Nausicaa and King Alcinous

BOOK 6

Here we meet Nausicaa, the daughter of King Alcinous. She is sleeping in her room, Athene, takes the form of Nausicaa’ friend and suggests that she should do laundry. In the morning she asks her Father for a wagon, which he says he will provide. A teenage girl in the ancient world, she has a messy room, and has her Dad wrapped around her little finger, some things don’t change.

The girls go to the river and wash the clothes, when the washing is done the girls start playing in the river throwing a ball to each other. Nausicaa throws the ball to in of her friends and the girl misses catching it, the girls start screaming, like girls do, and Odysseus wakes up. Now what? Odysseus wants to get a look, you have to appreciate his dilemma, he is a grown man, dirty and naked. How does he approach these teenage girls without absolutely terrifying them? The other girls do runoff, but Nausicaa stands her ground, and how does Odysseus win her over? With words of flattery oh course.

“Oh queen “he said, “I implore your aid-but tell me, are a goddess or are you a mortal women?

“Most happy, however, of all will he be whose wedding gifts have been the richest, and who takes you to his own home. I have yet saw so anyone so beautiful, neither man nor woman, and am lost in admiration as I behold you.”

“And now, O queen have pity upon me for you are the first person I have met, and I know no one else in this country.”

May heaven grant you in all the things your heart’s desire-husband, house, and a happy peaceful home; for there is nothing better in this world than that man and wife should be of one mind in a house.”

Nausicaa decides Odysseus means them no harm and says she will show him the way to town. They let Odysseus take a bath in the river; give him some clothes to wear, and something to eat. Before starting back to town Nausicaa give Odysseus some instructions on how to approach her Father and Mother, actually she said to go to mother first. Also she said to wait a grove of trees for a time so she can get to her father’s house first. They start off, when they reach the grove of trees Odysseus waits there and prays to Athene. I found it ironic that Athene would not show herself openly to Odysseus because of her Uncle Poseidon, who by the way still wanted to make it difficult for Odysseus to get home. It keeps the tension going.