Letter of Appeal (by John Paolo So)

To Oedipus, current ruler of Thebes,

Truth is a harsh mistress.

Truth, in its essence, is a shining beacon of hope and an unadulterated form of human virtue. It is capable of purging the demons of guilt and confusion with its shining rays of light, and in its pursuit, we are empowered to spit on the face of all adversity and break free from the shackles of deceit.

Listen to me, for what I write to you I write from the heart. Dear King, in the world we live in and in the miserable lives of all people this is certainly not the case. Truth also has a heart of ice at the same time; it is also the cause of unspeakable pain and sorrow for every time it brings forth joy and enlightenment. Let this letter be a portent to you.

As absurd as this may seem, truth is a form of sickness. Only perfect beings may understand its full scope, its origins and what exactly can it bring forth in its wake,and only those who are wise enough to accept it and handle his affairs based on it shall succeed. A slight misinterpretation of truth shall bring you forth misfortune, and being utterly blind and naïve enough to deny what is prophesied will lead to nothing but despair and ruin. Are you ready to seek the truth behind your origins and the story of how you came to be as you are?

I, along with my fellow countrymen have witnessed the liberation of our city from the evil Sphinx by your hand many years ago and have so far lived in peace and prosperity in the city of Thebes, with you as our king, ruling with prudence and magnanimity. Now, we are being plagued by an unknown evil, and you are compelled by your pride to save us from destruction.  I say to you, be wary, for the grim prospect of learning of the nature of this horrible prophecy of the blind sage Teiresias is very dangerous on its own. Will it bring forth an end to your insatiable curiosity and much-needed answers to the riddles in your mind or will madness and chaos come to you and your family?

Truth is a harsh mistress. I am concerned for your state of mind, King Oedipus, for I do not wish to see someone as great as you be destroyed by truth itself, and be flung from the high pedestal into a raging sea of torture and damnation.

I bid you farewell.

A witness,

Tetraorgiphallicus

Word Count: 419 words

Source for image: http://thetowerofbabel.net/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/tower_of_babel.170113154.jpg

Letter of Appeal (by Jon Ridge Ong)

To Oedipus, our reigning king and courageous soldier,

My name is Admes and I am a blacksmith from one of this plagued town’s weapons outlet. I have been in the service of this once great nation’s military strength since before you assumed your position as our king. I have seen this nation before and after the death of our former king at the hands of an unknown assailant. Though my mind is fenced by limited wisdom and insight, I have much to say about our nation’s current status.

As a blacksmith the infertility of our crops has not affected me in ways that would have made Zeus frown upon my family, but our childlessness is starting to impose chaos upon my wife’s morale. It was nothing more than a bad coincidence that we laid together after you assumed your position as king and this is one of the things we both regret with utmost sorrow and grief. As a blacksmith, it is of great honor and importance that we pass on our skills to heirs that spring from our loins. Even my very own techniques and skills come from my father who was taught by his father and so forth. The main concern I am trying to voice out here is the preservation of my family’s tradition of forging weapons, which you must understand is a very great deal to us.

Now I understand that you have been doing all in your might and mind to solve this problem the gods have cursed us with, but I would like to disapprove of the irrational acts you have been doing lately. It is very difficult to be accused of something direly grave especially for someone high and mighty. However, it is an even greater sin to neglect the consequences of such action. This is not to say that you truly did murder your own father, Laius, and married Jocasta, your own mother, but the facts have presented themselves in front of your blinded eyes and yet you refuse to accept these things and instead shove them away. At first I myself could not come to believe thats someone as god-like as you could have possibly done such a grave act, but the situation is in dire need of a solution which your hubris is preventing. It may also be possible that your memories were deprived of retaining such an act no mortal could bare to live with so it may be wiser to try looking deeper to the words that all-seeing Tiresias gave you. A prophet of his reputation often clears the fog that hides fact from opinion so it may be wiser to look into yourself and find the true killer should it be you or anyone else.

Word Count: 452 words

Source for image: http://www.myartprints.co.uk/kunst/johannes_dircksz_van_oudenrogg/blacksmiths_forge_hi.jpg

Letter from Creon (by Kyle Lim)

Dearest Polyganus,

It has been a while since I have written to you in this time of the year. Countless troubles have caused me anxiety recently, so I was not able to contact you. How are you, old friend, and what has become of you and your wife? I hope the gods have finally blessed you with the child that you have been yearning for a couple of months now.

