Book+V

=The Odyssey - Book V=

We first meet Odysseus in Book V of the epic; he is a prisoner of the beautiful goddess Calypso.



Calypso

Odysseus is currently in the fifth stage of the Epic Hero Cycle: **__Crossing the First Threshold__** "I am sure there is something elsein your mind, goddess, an no kind send-off for me, when you tell me to cross the great gulf of the sea on a raft. That is a diffucult and dangerous thing for even well-built ships, although they sail swiftly enough when they are blessed with a good wind from heaven. And i should not care to embark on a raft without your goodwill: not unless you can bring yourself to swear a solemn oath that you will not work some secret mischief against me." -- Homer,. //The Odyssey//. New York: Signet Classic, 1999. 65. Print.

Odysseus

During Book V, all of the gods except Poseiden have a meeting and decide that it is only fair if Odysseus is at least given the oppertunity to leave Calypso and start his journey back home to his family and throne in Ithaka that he has been away from for a very long time. So of course he takes this oppertunity. Calypso is not very happy that her love is leaving but she is obligated to help him with the building of the boat and making sure he is prepared. Odysseus builds his boat and starts his journey back to Ithaka.

This is so very important to the book because he has been missing for so long. While he has been missing Ithaka has been without a leader, Penelope has been without a husband, and Telemachus has been without a father. If Odysseus returns home safely, he will be able to resume his roles as family member and the leader of Ithaka again. This affected the characters because Odysseus has been away from his family and friends for so long and to get the chance to go back home makes him very happy and excited. Also once he returns Ithaka won't be without a leader and can function properly. Other than Odysseues being thrilled Calypso is very upset. She believes that Odysseus is the love of her life and to send him away crushes her.