why does calypso keep odysseus

Calypso is an immortal goddess

who holds Odysseus prisoner for seven years on the island where she lives and forces him to be her lover. Calypso loves Odysseus and wants to make him immortal so he can stay with her and be her husband forever, even though she understands that he doesn’t love her back and wants to return to Penelope.

Full Answer

Why did Calypso hold Odysseus captive?

The Odyssey Even then, Circe helps the Greeks with supplies and advice. Calypso, on the other hand, is an egocentric, dominating goddess who holds Odysseus captive for seven years in hopes of marrying him. When he resists and is liberated by Hermes under orders from Zeus, Calypso offers him immortality if he will stay.

Why did Calypso hold Odysseus back?

In the epic poem, Odysseus is held prisoner on Ogygia for seven years. Calypso refuses to help him get home, offering him everything from sex to immortality to persuade him to forget Penelope and his family in Ithaca. Calypso's greedy heart wants Odysseus to stay with her forever as her husband.

Why does Calypso release Odysseus?

In Homer's Odyssey, Book V (also Books I and VII), she entertained the Greek hero Odysseus for seven years, but she could not overcome his longing for home even by promising him immortality. At last the god Hermes was sent by Zeus, the king of the gods, to ask her to release Odysseus.

How did Calypso keep Odysseus on her island?

Calypso kept Odysseus on the island as her slave/captive for seven years before freeing him at the behest of the Olympian gods. Still in love with Odysseus, Calypso helped him off the island by building his boats and giving him supplies.

What does Calypso promise Odysseus if he stays with her?

Calypso promises Odysseus a raft and provisions to help him homeward without harm – provided the gods wish it. Now Odysseus and Calypso say goodbye.

What would happen if Odysseus stayed with Calypso?

Calypso tells Odysseus that if he stays with her she will make him an immortal.

How did Calypso help Odysseus leave the island and why?

Calypso helps him build a new boat and stocks it with provisions from her island. With sadness, she watches as the object of her love sails away. After eighteen days at sea, Odysseus spots Scheria, the island of the Phaeacians, his next destination appointed by the gods.

Did Odysseus willingly stay with Calypso?

Calypso, in Greek mythology, seduced Odysseus and kept him for years away from his wife, Penelope, until Athena intervened; eventually Calypso had to let him go and even helped him to build his boat.

Why can't Calypso leave the island?

As punishment for her support of the Titans, Calypso was imprisoned in the phantom island Ogygia by the Fates. She cannot leave the island, but others can. As Hera felt pity, the gods gave Calypso several servants and will come to visit her every so often to bring the word of the outside world.

What happened to Calypso and Odysseus?

Calypso Loses Her Love. As time passed, Odysseus grew distraught on Calypso’s island. He still longed to return to his own home and human wife, no matter how lovely the nymph was. While Calypso sang to herself and worked at her loom, Odysseus established a new routine to fill his days.

What is Calypso's role in Greek mythology?

They each served a function, whether it was as the deity of a certain island or mountain or as a spirit of the ocean.

What did Hermes tell Odysseus to do?

Hermes relayed Zeus’s command that Odysseus needed to leave the island and return to his human family. Odysseus was not destined to live out his life with Calypso, and Zeus ordered the nymph to obey the dictates of fate. Calypso was furious that Zeus had commanded her to send Odysseus away.

Why did Hermes send Hermes to Ogygia?

The king of the gods sent Hermes to Ogygia to speak to the nymph that held Odysseus. When the messenger god arrived, Calypso immediately knew who he was, and hinted that she cold guess why he was there. Hermes relayed Zeus’s command that Odysseus needed to leave the island and return to his human family.

What did the Nymph do to Odysseus?

On the fifth morning the nymph filled the raft with food, water, and wine and presented Odysseus with fine new clothing. Calypso summoned a gentle breeze to fill the sail she had made and sent Odysseus on his way. When Poseidon learned that Odysseus had escaped Calypso’s island, he sent a storm to capsize the raft.

What happened to Odysseus when he escaped Calypso's island?

When Poseidon learned that Odysseus had escaped Calypso’s island, he sent a storm to capsize the raft. The hero was now under divine protection, however, and the sea nymph Ino came to his rescue. He reached the land of the friendly Phaeacians. When he tells his tale they agree to help him return to Ithaca.

How long did it take Odysseus to return home from the Trojan War?

In Homer’s Odyssey, it famously took the Greek hero Odysseus a full decade to return home from the Trojan War. After ten years at war, the long journey meant that he had been away from his wife and kingdom for a full twenty years! Odysseus famously sailed past Scylla and Charybdis, avoided the Sirens’ song, and visited the underworld for advice.