Regardless, allow me to get straight to the point. As you know, or probably don’t, Thebes is currently in a state of agony and anguish. I am not quite sure if the news has reached you there in Sparta yet, but, just to inform you, the former king, Laius, was killed by a group of bandits as he was on his way to meet the oracle of Delphi. Apparently, due to the murder, a plague is tormenting my beloved city, and the only one who seems capable enough to solve this problem is the new king, known as Oedipus.

Just recently, Oedipus sought the advice of the blind prophet Tiresias, but once they met, their encounter didn’t go quite well, and it ended with feelings of anger towards one another, especially in the heart of Oedipus. By some act of the gods, the king blamed me for all this, saying I was an accomplice of Tiresias aiming to take the throne from him.

As of now, I am not angered by the king’s accusation because the burden placed on his shoulders, along with the seemingly bold claims of Tiresias, have clouded his thinking. I never intended to take the throne from Oedipus, nor have I ever planned anything against him since I am already fine in my current condition, basking in the pleasures of wealth. I do not know this man on a close, personal level, yet in fact, my relationship with him is naturally a friendly one. I respect him as the current king, as a savior and hero of Thebes for defeating the Sphinx, and as a husband to my beloved sister, Jocasta.

However, now that dark times are ahead for the Thebans, I believe it is time for me to make my move; to take action. While I do believe that Oedipus is an adept leader, capable of great feats based on what he has already done for the city, Laius found me capable as well. The former king left me in charge of the city while he was venturing out to meet the oracle of Delphi, before he met his demise. At that time, I gained the courage needed to become king. Because of my appointment as the temporary ruler from Laius himself, I felt confident of my abilities and skills, which have been developed during the interim between the two kings, and now that my people are suffering, I need to do something.

Moreover, in my time of living, I have never encountered a plague such as the one right now, nor have I heard of anything like it in the past. It is very unusual that something this grave would arise in such a short span of time, so I think Oedipus has something to do with it. After all, the spreading of the plague commenced only after Oedipus became king. In that case, maybe he truly is the killer of Laius, impossible as it may seem. Then that would mean…he married his own mother! Such a vile and disgusting man! This could never be true…or could it?

Nevertheless, it pains me to think of so many things in such a limited amount of time, and this is why I require your assistance. Should I remain silent and aid Oedipus, knowing that he may not be able to save the Thebans? Or, as much as I do not intend to take the throne from him, strike him when he is most vulnerable and open his eyes to how ignorant and wayward he’s been lately? I await your response.

Sincerely,

Creon

Word Count: 664 words

Source for image: http://www.classic-enotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/superstock_1100-249.jpg

Journal – Polynices (by Kendric Tee)

Journal # 22

These past few hours have only revealed to me the horrible truth about my origin, which has been the root cause of the plagues. As my father argued with the seer, uncle Creon, and even mother, there were definitely many things that came to me as shocks. I had no idea that years before I was conceived in my mother’s womb, father murdered someone in cold blood, and all his company, just because neither of them would give way to the other; the person he murdered being my grandfather, the ruler of Thebes the people so dearly loved. This bloodbath and mother-marrying of course has left the once mighty city in shambles, and as my father tried to search for the culprit, everything seemed to be pointing towards him.  Insistent of his innocence in the face of testimonials, in his self-defense I saw a face of him I have never seen before, the face of pride and denial. Never have I seen him be so proud of himself to totally disregard the truth that lay before him, that he was the one who caused everything to happen. The first time I heard such accusations, of course I was in disbelief, however, I sensed wisdom in uncle Creon’s, the seer Tiresias’s, the messenger’s, and the shepherd words, and also the perspective of mother about the murder of the former king. It was then I truly realized how everything was adding up, that my own dear father had committed grave sins in killing my grandfather and marrying my grandmother, and that me and my siblings are products of incest.  How was my father so stupid, so haughty, to not recognize the truth as it unfolded with all these stories until the very last moment?

