Odyssey: Odyssey and Constantine Cavafy Essay

According to an unknown source, “It is not what an author states, but what he or she whispers that is important.” In other words little details in a work are actually important in fully understanding it. Two works that prove this quote true are The Odyssey by Homer and “Ithaka” by Constantine Cavafy.
The Odyssey by Homer proves that this quote is true in many ways. There were many events in this poem where little details could teach the reader a lot. One was when Odysseus and his men went to The Land of the Lotus Eaters. Though the author does not say it, it is obvious that he is trying to tell the reader to resist temptation and to restrain oneself from doing things that will end badly. When they faced the Cyclops, Homer was trying to teach the reader that guests should be treated with respect. Even though Odysseus was cunning and brave while in the Cyclops’s cave, he was arrogant and teased the Cyclops. That taught the reader not to flaunt his/her abilities. The Sirens sang songs to get sailors to go to them, and once they got there they would kill them. The Sirens taught that temptation could lead to dangerous situations. When Odysseus and his men encountered Scylla and Charybdis the lesson was always keep ones head high and expect the unexpected. When his men ate The Cattle of the Sun God, they got a terrible punishment. They were all killed and their ship was destroyed. This was trying to tell the reader that one cannot take what’s not yours. The suitors who were trying to marry Odysseus’s wife taught a lesson too. They taught that one shouldn’t overstay a welcome. They faced their consequences when Odysseus killed them all. His revenge taught that people can take matters into their own hands and reclaim what is theirs. Penelope’s Test was meant to tell the reader to be selective with a mate and not to trust everyone. The lessons that were taught in The Odyssey show that this quote is true.
“Ithaka” by Constantine Cavafy can also prove this quote true. The author doesn’t say it, but “Ithaka” is really about death. It is about the journey from life to death. It starts out

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