By Charlotte Bertsch
Summary
Keeping Odysseus prisoner, raping him, and forcing him to love her. Who is Calypso really, when painted as the villian time and time again? Readers of the Odyssey can sympathize with the goddess, locked away on the island of Ogygia because she chose to fight alongside her father against the gods of Olympus. But does her punishment and unfortunate situation justify her actions against Odysseus?
Calypso’s story begins during the Titan War, when she chooses to fight alongside her father Atlas against the Olympians. The Titans are punished severely after the war, as the gods curse them with eternal tasks, such as forcing Calypso’s father to bear the weight of the sky or risk being crushed between the earth and the heavens. For Calypso, her punishment included being exiled to a small, untraceable island known as Ogygia. Here, she was required to live eternally alone, unable to leave the island or have anyone visit her, unless they were sent by the gods.
In the Odyssey, Odysseus washes ashore on the island due to the wrath of Poseidon, who prevents the Greek hero from returning home after the Trojan War. He meets Calypso, who cares for him but also falls in love with him. After so long without companionship and love, Calypso forces Odysseus into sexual acts, which he unwillingly submits to.
The Odyssey, Book V, Lines 5-6
"Ἀθηναίη λέγε κήδεα πόλλ᾽ Ὀδυσῆος / μνησαμένη: μέλε γάρ οἱ ἐὼν ἐν δώμασι νύμφης"
—Athena was concerned about Odysseus’ many troubles, trapped by the nymph Calypso in her house. (Wilson)
—Athena was recounting the many woes of Odysseus, as she called them to mind; for it troubled her that he abode in the dwelling of the nymph. (Perseus)
—Athena was speaking of Odysseus’ many sufferings, recalling them to their minds, unhappy that he was still a prisoner in Calypso’s isle. (Poetry in Translation)
—Athena was talking about the sufferings of Odysseus, remembering them in her mind, angry that he was a prisoner on Calypso’s island. (My Translation)
Analysis
It often seems as though new sexual misconduct or abuse allegations are written about in the media every day. For so long, experiences have been swept under the rug in order to protect the accused, but Calypso’s story demonstrates that the stigmas surrounding sexual assault have been present in many people’s way of thinking, dating back to Ancient Greece. Calypso is certainly a victim of the wrath of Olympus due to her family alliances, but her story is largely told through the Odyssey and eyes of Odysseus, who is immensely violated by Calypso’s actions. In this story, Odysseus is a victim, therefore presenting Calypso as the abuser. In reading about this myth, some people chose to sympathize with Calypso because of her loneliness and desire for love, but supporting the abuser only further perpetrates the idea that rape is justifiable, which it certainly is not. The interpretation of this section of Greek is so important for this reason, as it distinguishes who is actually the victim in this story, but each person might take something different from the Greek text, which highlights how important reading the original language is in determining for oneself how the Homeric hymn was meant to be interpreted.
Sources:
Emily Wilson, The Odyssey: Homer
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