With everything that has just happened, my mind has been stricken with grief, not only from finally uncovering the secrets behind my unholy origin, but also losing my mother to the jaws of death, and my father, who has decided to dissociate from us. Why cannot he stay and continue to guide us, his children, albeit in secrecy? Will he just throw us away like dirt after raising us to maturity, just for the sake of atonement? In my opinion, raising us to be good Theban citizens, that we may be wise and just rulers of the kingdom atonement enough?  This form of atonement is just negligence; he is just leaving us in one of the most turbulent moments of our lives. Now, we only have one person to look up to, our uncle Creon. My father has not listened to even dear mother’s advice, which would’ve probably saved her life, and prevented us from becoming orphans, just as we are now. Why father, why, have you not even decided to take us with you? We’d very much rather stay in your presence rather than be seen as orphans born from sin.

Today, as my father starts carrying out his self-imposed exile to atone for his wrongs and be a reminder about the harsh reality of fate, I will assure him that the city that my great ancestor, Cadmus established is in good hands, much better than the hands he ruled with.  Uncle Creon will be there to assist whoever takes the throne among me and Eteocles while we both work out on a way to fairly divide power. Antigone and Ismene will be cared for and nurtured, that they may be stately brides for others in the future.  Perhaps, I can be a better man than my father ever was that Thebes may be freed from the wrath of Olympus, and in the process, I will not neglect anyone, just as my father has chosen to do.

-Polynices

Word Count: 623 words

Source for image: http://www.deathdyinggriefandmourning.com/Death-&-Dying-Images%201-20/8-b-Oedipus-&-Jocasta.jpg

Jocasta’s Final Letter (by Alvaro Arcilla)

To my beloved Oedipus,

Disgust fills the air; the sickening reminder of what I had done wrong stalks me. It does not want to go away. Everywhere I go, this wretched stench follows me and plagues me of its curse. Ever since I discovered that it was you, this feeling would creep up against me and make me regret what I had done. My mind cannot contemplate the unforgivable thing I have done to you. I am constantly haunted, being reminded of that very day I lay in bed with you, that very day I had failed my duty, both as a mother and as a person. The gravity of it is so great that I have to pluck out my hair or pinch my skin until it bleeds just to divert my attention from the pain I feel every time I think of this repulsive act.

As I write this letter, my mind just stirs with all the numerous consequences that await my destruction because of my irresponsibility and lack of care. I knew that this would happen, and I had not tried to intervene nor take action upon it. When your father and I had found out about the prophecy, we immediately cast you out, disowned you, disclaimed you as our son and left you in the harsh and unknown world to die. I should not have done that. I should have raised you into the righteous and honorable man you would have been. Now look at you, blinded by your selfishness, greed, and power. For this, I blame myself. Even though the odds were against you, your tenacity just like your father’s was what helped you prevail in times of trial. Oh! How I would have loved to see you grow by his side and make him proud. You managed to survive, to kill your father and marry me as your wife. I now regret how foolish I had been, you being filled with so much potential. You could have outgrown your father both physically and mentally.

Forgive me, my son, for I am not a worthy mother. I am not a prime example of excellence but of the lowest form of human kind anyone can stoop down to. I now realize that my efforts were futile since you cannot combat fate. Fate is like time. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, you cannot stop time but only wait for it. This lesson I have learned the hard way. I had killed my family and brought down the very foundations it was built upon. I was supposed to be the protector, the guardian that helped keep this family together, but I had utterly failed and my very name brings shame upon the human race. I am a disgrace meant to be rid of this world, and my face is not worthy to be shown to even the poorest of individuals for their face is like a pot of gold compared to mine.

Look at what you have become. A tyrant who oppresses his people and accuses even the closest of his friends of treason. What have I done wrong? Now you roam Thebes power-hungry and ready to strike down any man who stands in your way. What a monster you have become; what a monster I have made you into. I cannot dare look into your eyes since every time I gaze into them, it is a reflection of me, being reminded that all of this is my doing and my fault.

As I sit across my room, a rope and hook is already prepared for my punishment. I have come to realize that the only relief from the pain I experience everyday is the death of my life, that my soul will receive due punishment, not in this life but in the next. My son, my only advice to you is that you live your life the way you want to since you cannot challenge fate. Rather than waste your efforts trying to combat it, accept it and live your life to the fullest. That is what I had failed to do and I hope you can see it too.

P.S. Leave my body to rot in the courtyard. I do not deserve a proper burial anyway. It’s better to let my body be eaten by the crows than to receive unjust praise.

