It comes and goes in waves, I am only led to wonder why

A lot will agree that great movies and stories include a thrilling plot, a grandiose setting or some type of mortal struggle. Most of the time, these works include the faithful sidekick of an animal, or more namely, a pet. Dogs, cats and even birds are usually featured as the protagonist's companion and even aide. Including the relationship between man and animal is very common amongst literature and film. There is enough evidence to support the theory that animals feel what we feel. Looks may obviously differ, and species at that, but the charge of emotional sensitivity in both are in tandem. And there's just something poignant about dogs. I Am Legend. Hello.

I've noticed in book 17 of The Odyssey that Odysseus' dog Argos was given a slim portion of recognition. What was slimmer still, was the time between his introduction and his "closing". The poor old canine had his last breath right after we read about his background story. Years ago Odysseus had trained this dog to his prime, then proceeded to go to fight at Troy. This left a gaping hole in the heart of Argos, as supported by the fact that the dog strayed from his usual behavior ever since. The dog now lays there "castaway, on piles of dung from mules and cattle" (363).

           (A depiction of Argos the dog from Thirty More Famous Stories Retold )

 


It's funny, because I when I came upon this, I felt like it was an apropos symbol of how the people of Ithaca might have felt when their great leader departed. This applies especially to Odysseus' immediate family, like Penelope and Laertes. Penelope is said to "waste away her nights" and Laertes is a plain mess. Isn't it peculiar how the absence of one person in your life can lead to the deviation of so many aspects in your life? Depression will inevitably set in. You stop eating, sleeping, setting your alarm fastidiously at 5:45 am every morning. You stop noticing new things and allow room in your mind for the same ceaseless, black thoughts to plague your mind. You just stop being. When one individual means so much to you, it's sensible that you should feel empty when they're gone. The only time people appreciate something is when it is no longer there.

I'd also like to note the adroit way Homer writes this part of the novel, regardless of whether or not he intended it to be. He timed it so that the dog gets to see Odysseus one last time before passing away. Some would say it's cruel that Odysseus finally makes it back to his own house and Argos fails to have the sweet taste of a real reunion. However, I find that there is beauty in sadness. And the dog did die content, for he recognized the old beggar as his master, Odysseus. 

There's nothing like gaining closure on long-festering emotional strife. Now that the wound has closed, there is room for the scar to come in. And after that, it's like life itself.


It will fade.