Ms.

Piette English 1

Constructed Response for The Necklace

Does Mathilde change from the beginning of the story to the end of the story? How? Give three examples and include at least one quote from the text.

Example Before writing your constructed response, take a look at the example of a constructed response below. It is longer than what you will write and the question is different, but consider 1.) the structure, 2.) the tone, and 3.) the way the arguments are made in the example. Try to emulate these in your own constructed response.

Is Calypso a bad person for keeping Odysseus on her island for seven years? Why or why not? Give three examples and include at least one quote from the text. Calypso, the nymph goddess of Homers epic, The Odyssey, is often portrayed as a villain for keeping Odysseus captive for seven years. Yet when compared to other monsters in this tale, one might find that Calypsos actions are neither evil nor unreasonable. Calypso has purpose in keeping Odysseus on her island, releases him when she is commanded to, and mourns losing him as her companion. Due to these humanizing traits, Calypso is not a villain at all, but a sympathetic and misunderstood character. First and foremost, Calypso is made into a relatable character because she has motivation for her actions. She is lonely, having been alone on her island for countless years, and yearns for a companion. When Odysseus comes to her, half drowned, boatless, and in need of help, what is she to do? Certainly, one would not call her evil for taking him in and nursing him back to health. Certainly, one would not call her evil for merely wanting him to stay and ease her loneliness. Calypsos motivation is particularly important in identifying the role of her character because none of the other villains or monsters Odysseus faces are given such in-depth and understandable reasons for their actions. The Cyclops, wronged though he may have been, overreacted in eating Odysseuss men; Circe had no reason at all to turn Odysseuss men into pigs; and Scylla and Charybdis seem to be unthinking killing machines. One might argue that the suitors have humanistic motivation, but it is important to note that, unlike Calypso, they are

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human. If anything, Calypso outdoes herself by showing such compassion despite not being human at all. Further, although Calypso has good reason to want Odysseus to stay on her island, she does not physically force him to do so. In fact, in a way Odysseus exiles himself to Calypsos island because the reason he gives for staying is that he dare not cross a goddess. The reader sees nothing of escape attempts on his part, or arguments with Calypso over the subject. Rather, the hero seems to accept his fate and the loneliness of this minor goddess, and resigns himself to a seven year stay on a gorgeous island with a goddess who loves him. Of course, the reader is introduced to Odysseus as he cries over his captivity, but he also never mentions anything he did to try escaping this fate. When word comes from Zeus that Calypso must release Odysseus, she does so almost immediately. She is not unreasonable, and if Odysseus had kept his famous wits about him, he may have talked his way off of Calypsos island with no trouble at all. Finally, Calypso is humanized by the vulnerability she shows when Odysseus is about to leave her island. Although she is a goddess, Calypso feels hurt by Odysseuss leaving her, and wonders if he is leaving because there is something wrong with her. She compares herself to Penelope, asking Odysseus Can I be less desirable than she is?/Less interesting? Less beautiful? Can mortals/compare with goddess in grace and form? (lines 109-111). Doubting oneself after a breakup is commonly seen today, and Calypso becomes an even more relatable character when she shows this very same thought process. Even so, despite her self-doubt and bitterness, she wishes Odysseus well in all that he does (line103). All things considered, Calypso is actually one of the most human characters in all of The Odyssey. The perception that she is a villain must be erased, for she is in fact a complex character who has motivation, reason, and feelings. She may not be perfect, but Calypso is definitely not evil either.