Your wife and mother,

Jocasta

Word Count: 699 words

Oedipus’s Farewell (by John Lu)

My beloved sons, Eteocles and Polynices,

To be honest, at first, I could not truly express myself after seeing that all of these unfortunate events transpired. Now that I know the veracity of my fruitless life and the bane of my existence, I shall tell you, my sons, the truth and simply the truth.

All began when I was a young infant. There was a prophecy that the offspring of Laius and Jocasta, the rulers governing the City of Thebes, will kill his own father and subsequent to this, marry his own mother.  After Jocasta gave birth to me,  a shepherd was ordered to bring this little newborn to the mountains, hoping that the prophecy would never take place. Instead of leaving me alone in the mountains to die, this compassionate shepherd brought me to a messenger, who was headed back to his master, King Polybus of Corinth.

From there, that single act of pity paved way for my growth; my development as a human being who was bound to commit something extremely terrible that not even the gods could accept. What is the meaning of my life? Why was I even born into this world if my existence only meant suffering to those around me?

I was such a terrible father and role model to you both. No, I do not even consider myself as a father anymore, but as an abomination, a mistake the gods made ever since I was planted in my mother’s womb. You do not deserve to even see my face, nor know what will become of me after my banishment. My only wish for you two now would be to be decisive in all your doings, whatever they may be. Do not follow in my footsteps, as it will become a dreadful burden to you. Rather, cast your own footsteps into the ground in which I used to tread on. Do not consider yourselves as outcasts due to my mistake, but rather, take control of your lives as I have never did with mine, bounded by a prophecy that somehow had a life of its own. Make your lives as meaningful as possible as young as you are, and I assure you, the gods shall bestow upon you abundant gifts and blessings that would prove useful in your time of living.

Now that that the hour of my banishment has arrived, it is time for me to leave. But before I finally set out into the world, blinded by my ignorance and carelessness, I ask one last favor from both of you: that despite me being your real father, forget about me. I do not care what you do, or what you think of me, but just for my sake, for me to no longer dwell in my past mistakes, do not let my image linger in your minds. It is a shame I can no longer be with you, and the only advice I have left for you is to turn to Uncle Creon. I believe he knows best.

With that, I bid farewell to you both and to Thebes.

Oedipus

Word Count: 511 words

Source for image: http://thanasis.com/Oedipus_Cursing_His_Son_PolynicesHenryFuseli.jpg

Blinding Humility

Excerpt from Odyssey of Homer (Book 9, 166-186)

166 We looked across at the land of the Cyclopes, and they were

near by, and we saw their smoke and heard sheep and goats bleating.

But when the sun went down and the sacred darkness came over,

then we lay down to sleep along the break of the seashore;

170 but when the young Dawn showed again with her rosy fingers,

then I held an assembly and spoke forth before all:

“The rest of you who are my eager companions wait here,

while I, with my own ship and companions that are in it,

go and find out about these people, and learn what they are,

175 whether they are savage and violent, and without justice,

or hospitable to strangers and with minds that are godly.”

‘So speaking I went aboard the ship and told my companions

also to go aboard, and to cast off the stern cables,

and quickly they went aboard the ship and sat to the oarlocks,

180 and sitting well in order dashed the oars in the gray sea,

But when we had arrived at the place, which was nearby, there

at the edge of the land we saw the cave, close to he water,

high, and overgrown with laurel, and in it were stabled

great flocks, sheep and goats alike, and there was a fenced yard

185 built around it with a high wall of grubbed-out boulders

and tall pines and oaks with lofty foliage.

Given the remote location of my domain, I live in solitude and confinement, ruling over the island that is mine to keep, for I am the only right ruler for it. As the days pass, I control my kingdom just as it should be, all who reside within it answer to me with fear instilled in their hearts. Not even my godly father has a right to control for I myself control. My sheep are my only companions, my flock that I lead everyday. I tend to them, just as a mother would to her children, fulfilling their every whim for I know that when they grow up, they shall serve me well. Who would think that one such as I would have the heart and soul to care for a living entity created by the almighty? That my heart, one that of tenderness and compassion, has a space for love. Clearly the generic misconception of my image has been destroyed by the ungodly beings called man. Living with my flock, all I long for is a worthy companion, who would match my intelligence and strength, for who would dare challenge Polyphemus, the Son of Poseidon?

