Week Three: Ashley Fisher

A well-read person understands that there are many different levels that accompany any text. Text does not just sit on a page, but it speaks to the reader, evokes emotions, deepens understanding and lastly, performs. In The Odyssey by Homer, there are many levels of performance that take place within the text and story, and understanding those levels can help the reader take more away from this epic poem.

In Book Nine of The Odyssey, a textual example of performative language is when Odysseus declares to the Cyclops “Nobody-that’s my name. Nobody so my mother and father call me, all my friends,” (Homer 223). When Odysseus tells the Cyclops that his name is “Nobody,” it is an example of performative language since by saying that he is “Nobody,” Odysseus is taking on the role of “Nobody.” Odysseus is also now performing a new character in front of the Cyclops and his fellow comrades. While this performative language is occurring in the story, another performance in happening at the same time. At the beginning of Book Nine, the first line describes how “Odysseus, the great teller of tales, launched out on his story,” (211). This shows that in the poem, two performances are happening; one within the story itself where Odysseus is fighting the Cyclops, and another where Odysseus is telling the tale of his journey to the Phaeacians after King Alcinous demands to know who he is, where he has been, and where he hopes to travel next.

This information about the different levels of performance influences how one can look at Odysseus’ travels. The readers have already witnessed Odysseus’ intense thirst for glory, which makes readers question whether the story that Odysseus tells the Phaeacians about tricking and defeating the Cyclops is true, or whether he may have curved the truth to make him appear as the powerful and confident leader that he aspires to be. Whether or not the story Odysseus tells is entirely truthful or not, he does tell his story with an excessive measure of pride which is something readers should take into account when analyzing his character.

Furthermore, The Odyssey is believed to have been composed sometime during the end of the eighth century B.C., and was an ancient oral performance. It was a story that was meant to be heard rather than read, and was likely performed by an aoidos - epic poet and singer, - or a rhapsode - a professional performer. What does this mean to the story itself? One can begin answering this question by identifying how the story differs to an audience when it is read opposed to when it is performed out loud. This answer may differ from person to person, however, the fact that it was intended to be multiple performances inside a performance reveals a different side to this poem that should be taken into account while reading it.