DOI
https://doi.org/10.52284/NECJ.47.2.article.west
Publication Date
11-20-2020
Abstract
This article proposes a new view of the mysterious incident in which Odysseus wears Leukothea’s veil to make it safely ashore in Odyssey 5, arguing that it bears directly on one of the epic’s fundamental themes, the reunion of the hero with Penelope. Through an analysis of the traditional referentiality of the veil in the Homeric epics and of Odyssean similes associating shipwreck with family reunion, it is shown that Leukothea’s veil identifies Odysseus with Penelope while both signifying and magically effecting the recovery of chastity, and ultimately of his marriage.
First Page
1
Last Page
14
Recommended Citation
West, David
(2020)
"Shipwrecked Spouses: Leukothea’s Veil and Marital Reunion in The Odyssey,"
New England Classical Journal: Vol. 47
:
Iss.
2
, 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.52284/NECJ.47.2.article.west
Keywords
Homer, Odyssey, Odysseus, Penelope, Leukothea, veil, simile