As I stood on a cliff, staring out into the endless blue ocean that stretched out far into the horizon, I noticed how lonely I was. The green grass, lush vegetation, bleating sheep and sound of the waves was all I had. It seemed as though I was craving for companionship, something that few people would expect. I, after 50 years, had decided to talk to my father and asked him to send an individual worthy enough to challenge me. After a minute, the currents had changed their paths, now flowing towards my island. I had quickly gathered my sheep and hid them in the safety of my cave. After I had finished feeding the lamb and children, I lit a fire. There to my surprise were 13 of the most disgraceful creations of the gods. I tried to talk my way through, slowly luring them into a trap for these men looked like tasty morsels. After all, I had not had this much company since I laid eyes on that Golden Fleece. As I was conversing with them, one individual stood out from the rest for his responses to me were one of confidence and strength, Nobody was his name. One by one I took up his companions and savored limb for limb right infront of him. Their pitiless cries echoed throughout the confines of the island as I hacked through skin and bone, piercing my way through the hearts and minds of their companions. Even the bravest of heroes would falter in the face of fear, but Nobody stood his ground. He posed no threat to me for his body was that of an old man who had not eaten for days. He barely even looked as though he could lift a rock, so I took pity on him and his companions and decided to take a slumber.

As the morning rose up from her bed and shined upon us, I left Nobody and his companions alone in my cave for I knew that it was impossible for even the strongest of men to lift that boulder except me for no one could match my strength. When I returned from the picturesque scenery of my beautiful island, Nobody had offered me a gift which should rightly be done for my very presence must be considered a gift by all. I had drank to the point of blindness and little did I know that I literally would be blind. A sharp pain, as though one was being skinned, shot through my eye after I had dozed off and soon realized that I had been shamed by the most unworthy of the almighty’s creation. I grieved in pain and slowly tried to recompose my weak image. Shouting, I blurted out every known word that possibly existed in the Greek language, damning Nobody to hell and cursing him with the gods. I vowed to kill Nobody, tearing his limbs off while keeping his vitals intact, so that he could feel the very pain I felt. I would slowly rip off his intestines making it slide on the ground while my sheep feast on this delicious meal. I dig my hand into his body, displacing every organ and then pluck his eyes out with the very stick used on mine. I would even de-bone him starting with the arms and work my way up to his chest where I would stomp on until it turned to dust. I would cause pain that would make him cry for his own mother, and that is the cue for me to know that I had pushed him down to the lowest form any living thing could be. Oh! How I would love to do that but unfortunately my vision had been impaired. The morning after, I could not find Nobody, but only recall his voice as he taunted me from far off in the sandy beaches of my beautiful island. I tried my best to destroy his ship, but without my eyes, it would be like passing a thread through the eye of a needle. I could not hear his last words for anger filled up my mind, oblivious to even the loudest of sounds. I sit here now, sadly remembering that day, when Nobody came and made me the Nobody.

Source: Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

Written by: Alvaro Arcilla

A Maiden’s Perspective

“These are daughters born of the springs and from the coppices
and the sacred rivers which flow down to the sea. Of these
one laid the coverlets, splendid and stained in purple, over
the backs of the chairs, and spread on the seats the cloths to sit on.
The second drew up the silver tables and placed them in front of
the chairs, and laid out the golden serving baskets upon them.
The third mixed wine, kindly sweet and fragrant, in the silver
mixing bowl, and set out the golden goblets. The fourth one
brought in water, then set about building up an abundant
fire, underneath the great caldron, and the water heated.
But when the water had come to a boil in the shining bronze, then
she sat me down in the bathtub and washed me from the great caldron,
mixing hot and cold just as I wanted, and pouring it
over shoulders and head, to take the heart-wasting weariness
from my limbs. When she had bathed me and anointed me with olive oil,
she put a splendid mantle and a tunic upon me,
and made me sit down in a chair that was wrought elaborately
and splendid with silver nails, and under my feet was a footstool.
A maidservant brought water for us and poured it from a splendid
and golden pitcher, holding it above a silver basin,
for us to wash, and she pulled a polished table before us.”
– Odysseus from The Odyssey of Homer