The Goddess Calypso

In order to fully understand and define Calypso, a minor goddess and nymph in Greek mythology, it is important to also lay out the role of her character, define the name ''Calypso'' itself (i.e., what does ''Calypso'' mean?), and recognize Calypso's heritage and form in the larger context of Greek mythology (i.e., what is Calypso?).

Calypso in Homer's Odyssey

Homer's Odyssey is a Greek epic poem about the journey of the story's hero, Odysseus, trying to find his way home after the end of the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters gods and creatures of all sorts. One deity that Odysseus comes across on his journey is Calypso. Calypso falls in love with Odysseus the moment he lands on Ogygia.

Calypso from Greek Mythology

For this activity, you will answer several questions that will enhance your understanding of Calypso from Homer's Odyssey. Make sure to respond thoroughly to all of the following questions. Write in complete sentences, and use specific text examples to prove your ideas.

Who is Calypso in the Odyssey?

Share Link. Unlike that other temptress Circe, Calypso the nymph goddess tries very hard to keep Odysseus by her side. After seven years, however, of being with Calypso as she sings beautifully and weaves, Odysseus is longing to be reunited with Penelope. Odysseus is closely watched over by his patron goddess Athena.

Why does Calypso agree with Athena?

Calypso agrees in part because she has little choice. Athena has intervened with Zeus to persuade the king of the gods to order Odysseus's release, and Hermes carries the message to Circe in the form of an order from Zeus.

What does Athena ask Zeus to do when Odysseus is unhappy?

When Athena perceives how unhappy Odysseus has become, she asks Zeus to free him from Calypso's grasp. The gods convene to discuss this. Zeus agrees Odysseus should be liberated and orders the messenger God Hermes to deliver the news to Calypso. He does so, and Calypso gets angry.

Who later causes the wind and the waves to rage against Odysseus?

It is Poseidon that later causes the wind and the waves to rage against Odysseus. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team.

Does Calypso want to give up Odysseus?

He does so, and Calypso gets angry. She doesn't want to give up Odysseus, but simply doesn't want to be there with her anymore. Although she complains that the male gods have double standards about keeping lovers, she has no choice at this point but to let Odysseus go. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team. Alec Cranford.

What does Calypso offer Odysseus if he stays with her?

In The Odyssey, what does Calypso offer Odysseus if he stays with her? Calypso tells Odysseus that if he stays with her she will make him an immortal. However, Zeus orders her to let Odysseus go back to his beloved wife Penelope. She reluctantly lets him go, warning him of a difficult and dangerous journey home.

Where does Calypso go after Odysseus?

After being given Jove's message from Mercury, Calypso unfortunately has to relinquish Odysseus and send him onward to his home of Ithaca and to continue his adventures.

What does Ulysses refuse to do?

Ulysses refuses. He admits that Calypso is more beautiful than his wife, but says that he can't stop thinking about his home and wants nothing more than to return to Penelope. At the beginning of Book V, the Gods meet in council and Jove the Lord of Thunder decrees that Calypso must set Ulysses free.

What does Athena tell Zeus about Odysseus?

At the beginning of Book Five, Athena petitions Zeus to intervene in Odysseus's dire situation and reminds him that Odysseus is being held prisoner by the nymph Calypso while the unscrupulous suitors threaten Telemachus's life. After listening to Athena, Zeus instructs Hermes to inform Calypso that she must allow Odysseus to leave her island ...

What does Calypso say to Zeus?

Hermes proceeds to relay Zeus's message regarding Odysseus's fate. Calypso responds by saying that the gods are far too harsh and jealous of her for sleeping with Odysseus. Although Calypso is upset, she recognizes that she cannot override Zeus's decision and obediently follows his instructions. Calypso informs Odysseus ...

What does Calypso promise to Ulysses?

Ulysses fears she will make his journey difficult, but Calypso promises she will do what she can to see him home safely. She gives him an axe and shows him the best tree to cut down and build a raft from. The next day, she gives Ulysses a supply of wine and bread and he sets out towards home.

What does Neptune say about Ulysses?

King Neptune sees Ulysses sailing across the sea and is angry that the Gods have again changed their mind. He states , "He shall have plenty of hardship yet before he has done with it," meaning that he intends to make this leg of Ulysses's journey harder than any before.

Who is Calypso in The Odyssey?

The Odyssey. Calypso is an immortal goddess who holds Odysseus prisoner for seven years on the island where she lives and forces him to be her lover. Calypso loves Odysseus and wants to make him immortal so he can stay with her and be her husband forever, even though she understands that he doesn’t love her back and wants to return to Penelope.

Who did Odysseus sleep with?

Neither the poet nor any of the poem’s characters rebuke Odysseus for sleeping with Calypso and Circe, but Penelope is repeatedly criticized for allowing the suitors to remain in her house, even though she has little or no power to expel them. Previous section Athena Next section Circe.