Calypso, the nymph who has been living on the island of Ogygia for years, is upset with a recent message from Hermes, the messenger of the gods. The message informed her that she must release her captive, Odysseus.
The Background Story
To understand why Calypso is so upset with the message from Hermes, we must delve into the backstory.
Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, was on his way home after fighting in the Trojan War when he was shipwrecked on Calypso’s island. Calypso fell in love with him and kept him captive on her island for seven years. During this time, she promised him immortality and eternal youth if he stayed with her.
However, Odysseus did not want to stay on the island forever. He longed to go back to his wife and son in Ithaca.
He begged Calypso to let him leave but she refused. Finally, Zeus ordered that Odysseus be released from captivity and sent a message to Hermes to deliver it to Calypso.
Why is Calypso Upset?
Now that we have some background knowledge about what happened between Odysseus and Calypso let’s dig deeper into why she is so upset with Hermes’ message.
Firstly, Calypso had grown deeply attached to Odysseus during his stay on the island. She had fallen in love with him and had promised him eternal life if he stayed with her. The news of his release must have been heartbreaking for her as it meant that her beloved would leave her forever.
Secondly, as a nymph who could command elemental powers over nature itself, Calypso was used to getting what she wanted. The fact that a mere messenger had been sent by Zeus himself must have been a blow to her ego. She had been defied by the gods and there was nothing she could do about it.
Lastly, Calypso was not ready to let go of Odysseus. She had grown accustomed to his presence on the island and was not prepared to let him go just yet. The news of his release must have come as a shock to her and she must have felt that fate was being cruel to her.
The End of the Story
Despite her protests, Calypso eventually released Odysseus from her captivity. However, she did not do so willingly.
She even tried to convince him to stay with her, but he refused. Odysseus eventually left the island of Ogygia and went back home to his wife and son.
In conclusion, Calypso’s upset with the message from Hermes can be attributed to a number of factors such as her attachment to Odysseus, her ego being defied by the gods, and her reluctance to let go of him. Nonetheless, she eventually had to release him from captivity.