A life of service and hedonism was one such lifestyle bestowed upon me by the gods since the onset of my existence. Under the watchful eye of our fair Circe, no pain nor suffering was let in our lives as humble servants to the radiant goddess. Our age knows no limit from the blessings of her ingenious magical potions. Her wisdom and knowledge passed down to us beauty and charisma rivaled only by the gods and a few blessed mortals. Such is the magnanimity of Circe, our mother and protector. Yet each time the divine Dawn reawakened our minds would feel neglected of physical pleasure more and more, despite the leisure and prosperity our hearts were filled with. No men to satisfy our desires took lodging in our island of Aiaia for the reputation of Circe’s fine name outside the shores of this island was contrastive to that of ours. As time went on our delicate and curious minds were slowly taken over by our body’s animalistic desires. Our flesh, of its own accord, resorted to finding pleasure amongst each other’s skin, and the satisfaction overwhelmed our sense of morale. Such was what separated us from the house of Circe as her will and wisdom was a mountain peak higher than that of ours; a complete contrast to the belief of the outsiders.

The fates would eventually break the serenity and sanctity of our island. There came a daw when Fotini, a fellow maiden of mine, and I ventured towards the shore of our island to wash the clothing of our household. As the clothes were soaked wet and scraped of all filth, we decided to bathe together in the cerulean waters of the sea as our clothes dried off. As we enjoyed the soothing pleasure of our time together our sights came upon a silhouette our eyes so rarely make contact with in the far distance. It was a vessel brought forth by the winds towards our rather uncharted island. Both fear and astonishment emerged from deep within our bosoms as if a a great pressure was exerted onto our chests. Our minds took no time to wonder, and we began sprinting to the direction of Circe’s majestic mansion without care of the clothing we had left behind including the very ones we had stripped off previous to our bathing.

As we barged through the doorsteps of fair Circe’s mansion our lips, with swiftness, blurted out the news upon our island shores. Her presence remained untroubled and radiant despite the striking event upon our shores. Her advice we heeded that we let it out from our minds and remain within the safety of our dwellings. Two days and nights lapsed after our sighting on the beach until our curiosity could wait no more. The rest of my fellow maidens and I snuck out into the woods the moment Dawn first revealed her lovely face. Withdrawing the clothes we had left behind was the main goal our minds forged to cleanse our conscience, but the eagerness of our curious minds was what drove us on our venture.

As we journeyed through the dense and luscious forest, our heads turned at the sound of footsteps belonging to a creature who’s presence we have not laid eyes on during our lifetime. This man had a stature and physique that could possibly swipe away all traces of innocence in a female’s heart. As our necks reflexively turned to the path of this exquisite man, we noticed through his sincere expressions that this was a man truly unfavored by the gods. We left the concealment of the bush which we lay hidden with and noticed a stag feeding from the grass beneath its feet. Araminta, another one of my fellow maidens, fed the stag some water from the ocean in hopes that its thirst would compel it to drink from the river the god-like man was bound to pass by.

The following day, after Dawn had raised from her rest with her rosy-fingers, fair Circe’s tranquil voice had served as our wake up call as the serenity compelled our bodies to raise from a state of rest. As we had gone about our chores, our ears noticed an atypical sound from the house of Circe. Swines began swarming to empty pens just outside the mansion of Circe, which was something not unusual to us. Once again Circe had turned men into pigs. Our minds had always deemed this action of hers an attempt to protect the tranquility of this peaceful island. It was until later on that we first witnessed our fair Circe’s power be tested by a man. Her shriek alarmed our senses so we ran to her room slightly opening the door witnessing a sight only the gods were so blessed to openly see. Our fair Circe had laid in bed with that god-like man we had come to see earlier. We resolved to continue on with our chores as our Circe enjoyed her pleasure time with that fine structured man and wait for their climax to come to an end before associating ourselves with our guest. Later on she calls for our services to give leisure to the man we now know as Odysseus. I was tasked to giving the fine man a bath worthy of such mortals. I felt truly blessed as my eyes were given the chance to lay upon such a sight. As I gave him his bath with my bare hands, he conversed with me regarding the journey he has traveled prior to his involvement in the Trojan War. Here I saw a man clever and wise in all his movement, but also a man with deep resentment over the gods and their will.

Sources: http://www.images.google.com

Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

Written by: Jon Ridge Ong

A Great Journey, Foreseen in My Blindness

“Glorious Odysseus, what you are after is sweet homecoming,

but the god will make it hard for you. I think you will not

escape the Shaker of the Earth, who holds a grudge against you

in his heart, and because you blinded his dear son, hates you.

