawn" (10) is referred to as a fresh and young beginning of whatever is to come. It also resembles the hardships of a journey in the future, symbolizing his state of immaturity and lack of experience. This shows how the development of day is like Odysseus' development of strength, by addressing the symbolism of "rosy-fingered dawn," possibly symbolizing Odysseus' present state of youth and immaturity.

The "rosy-fingered dawn" returns once again, as a new obstacle is introduced. When the "rosy-fingered dawn" (162) returns, another obstacle of Odysseus' is sure to come. For example, right before Odysseus attempts to rid his home of suitors, the day is begun with the "rosy-fingered dawn." In a way, this foreshadows obstacles to come. This example introduces the relation between Odysseus' strength and the metaphor of the dawn.

Odysseus, during the beginning of his odyssey, is known as a young leader with educational experiences yet to come. Odysseus is referred to as this when "...none remember[ed] princely Odysseus among the people who he ruled..." (14). He is presented here as an inexperienced leader, which supports the theory of the "rosy-fingered dawn" This shows how young Odysseus is related to the "rosy-fingered dawn," and how "old" Odysseus, at the end of his odyssey, is related to the "gold" and "bright-throned dawn". These similes foreshadow another obstacle, now that this idea has come up, supporting the element of strength is like the development of day, as stated in the thesis statement.

When Odysseus returns home from his long journey, the "rosy-fingered dawn" is replaced by the "bright-throned dawn" (151). This symbolizes the accomplishments of his numerous obstacles because the term "bright" symbolizes and accomplished tasks, such as Odysseus' return home. The "gold-throned dawn" represents Odysseus in a way of maturity, knowledge, experience, and strength, again, supporting the theory that Odysseus' development of strength symbolizes the development of the dawns.

"Gold" in general symbolizes wealth, maturity, strength, and power. The "gold-throned dawn" (147) and the "bright-throned dawn" (151) reflect on Odysseus himself after an accomplishment of his. Odysseus is referred to as golden throughout his adventures, relating him to the metaphor of the dawns.The "gold" and "bright-throned dawns" are proven to relate to Odysseus as he is referred to as "...long-tried royal Odysseus..." (62) often throughout the story. "Long-tried" and "royal" relate to "gold-throned" because these both symbolize Odysseus' present strength, wealth, experience, and success. This supports the theory that the dawns relate to Odysseus in various ways, such as his accomplishments and fulfillment.

Odysseus' accomplishments throughout his journey fulfill his odyssey. Fulfillment is shown when "So saying, royal Odysseus crossed the threshold..." (124). This quotation is a sign of the end of Odysseus' odyssey. This relates Odysseus' fulfillment to the metaphor of the dawns because the "gold-throned dawn" is present when this epithet is addressed in the story.

Throughout his journey, Odysseus is related to the sun. When "the sun sank" (124), this symbolized the end of Odysseus' journey. The sinking of the sun represents the final conclusion of his odyssey. The end of a day is perceived as an old accomplished obstacle, while the beginning of a day is perceived as a fresh, new start, full of unpredictable possibilities, relating Odysseus again, to the dawns. This is the mark of the end, and possibly the beginning of another odyssey, possibly foreshadowing another switch of the metaphoric dawns.

Odysseus seems as if he can control the sun in the epic simile, "As a man longs for supper whose pair of tawny oxen all day long have dragged the jointed plough through the fresh field; gladly for him the sunlight sinks and sends him home to supper; stiff are his knees for walking; so gladly for Odysseus sank the sun," (124). Odysseus, like the exhausted farmer, is pleased that the end of the day is near, representing fulfillment of the Odyssey and also representing the symbolic relationship between the metaphor of the dawns and the progression Odysseus' strength and fulfillment.

In conclusion, the metaphor of the dawn symbolizes Odysseus, throughout his odyssey. The stages of immaturity, maturity, and fulfillment portray the different dawns. All of this progression shows how Odysseus gains his strength after accomplishing his obstacles. In terms, this also shows how the metaphor of the dawns progress, showing symbolism between Odysseus and the dawn.

you know, I hadn’t thought of it before but The One and his staff came into the WH thinking he was Apollo, able to drive the Chariot of the Sun.

Instead, he was more like Phaeton whose ego drove him to attempt the leap to Godhood and drive the Chariout.

The horses whinnied and stomped impatiently and, as the bar was dropped, they tore through the clouds. “Oh no,” Phaethon gasped, “we’ve already started.” The horses were immediately out of control since the weight they were pulling was feather light and Phaethon wasn’t able to hold the reins firmly so the bits were barely noticeable in their teeth. The horses ran wild, leaping through the air, fighting against each other for the lead and bumping and tossing the chariot like a toy. Phaethon turned pale in fear. He had only begun and already the horses were out of control and he was thoroughly lost.

