The Wrath of Athena: Gods and Men in The Odyssey

by Jenny Strauss Clay

Available in paperback for the first time, Jenny Strauss Clay's landmark study of the Odyssey argues that Athena's wrath is central to both the structure and the theme of the epic poem. Clay demonstrates that an appreciation of the thematic role of Athena's anger elucidates the poem's complex narrative organization and its conception of the hierarchical relations between gods and men. This edition includes a new introduction by the author.

Genres: Mythology, Classics, Literary Criticism

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Laura Leaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply, this book is my favorite critical analysis of Homer's The Odyssey. In her commentary, Jenny Strauss Clay uncovers and discusses much of the brilliant wordplay, history, and deep motivations of the poem. I find myself returning again and again to these pages, always awed by Clay's knowledge.

[Matt McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great analysis of the Homeric epics! Clay's lucid, informative and engaging writing style coupled with her obvious authority make this book a must read for those wanting a deeper critical analysis of the Iliad and Odyssey. She focuses on a few topics rather than taking a broad view: the relationship between gods and men (thus religion) , the contract between brute force βιη and the cunning mind μετι (with its sister δολος - trickery) and the special relationship of Odysseus to the gods.

Clay has a clear objective to explain what is hidden to most readers - The wrath of Aetna for the Greeks who sacked Troy and for Odysseus in particular. I had always considered the goddess to be a life-long friend of the man of many turns who had seen many cities and knew the minds of many men ( I do love Homeric sentences - :)) Clay shows why that is an incomplete notion.

I'm search for a first edition hardback to but on my shelf. It's not surprising it's hard to come by.

[Popebrak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author once wrote, in a letter on the New York Times' editorial page, "I am not a Straussian, but, like Leo Strauss, I am spending my adult life teaching Plato at the University of Chicago."

How has the Classics/Political Philosophy world failed to get hip to this? That the daughter of Leo Strauss has written such a profoundly Platonic analysis of Homer's Odyssey?

Teachers of Plato's political philosophy would be well-served by reviewing this engaging text, along with Seth Bernadete's "The Bow and the Lyre" and Lawrence Lampert's "How Philosophy Became Socratic."