But even so and still you might come back, after much suffering,

if you can contain your own desire, and contain your companions’,

at the island Thrinakia, escaping the sea’s blue water,

and there discover pasturing the cattle and fat sheep

of Helios, who sees all things, and listens to all things.

Then, if you keep your mind on homecoming, and leave those unharmed,

you might all make your way to Ithaka, after much suffering;

but if you do harm them, then I testify to the destruction

of your ship and your companions, but if you yourself get clear,

you will come home in bad case, with the loss of all your companions,

in someone else’s ship, and find troubles in your household,

insolent men, who are eating away your livelihood

and courting your godlike wife and offering gifts to win her.

You may punish the violences of these men, when you come home.

But after you have killed these suitors in your own palace,

either by treachery, or openly with the sharp bronze,

then you must take up your well shaped oar and go on a journey”

-Tiresias to Odysseus

The underworld, a place of death, torment, and despair; even in my blindness, I am able to see the pain all other souls are experiencing there. Very seldom it is, that people from the realm of the living venture in this treacherous lair of agony. Only the damned, those who have perished from the world above, can enter here, as we are all bound to spend eternity in endless pain. The flames of Tartaros, ever burning, only bring misery to all our hearts, and fuel all the hopelessness. It has been an eternity since we have felt the bliss of the mortal world, with all its comforts and joys, but helpless we are, being deceased, to live in this cavern of misery and suffering, a dwelling where all we know of is eternal torment.

However, in the world above, the world of the mortals who have yet to meet their miserable, panful end, the few who make it in and out, heroes they are, as the venture through this bottomless abyss is daunting. Only the truly galant, truly strong, can make it back.

Mortals who venture here, a myriad of purposes they have. Some seek to visit those who have perished, their lost relatives, while other mortals, like Odysseus, son of Laertes and king of Ithaka, venture here for reasons peculiar. Some seek to have their destinies foretold, while others, like Hercules, the great demigod hero, personally approach the lord of the dead, Hades, for other favors.

Odysseus, son of Laertes, king of Ithaka, and sacker of Troy, he has come to seek my foresight, my prophetic gift. Even amongst the realm of the dead, I have continued to see the future, full of bliss and pain. In my honesty, I had told him everything; the road ahead and the trials that await. As hard as it is, I confided with him, the pitiful state of his family, now continually waiting for his glorious return from Troy, but confronted with the evils and the greed of suitors, after the royal throne, and leadership of the island. I cautioned him about some things, which may be the source of further suffering on his journey. However, in this, I fueled him with hope. Truly, he needs to return to Ithaka; the populace are all longing for his return.

Odysseus the wise was not perfect as he had made some mistakes with far reaching consequences. His arrogance in revealing his true name to Polyphemos the Cyclops, son of Poseidon, and challenging the might of the Earth Shaker was among the most unfathomable, considering a man of his personality. He has brought upon himself, and his companions, the wrath of one of Olympus’s mightiest, he who controls the sees. As the vision of this filled my head, skepticism arose. I did not let myself believe that a man, godlike in cunning, would commit among the most illogical of blunders, one that would ultimately hinder his homecoming. I, Tiresias the Seer, having served in Thebes, had no desire of reminiscing of the painful past, the mistake of Laius, king of Thebes, spouse of Queen Jocasta, in bearing a child, which had consequences far reaching into the Theban kingdom; I could not stand to see the evils brought about by the fulfillment of such prophecy. Having to witness another highly wise man, falling victim to his own pride, and making irrational moves, for me was a great pain in the chest, as that had happened to Oedipus Rex, the man most remembered for committing to his mother in holy matrimony. I urgently had to ensure that Odysseus will not invoke more evils from slaughtering Helios’s prized cattle. I had to ensure the great warrior, sacker of Troy, would not fall victim to yet more wrath from the gods. With respect, however, I must acknowledge that he indeed listens well, and in his process of reason, he knows to question where neccessary, to respond in a manner most appropriate, every time he engages in dialogues. In his wisdom, the wise man always presents himself in a matter so gracious, in words ever so colorful and eloquent.

No one, not even the gods can control fate. Despite my warnings and those of the godess Circe, persistent as the wind, we could not stop the atrocity from taking place. My foresight as it is, is only a way to foray into what has yet to be. The capacity to prevent it, that is not in my power, nor is it really in the the gods’ influece, even Zeus, the king of the Gods, in his omnipotence can only succumb to fate. I can only foresee what has yet to burden him, and the success he has yet to achieve. However, at the present moment, I can only hope, Calypso the great nymph, can bring him safety in her island.  

