Sometimes I Laugh And Then I Remember That Odysseus Has Triggered Tiresias' Prophecy By Trying To Escape

sometimes i laugh and then i remember that odysseus has triggered tiresias' prophecy by trying to escape it and suddenly nothing's funny anymore

posting my deranged ramble on eurylochus epic the musical here because i'm kinda sick of the eurylochus slander going on in some parts of the fandom

I can't help but see eurylochus’ trust in odysseus as comparable to that of faith in a god– his worldview of “cut your losses” was challenged numerous times by odysseus continuing to try and stick to polites’ “open arms” philosophy which is arguably more morally good, and so he too began to change his mind, but when odysseus willingly sacrificed 6 men, even if it was the better option at the time, the fact that he made the sacrifice knowlingly rather than pulling off another miraculous success with circe, where he saved all their men turned into pigs, or when he made a last-minute plan with the cyclops, this shattered eurylochus’ faith in odysseus and his worldview and that putting his trust in him was the best option.

not to get all christian in this greek mythology musical but something something confessing his act of opening the wind bag, something something confessing sins. perhaps eurylochus blamed himself for everything that happened after the wind bag, poseidon, etc. something something seeking redemption, absolution, something something realizing that odysseus isn't some infallible being but just a man, like him. something, odysseus is going to put his desire to reunite with penelope and telemachus above eurylochus and the crew’s wellbeing, odysseus isn't going to forgive him, he and the crew won't be able to make it back home. something something, “i need you to always be devout”. heck even the “i am neither man nor mythical” moment of hubris.

eurylochus killed the cow knowing he would die both because of the guilt he carried for opening the wind bag and betraying odysseus, and because of his hopelessness, accepting that there was no way they could make it home because odysseus was just a man, and even if he wasn't, he had already turned his back on him. they had already turned their backs on each other.

to be clear, i don't think eury actually saw odysseus as a god or anything, what with how he constantly second-guessed and challenged him, but he did definitely put him on a pedestal i think, and what's more, i think after the wind bag, eurylochus' trust in his own judgement took a hard hit, so he turned to odysseus to put that faith in him instead. especially after circe, where odysseus successfully saved all their men because he didn't listen to eurylochus' suggestion of cutting their losses, and during the underworld, where they were confronted by all the men that died (inadvertently) because of eurylochus' mistake. and then scylla happens, and eurylochus has the realization, odysseus isn't a miracle worker, he is not all that different from eurylochus. he’s just a man. and more importantly, he doesn't have the crew's best interests at heart. so then mutiny happens and eurylochus realizes that he's not as good of a leader as odysseus is, he can't get them home, odysseus can't or won't get them home, and succumbs to despair.

Hmmmmm!!! do you ever think about themes in the Hobbit!!! home as a physical place vs home as an idea, the breaking and changing of a home, the breaking and remaking of the self, cultural identity and its tangible shift among younger generations, an unquenchable unattainable need to return to the past, grief that is as insurmountable as it is mundane, hope above all other beliefs, integrity above all other ideals, families by blood and by choice, sacrificing happiness for the greater good, mistakes and how we face them, generational prejudice, generational trauma and mental illness, imperfect parents, how good intentions can become selfish so so so easily, the frenzied desire to feel you have accomplished something with your life, the need to be needed, etc etc etc etc etc

my roman empire is lowkey the dog that waited for odysseus to come back for like 20 years, was the only one who recognised his master in disguise and was too sick and tired and old to get up and greet him. And exactly because odysseus was in disquise he couldn't go to greet the dog and the dog FUCKING WIGGLES HIS LITTLE TAIL AND DIES ARGOS YOU WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED

It has been hard for me to talk about how what is going on with Israel and Palestine is affecting me personally, but I grew up in Gaza and most of my family still lives there. My father did not survive the bombings last week and I have not been able to contact my younger sister in days. I am try to being understanding that most people do not have personal connections to what is happening and therefore are justifying their silence, but is heartbreaking to see this misinformation being spread. What’s happening there is a genocide, not a war. It is not antisemitic to support Palestine, it’s not even antiemetic to criticise Israel. There is no grey area or neutrality regarding this, and it is so easy to find resources that will educate you on the subject. It is my people and my home being destroyed so I will never be silent about this, but I please urge everyone to get informed and start speaking up and finding ways they can help.

decolonizepalestine has tons of information on Palestine’s history/propaganda that has been spread throughout the years

UK citizens can email their MP asking for a ceasefire

US citizens can call/email their local government officials asking for a ceasefire

Jewish Voice for Peace also has many resources for ways for US citizens to get involved, including protests

Donate to Palestine Children’s Relief Fund

Donate to Medical Aid for Palestine

Donate to help get food and hygiene kits to Gaza