“God has given the man the gift of song, to him beyond all others, the power to please, however the sprit stirs him on to sing,” (Book 8, Lines 51-53).
This quotation from Book 8 of The Odyssey stood out to me as a relevant point in anyone’s life. I find that music does, in fact, give all people the power to express themselves and to get their point across, often without words. In the case of The Odyssey, the musician comes and performs in order to please the guests and to tell the legends and stories through song. The “irresistible song” entitled “The Love of Ares and Aphrodite Crowned with Flowers” is sung and is enjoyed (Book 8, Lines 301-302). Songs do have “the power to please” and can grab the attention an audience more than a speech or lecture (Book 8, Line 52). When the ‘harper’ sings his dramatic, captivating song, “Odysseus relished every note as the islanders, the lords of the long oars and master mariners rejoiced,” (Book 8, Lines 411-413). The music is an appealing way to tell stories from long over time and to spread a message for the Greeks.
This idea of the “gift of song” is one that resonates for me in my own life. Music, for me, is a powerful medium to understand and express emotions and to get a point across. From songs like For Good from Wicked, to Respect by Aretha Franklin, the lyrics carry a message to be interpreted by the audience in any way they see fit. The way that the music is able to do this, more than simply writing the words, is that it entrances the audience and pulls in their attention with catchy melodies and upbeat tempos. Once the attention is grabbed a product can be sold, a point can be made, or a message can be put out in the open.
In both modern-day American culture and in The Odyssey, music is a gift and is a pleasing means of storytelling and entertainment.
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