Ithaca
...l destination. One of the most obvious differences between the two interpretations of Odysseus’ journey is given to us in the second line of the poem. “Hope the voyage is a long one.” Cavafy see a long journey full of enriching experiences as a good one, where Homer saw the delay in Odysseus reaching his destination as tragic. The tragedy of the long voyage is emphasized in the first book by Athena, who expresses her sympathy for Odysseus because of his drawn out journey. Cavafy describes a lengthy journey as bringing “pleasure” and “joy.” The poem closes, but not without a final emphasis on the importance of the long journey. In Homer’s epic, Odysseus is warned by the stories of men who returned to their homes after a voyage to find either their land or their wealth to be destroyed. Agamemnon, who returned to his home to find that his brother had taken over his wealth and his marriage gives Odysseus warning by example. It is Odysseus hope to avoid the same fate as these men. Cavafy, on the other hand, suggests that the state in which he finds Ithaca upon his return is irrelevant because his journey is more important. “And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you. / Wise as you will have become, so full of experience.” Cavafy’s way of thinking about Odysseus’ journey can be applied to several specific experiences along the way. Odysseus’ encounter and experience with Kirke is one of the things he was meant to experience along his journey. In their encounter, Kirke was able to use her beauty and witch-like ways to change Odysseus’ actions. At one moment he was rush...