My Mother is a Fish

Honestly, at this point in the novel, Vardaman is my favorite character. I know we talked about this book is supposed to be a “dark comedy” and many of us didn’t really agree. However after thinking about it, I would have to say the only time I see this book as a comedy would be in Vardaman's chapters.

Right after Vardaman finds out his mother dies, it is a very sad moment in the book. However, the in the next chapter after Addie’s death one of the first things Vardaman says is “the trees look like chickens when they ruffle out into the cool dust on the hot days” on page 53. Although I don’t really get a clear sense in what he is trying to say most of the time, that is what I find funny about him. His randomness in the way he thinks (probably because he is like 6) is what makes this book interesting to me and can’t wait for the next Vardaman chapter.

“My mother is a fish”

Is another perfect example of how I find Vardaman's spontaneity weird but funny, although this comedy is obviously overshadowed by the dark aspect of Addie’s death. Obviously, I would say he is the most traumatized character from Addie’s death and it clearly shows. Any little kid would do the same- if you really think about it we are reading from a little kid’s perspective when we read the book. Anyways, going back to how Vardaman refers to his mother as a fish. When he caught the fish and then after it was cooked, he kept relating the chopped up fish to his dead mother saying things like "it (the fish) was there and now it's not" just like his mother. Once the family ate the fish, he goes on to say things like how their mother is a part of them now that they all ate the fish.
Vardaman continues to act spontaneous and crazy when he then later pokes holes in his mother's coffin, impaling her and then blaming the doctor and his horses for the death of his mother.
Overall, some could find some humor in this book through Vardaman, however for me, the dark aspects of the novel so far completelyover shadow the "funny" aspect of the book.

Athena -and Odysseus- The Puppet Masters

Throughout the poem The Odyssey, we see the gods often “playing” with the mortals for purely their own entertainment. Athena’s role basically the whole book, was to orchestrate this entire play, starring Odysseus and co starring his son Telemachus. Especially in these last chapters, we can see Athena going to extremes to make sure her play’s dramatic final scene happens perfectly: the scene where Odysseus with throw his revenge and paints his home with the blood of the suitors invading his home. However, Athena doesn't want that scene to just happen. She wants it to happen in a way that would be “aesthetically pleasing”, in the same way Poseidon turned the phoenicians boat into stone after helping a stranger instead of just smiting them and killing them. The point is the gods want to make a show, and they want it to be a good one.

So going back to Athena, she is just pushing herself to extremes to make her play happen, but we can also see Odysseus at many points slipping out of “Athena’s puppet role”, and playing the “puppet master” role himself. Unlike how Athena really controls Telemachus in the beginning chapters of the poem, Odysseus actually takes it upon himself (of course with Athena’s help) to create and carry out his own plan to kill all the suitors. This really starts when he finally lands in his homeland. However, I believe Athena can never let her plan completely go into the hand of someone else, so of course we see her cover Odysseus in a cloud of smoke so she could keep him confused until she could get him to be familiar with her plan. Although I believe this is a key scene because this is the first time we see both Odysseus and Athena working hand in hand to come up with a plan. Athena first comes to Odysseus as a shepherd, and Odysseus using Athena’s same tricks, makes up a fake story about himself when he “introduces” himself to “Athena”. He tells her he was a murderer, and now he is running away from his land. Athena actually praises this quality of him, the quality that he is able to make up lies right on the spot. When Athena reveals her true form, the two seem to talk to each other like they are old partners who praise each other's trickery and cunningness, and here we see them planning revenger together.

Telemachus’s “coming of age”

 From the start of the book, we see Telemachus as a confused, sad, timid person that can’t really express his feelings to those around him. His home is invaded with a bunch of suitors trying to wed his mom. These suitors have been basically give Telemachus more than a hard time in his own home- they are basically consuming his entire estate, stealing food and acting as if it was their own home. They are pretty much the worst “guests” ever. “Guests” because were they even welcomed to their home? No I don’t think so. Especially at this time and place where hospitality is valued above all, these suitors are clearly in the wrong. Penelope herself also clearly doesn’t want them there, as she unwinds her silk every night for four years trying to put them off (although she is leading them on). Because the war ended 10 years before this book started and Odysseus left for war right when Telemachus was a baby, that means Telemachus has been waiting for his father to return for all his life, half of which has been invaded by the suitors. From 10 to 21, Telemachus’s entire transition from childhood to adulthood has been marred by his rude house guest, although he never gets the idea to actually stand up to them until Athena shows up. Like what??? The time between 10 to 21 is where people end up growing up, figuring out who they are. So basically what I am trying to say is 10 years is a longgg time not to stand up for yourself and that can’t just change overnight (which is basically what happened in the book. He gets tucked in by the nurse in his warm bed and wakes up to call the assembly). So I believe we are giving Telemachus too much credit when we say Athena is only inspiring Telemachus to stand up for himself. Honestly, I think she is acting more like a puppet master then anything else. Before Athena comes, Telemachus is brooding over his father, wishing he was there to get rid of all these suitors. It doesn’t even come to his mind that he could get rid of them himself. But when Athena comes he just “suddenly gets all that courage”. She comes to his home and talks to Telemachus and first puts the idea of setting sail to find word of his father, and Telemachus used THE SAME WORDS when he talks to the assembly the next day. If someone told me something today, I for sure would NOT be able to recite it word for word the next day….. Also the entire idea of setting sail to find word of Odysseus, when I don’t think it has been clear that Telemachus has gone that far from his house before, I feel like it would have taken longer to have him convinced to go on this trip. Especially since the idea literally came from an absolute stranger. But no. Again, he was convinced like that, just over night. Athena even goes as far as impersonating Telemachus when she goes and gathers the crew members for his trip. Even in the start of book 3 when Telemachus is going to meet the king of Pylos, Athena is literally pulling/ and pushing him along- just as one would do with a puppet. Although she does leave him to go to Sparta by himself, as if going to Pylos was a “test run”, I’m still not believing that Telemachus could change so much over night without some mythical force Athena has brought forth that’s doing a  little more then just “inspiring him”.