Sources:

Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

Odyseus Blinding Polyphemos. Retrieved August 24, 2010, from: http://www.wayland.k12.ma.us/high_school/english/webenglishdj/images/Odysseus_Blinding_Polyphemu.jpg

Hades2. Retrieved August 24, 2010, from: http://semodyssey3.wikispaces.com/file/view/hades2.jpg/58519798/hades2.jpg

(No title). Retrieved August 24, 2010, from: http://www.wengraf.com/wengraf/images/ham-tel.jpg

Written by: Kendric Tee

Keeper of the Winds

“He gave me a bag made of the skin taken off a nine-year

ox, stuffed full inside with the courses of all the blowing

winds, for the son of Kronos had set him in charge over

the winds, to hold them still or start them up at his pleasure.”

A man enshrouded in the shadows entered the palace and carefully treaded on the cold, hard floor. Stepping into the light that shone from above, his clothes were tattered as if he was bitten and clawed by a fearsome beast, yet without a sound, I recognized him. He had returned. Across the man was a golden table that looked as if it was carved by the gods themselves. Six boys and six girls sat normally, puzzled as to why he was back. At the far end of the table, I sat with my beloved wife. “Why have you come back, hero? I bestowed upon you the power to return to your home, and yet, you are here standing in my abode. What is the meaning of this?” The man, who looked wearier than ever, described what had happened. According to him, greed and jealousy engulfed his men. They took the bag from him whilst sleep overcame the man like a thief at night, and opened it nonetheless. They were sent back here. That said, he begged me once more to aid him in his journey. All at once, my curiosity transformed into a blend of fear and anger. As swift as Zeus’s lightning bolt, I stood up, and screamed, “Poseidon’s beard! Leave this place! Hurry! I shall no longer help you, hero. The blessed gods have spoken. They do not favor you anymore.”

Luck has always been on my side. Ever since the Olympians won the Great War, fate has determined who and where I am today. Back then, my steadfast nature proved its usefulness as I was chosen by Hera to keep each of the four winds locked up in a floating island, which was then named Aiolia after my own name. My life since then has been very fruitful not because I had the power of the winds at my disposal, but because I had a family to take care of. Amphithea became my wife, and through her my twelve dear children were born. The gods blessed us with a marvelous home that exceeded others in terms of beauty and wonder. Luxury was my friend as I spent everyday in a large house containing all sorts of treasures. I am Aiolos, the God of the Winds, Reiner of Horses, and Son of Hippotas.

“Please, make yourselves at home. Just as the gods have blessed me with plenty, I allow you to stay in my island until you all have regained your strength,” I said gleefully. The man, who was the group’s leader, took this as a sign of hospitality, and nodded. With that, I called the servants to prepare a feast for the guests, and called my family to join us for dinner. Once the table and food were prepared, I shouted in a low but commanding voice, “Let the feast begin!”

After eating, as the others were motioned to their rooms, I called out for their leader. “Please, do tell me, who are you? What brings you here?,” I asked politely. The man revealed to me that he was Odysseus, hero of the Trojan War. He has sailed with his men to different islands, searching for a way to return to his home, Ithaca, where his lovely wife and child preside. His journey has taken him to Ailoia, my home. After which, he pleaded me to show him a way to go back and be with his family again, just as how I am with mine. I stopped to ponder over the words he had just spoken. “This man reminds me of myself. He, too, cares so much for his family, yet is separated from the very people he loves by some act of the gods,” I thought to myself. “So be it. I shall help you, but first, you must tell me about your journey and how you managed to arrive here.” Odysseus agreed, and spoke.

After a month of resting, Odysseus and his men were finally ready to set sail. Before leaving, however, I quickly took out a brown bag, and put in some of the winds that my island was famous for. “This bag is made to keep winds. Open it once your journey is almost over, and the winds that are contained within this bag will take you home, to where your family awaits your return. May the gods bless you and your trip!”

Sources: Lattimore, R. (2007). The Odyssey of Homer. (Rev. Ed.) New York: Harper Perrenial Modern Classics

http://xsmyth2012.wikispaces.com/Aeolus

Written by: Kyle Lim