Dramatic Irony in the Odyssey free essay sample

Authors use many literary devices in order to heighten and enhance their works. Dramatic irony, expressions to complementary attitudes understood by the audience but not the characters, can make the emotions stronger in literature. Homer is one of many authors who used this technique well. In The Odyssey, Homer uses dramatic irony in order to enhance the emotional effect of crucial moments in the storyline, especially during the journey of Telemachus, the initial return of Odysseus, and the restoration of Odysseus to his rightful place in the kingdom. During Telemachus’ journey to find his father, Homer includes dramatic irony through Athena’s relationship to the situation which creates a confused mood. After being prompted by Athena, who knew that Odysseus was trapped on Calypso’s island, Telemachus says, â€Å"For I am off to Sparta to see if I can find news of my father† (30). Shortly after Athena sends Telemachus on a journey, she gains permission to get Odysseus freed from captation on the island. The confusing mood is created through the dramatic irony of both father and son leaving to go towards each other when neither of them knows the other has left to find the other. The reader questions why Athena, whom Homer is using in this scene to create dramatic irony, would not tell Telemachus that his father is getting freed or even that he is on Calypso’s island. Instead, she sends him to Sparta to find out information about his father from Menelaus. Dramatic irony arises when Telemachus believes that his father may no longer be alive but wants to find out more. It is never even hinted at, to Telemachus, by Athena that he is alive and that he will soon return soon. Telemachus does not realize the irony that to the readers is easily visible. The reader knows of Odysseus’ existence on Calypso’s island and soon finds out that he will begin his journey back home. The confused mood creates a conflict for the character to solve by having the reader wonder why Athena wanted these events to happen in this particular way. The conflict keeps the reader interested and since the original story was told orally, interest is very important for Homer to maintain. Dramatic irony also emphasizes a dolent mood during the return of Telemachus from his journey. When Odysseus returns home to Ithaca, Athena goes to Telemachus to retrieve him from Sparta. Athena says, â€Å"You must take leave of Menelaos, if you want to find your dear mother still in your house; for her father and brothers are urging her to marry Eurymachos† (169). Athena tells Telemachus that his mother is going to marry Eurymachos. Athena does this as if she is fishing and the story about Telemachus’ mother is the bait; Telemachus is very intrigued by the bait and goes after it, falling into Athena’s well-thought out trap. The reader knows that the reason Athena wants Telemachus to come back is because Odysseus is soon arriving in Ithaca; therefore, dramatic irony is created when Telemachus is never let in on this information that the reader now knows. Homer uses Athena to create dramatic irony to get Telemachus to rush home to stop the marriage, because if Telemachus was told the truth he might not be a eager to get home, since his father had been away for so much of his life. Homer wanted the audience to know more so that they were not confused about Telemachus’ mother getting married for it was a lie. This created a dolent mood because the reader realizes the absence of truth in Athena’s message. The lack of truths make the reader feel sorrowful that Telemachus does not know the truth but he or she does. If Telemachus knew the truth the situation would have unfolded differently as he may have wanted to stay in Sparta longer. After all, he was upset at his father after his absence in his childhood and wished that he would have came home much sooner. Telemachus is involved in dramatic irony once again when he first reunites with his father who has been turned into a beggar. Odysseus had been turned into a beggar by Athena in order to protect his identity from everyone he met until the time was right. As Telemachus first enters the room where Odysseus and Eumaios, who Telemachus calls â€Å"Daddy,† are located, Odysseus tries to give up his seat to his deserving son. Telemachus says, â€Å"Stay where you are, stranger, we can find another seat in our hut† (182). Telemachus shows his kind personality to the beggar as well as the status quo of the inhabitants of Ithaca. Telemachus then says to Eumiaos, â€Å"Daddy, where does this stranger come from? † (182). In this scene, Odysseus, as well as the reader, understands that Odysseus is talking to his son. Telemachus, however, thinks he is talking merely to a beggar. Through Telemachus’ incognizance, dramatic irony is created in the reconnection of father and son. Homer uses dramatic irony to create a remorseful mood. He wants Odysseus to have time to see what his kingdom is like before the citizens know that he has arrived. By staying in disguise, he can see the relationship that grew between the swineherd and Telemachus that would be hidden if either the swineherd or Telemachus knew it was Odysseus. Odysseus also sees the way beggars are not discriminated against, and instead, are supported by all of the citizens. The audience has to know that it is Odysseus because it shows the completion of his journey back to Ithaca. A remorseful mood is created because the reader sees that the father and son are so close to reuniting but are separated by a simple disguise. The reader wants the two to get back together, but Homer delays the occurrence intentionally to create dramatic irony between the two characters. Dramatic irony creates an insightful mood when Odysseus uses his appearance as a beggar to learn about the suitors during his restoration to his rightful place in the kingdom. After Eumaios brings the beggar Odysseus to the dining hall, Odysseus is instructed to beg for food from each of the suitors. By doing this, he will gain valuable information about the true gentlemen and the cads. The reader, as well as Telemachus, knows that the beggar is Odysseus, but the suitors are still ignorant to who he really is. While begging, Odysseus comes to Antinoos, who says to Eumaios, â€Å"What made you bring this fellow to town? Haven’t we vagrants enough and beggars enough, confound them, a perfect nuisance at dinner-time? † (198). Odysseus is still in disguise so that he can take in knowledge of the suitors just as Athena had whispered to him. Homer wants the reader to know that it is Odysseus so that the reader can take in the same opinions as Odysseus. He wants to keep the suitors blind to who the beggar is so that Odysseus can understand who is nice to the beggars. This gives Odysseus a general idea on the suitors that will be more easily dealt with. If Odysseus had come into the palace as himself, many of the suitors may have tried to attack him because they wanted his wife to marry them. Others may have crowded him to ask him questions about his positions in the war and his journey back which would prevent him from gaining the required intel on the suitors to be able to defeat them. The insightful mood brought on by the dramatic irony is caused by the reader being able to learn about the suitors in the same way Odysseus does. Throughout the book, there are few ample descriptions for the reader to accurately depict the trouble causing suitors. Now, through Odysseus’ guidance, the reader knows much more about the suitors than he or she did previously. Dramatic irony aided the reader in becoming emotionally involved it the story. The Odyssey brought many strongly emotional scenes, but the best of them all involved dramatic irony. Dramatic irony drew the reader closer to the book and kept him or her knowledgeable at all times necessary. Other works of literature are also created more fluently when dramatic irony is added. The enhanced emotional effects created by dramatic irony are imperative to writing a short story or writing a novel.