In the epic poem "The Odyssey" by Homer, the protagonist Odysseus encounters several instances of witchcraft throughout his journey. However, it can be argued that Odysseus is portrayed as someone who mislaid witchcraft rather than succumbing to its power. One notable example is when Odysseus and his crew encounter the sorceress Circe on the island of Aeaea. Initially, Circe uses her magic to turn some of Odysseus' men into swine. However, Odysseus, through a combination of his cunning and the help of the god Hermes, is able to resist Circe's magic and convince her to restore his men back to their human form. This demonstrates Odysseus' ability to outsmart and overcome witchcraft rather than falling victim to it.
That’s certainly an inadequate summary of the book, but it is sufficient for asking this one question: how did I not know about this stuff? I was aware of the the witch hunt and heretical movements, of course, and never had the romantic notion that peasants really enjoyed being peasants or that acceptance to Catholic dogma was ever universal but still, it could not be said that I recognized the significance of pre-capitalist social struggle because I was never taught to. While always recognizing the limits of my empirical knowledge, I blithely assumed what I had been instructed to believe throughout my education, sometimes explicitly and sometimes implicitly: the pre-capitalist past, being so far away and belonging to such a different world than our own, does not really have anything to say to you – to assume any such relevance is to do violence to the past, to commit that sin of sins amongst historians, which is, of course, being ahistorical!
In fact, my favorite moment in the entire book came with a quote from Cotton Mather about how he must strive to think holy thoughts while going to the bathroom, so to distance himself from this beastly necessity of all the reasons to not romanticize the intellectual seriousness of Puritans, that has got to be near the top of the list. In an ironic twist of fate and clearly inspired by Charmed and Sabrina the Teenage Witch , my friends and I embraced the idea of magic without fear that the charge of witchcraft would lead to our torture and death.
This demonstrates Odysseus' ability to outsmart and overcome witchcraft rather than falling victim to it. Another instance occurs when Odysseus and his men find themselves trapped on the island of the beautiful enchantress Calypso. While Calypso uses her seductive powers to keep Odysseus on the island for years, he ultimately resists her advances and longs to return home to his wife Penelope.
Caliban and the Witch
A cult classic since its publication in the early years of this century, Caliban and the Witch is Silvia Federici's history of the body in the transition to capitalism. Moving from the peasant revolts of the late Middle Ages through the European witch-hunts, the rise of scientific rationalism and the colonisation of the Americas, it gives a panoramic account of the often horrific violence with which the unruly human material of pre-capitalist societies was transformed into a set of predictable and controllable mechanisms. It Is a study of indigenous traditions crushed, of the enclosure of women's reproductive powers within the nuclear family, and of how our modern world was forged in blood.
'Rewarding . . . allows us to better understand the intimate relationship between modern patriarchy, the rise of the nation state and the transition from feudalism to capitalism' Guardian
This showcases Odysseus' strong will and determination to resist the temptation of witchcraft and stay faithful to his wife. Overall, while Odysseus encounters various forms of witchcraft throughout his journey, he is portrayed as someone who is able to resist and mislay its power. His resourcefulness, intelligence, and loyalty enable him to overcome the enchantments and stay focused on his ultimate goal of returning home. By highlighting Odysseus' ability to mislay witchcraft, Homer emphasizes the hero's strength and resilience in the face of supernatural forces..
Reviews for "The Lure and Dangers of Witchcraft in Odysseus' Travels"
1. John - 2/5 - I found "Odysseus mislaid witchcraft" to be incredibly confusing and hard to follow. The storyline jumped around so much and the characters were poorly developed. I couldn't connect with any of them and ultimately lost interest in the book. The writing style was also difficult to understand, with long and convoluted sentences that made it a challenge to grasp the intended meaning. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Odysseus mislaid witchcraft" was a complete waste of time. The plot was weak and predictable, and the so-called twists were easily guessable. The characters were one-dimensional, lacking depth and complexity. The author failed to create a compelling and engaging story, leaving me bored and uninterested. I struggled to finish this book and was left feeling unsatisfied. I would advise others to steer clear of this novel as it does not deliver on its promises.
3. Michael - 2/5 - I was expecting great things from "Odysseus mislaid witchcraft" but was sorely disappointed. The writing was overly pretentious and self-indulgent, making it hard to stay engaged. The author seemed more focused on showcasing their vocabulary and literary techniques rather than telling a coherent and engaging story. I found myself skimming through pages to get to the end. The overall experience was underwhelming and left me questioning the praise this book has received.