Terrified by the height, Phaethon’s stomach hurt as he saw the earth far, far below. It all seemed like a bad dream. He broke into a cold sweat and the reigns became slippery in his hands. He started to faint. Why hadn’t he listened to Apollo?

“No, I can’t give up” he said. It took more concentration than he had ever used, but he managed to gain his composure again and remain conscious. He quickly surveyed his course. He had already covered a huge distance, but there was more to cover ahead. He had no idea what to do or where to go. Then he saw in horror that he was traveling directly toward the beasts of heaven. Immediately ahead he saw the Scorpion, its tail and stingers spread across the sky like a trap. Phaethon was close enough to see black, poisonous venom dripping from the monster’s body. In absolute terror he dropped the reins.

As soon as the horses felt their reins lying on their backs, they broke loose, flying faster yet across the sky and running over the stars. They ran wildly up to the top of heaven and then down near the Earth. The Earth burst into flames. The heat dried up and cracked the land and evaporated lakes and rivers. Meadows and fields turned to ashes and the forests became a raging inferno. Cities were consumed in firestorms and it seemed to everyone on earth as if civilization were coming to a blazing end.

Phaethon saw the Earth in flames at every corner of the globe. The sweat poured from his brow as the chariot grew white-hot beneath his feet, and the air, filled with ashes and whirling sparks, was so hot he choked as each breath burned his lungs. The sky was completely shrouded in dense, hot smoke which grew so dark he could see nothing. He lost all sense of direction as he was swept along by the uncontrollable will of his flying steeds.

The fiery chariot raced low over Asia and lower yet over Africa. It was then that the fields and forests of northern Africa became the Sahara Desert. The Nile, attempting to protect her source, hid her mouth far below the surface in a deep corner of the continent. The glacial polar ice-caps evaporated and turned into fountains of steam. The oceans boiled and the fish, seals, dolphins, whales and all other sea creatures, suffocated from the heat.

Fires raged across the continents as stampeding creatures fled for their lives, racing to beat the walls of flames. The Earth cracked and her crust shrank until deep crevices split the globe and it looked as if the fires of Hell had broken through the surface and were consuming the planet in a fiery apocalypse. Demeter cried for the loss of everything she loved, but even her tears evaporated in the intense heat.

“Oh Zeus,” cried Atlas, “the Earth has grown as hot as the sun upon my shoulders. I can’t hold it any longer.”

Earth and Demeter screamed out in pain. Poseidon and the Naiads cried for the destruction of their oceans and creatures. Finally Eros warned that if the sea and land and sky were annihilated, the universe would return to chaos.

Zeus listened to the gods and watched the heavens smoking from pole to pole. He climbed to the highest peak of Olympus and raised his arms. Always before, when he did this the clouds would part; but now there were no clouds for they had all been burned or evaporated. While the thunder rolled across the hills, Zeus grabbed a lightning bolt and hurled it through the smoke filled sky, straight into Phaethon’s heart. The bolt flew with such force that it knocked him from the chariot. His burning body fell through the sky like a meteor and the smoke trail traced his descent until he fell to earth into the waiting arms of the river Eridanus. The kindly Naiads retrieved his body and placed it in a tomb. On the tomb’s marble gate, they wrote, “Here lies Phaethon. He drove Apollo’s chariot.”

Then Zeus placed Eridanus in the stars as the River of the Sky, and he placed Phaethon’s brother Cycnus as Cygnus, the swan. Because the Scorpion frightened both Phaethon and his horses, Zeus severed its claws and transformed them into the scale of justice called Libra, and Zeus said, “These stars will remind everyone that ego can destroy the balance of the universe.”

Those old Greeks had a teaching myth for every human frailty. Too bad the voters were sold that they were getting Apollo but instead got Phaeton.

“Instead, he was more like Phaeton whose ego drove him to attempt the leap to Godhood and drive the Chariot.”

Good one but was Phaeton being an egotist or just challenged by such an adventure (not unlike many a young man today) while Apollo was a full-blown narcissist who could suddenly turn into a vindictive sadist. There was no way Phaeton was going to outdo the self-absorbed Apollo - who also had the most male lovers of all the Greek gods. The similarities are leaning toward Apollo...

“Earth and Demeter-Ceres screamed out in pain.”

Hillary the masochist.

“Poseidon and the Naiads cried for the destruction of their oceans and creatures.”

Hillarys partner Poseidon-Neptune was a god who showed avoidant tendencies in his desire to hide away in the deep parts of the sea with his mermaids - some say to avoid Demeter.

“Finally Eros warned that if the sea and land and sky were annihilated, the universe would return to chaos.”

Al Gore. :)

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