WomenofSubstanceinHomericEpic:Objects, Gender,AgencyLilahGraceCanevaro
https://ebookmass.com/product/women-of-substance-in-homericepic-objects-gender-agency-lilah-grace-canevaro/
Instant digital products (PDF, ePub, MOBI) ready for you
Download now and discover formats that fit your needs...
The Stigma Matrix: Gender, Globalization, and the Agency of Pakistan's Frontline Women 1st Edition Husain
https://ebookmass.com/product/the-stigma-matrix-gender-globalizationand-the-agency-of-pakistans-frontline-women-1st-edition-husain/
ebookmass.com
The Psychology of Women and Gender 8e Edition Margaret W. Matlin
https://ebookmass.com/product/the-psychology-of-women-andgender-8e-edition-margaret-w-matlin/
ebookmass.com
The Imperial Women of Rome: Power, Gender, Context Mary T. Boatwright
https://ebookmass.com/product/the-imperial-women-of-rome-power-gendercontext-mary-t-boatwright/
ebookmass.com
Sedation E Book: A Guide to Patient Management 5th Edition, (Ebook PDF)
https://ebookmass.com/product/sedation-e-book-a-guide-to-patientmanagement-5th-edition-ebook-pdf/
ebookmass.com
American Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st Century (Fifth Edition) 5th Edition, (Ebook PDF)
https://ebookmass.com/product/american-foreign-policy-the-dynamics-ofchoice-in-the-21st-century-fifth-edition-5th-edition-ebook-pdf/
ebookmass.com
Kant and the Naturalistic Turn of 18th Century Philosophy
Catherine Wilson
https://ebookmass.com/product/kant-and-the-naturalistic-turn-of-18thcentury-philosophy-catherine-wilson/
ebookmass.com
Monarchies and the Great War 1st ed. Edition Matthew Glencross
https://ebookmass.com/product/monarchies-and-the-great-war-1st-ededition-matthew-glencross/
ebookmass.com
Modern Operating Systems 5th Edition Andrew S. Tanenbaum
https://ebookmass.com/product/modern-operating-systems-5th-editionandrew-s-tanenbaum/
ebookmass.com
His to Take (The Rowdy Johnson Brothers Book 1) Tory Baker
https://ebookmass.com/product/his-to-take-the-rowdy-johnson-brothersbook-1-tory-baker/
ebookmass.com
Secret
https://ebookmass.com/product/secret-obsession-mated-queensbook-2-n-slater/
ebookmass.com
WOMENOFSUBSTANCEINHOMERICEPIC
Womenof Substancein HomericEpic
Objects,Gender,Agency
LILAHGRACECANEVARO
GreatClarendonStreet,Oxford,OX26DP, UnitedKingdom
OxfordUniversityPressisadepartmentoftheUniversityofOxford. ItfurtherstheUniversity’sobjectiveofexcellenceinresearch,scholarship, andeducationbypublishingworldwide.Oxfordisaregisteredtrademarkof OxfordUniversityPressintheUKandincertainothercountries ©LilahGraceCanevaro2018
Themoralrightsoftheauthorhavebeenasserted FirstEditionpublishedin2018
Impression:1
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedin aretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,withoutthe priorpermissioninwritingofOxfordUniversityPress,orasexpresslypermitted bylaw,bylicenceorundertermsagreedwiththeappropriatereprographics rightsorganization.Enquiriesconcerningreproductionoutsidethescopeofthe aboveshouldbesenttotheRightsDepartment,OxfordUniversityPress,atthe addressabove
Youmustnotcirculatethisworkinanyotherform andyoumustimposethissameconditiononanyacquirer
PublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericabyOxfordUniversityPress 198MadisonAvenue,NewYork,NY10016,UnitedStatesofAmerica
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData Dataavailable
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2018932390
ISBN978–0–19–882630–9 Printedandboundby CPIGroup(UK)Ltd,Croydon,CR04YY
LinkstothirdpartywebsitesareprovidedbyOxfordingoodfaithand forinformationonly.Oxforddisclaimsanyresponsibilityforthematerials containedinanythirdpartywebsitereferencedinthiswork.
Preface
WomeninGreekepicaretreatedasobjects,ascommoditiestobe exchangedinmarriageorasthespoilsofwarfare.However,women also use objectstonegotiatetheirownagency,subvertingthemale viewpointbyusingtheveryformtheythemselvesarethoughtbymen toembody.ThisbookfollowsthewaysinwhichwomeninHomeric epicuseobjectstonegotiatetheiragency,toexpressthemselves, andtocontributeintheirownwaytotheaction.Femaleobjectsin Homercanbesymbolicallysignificantandpowerfullycharacterizing. Theycanbetoolsofrecognitionandidentification.Theycanpause narrativeandbeusedagonistically.Theycansendmessagesandbe vesselsformemory.
ThisbookbringstogetherGenderTheoryandtheburgeoning field ofNewMaterialisms,combininganapproachpredicatedontheidea ofthewomanasobjectwithonewhichquestionstheverydistinction betweensubjectandobject.Thisproductivetensionleadsusto decentrethemalesubject andtoputcentrestagenotonlythe woman as objectbutalsotheagencyofwomen and objects.This bookisanexpressionofawiderphenomenon,whatVitalMaterialist JaneBennetthascalled ‘attentivenesstothings’.Itusesabackdropof ThingTheoryinitsmanifoldmanifestationstounpackthekeyideas of ‘object’ and ‘agent’,providingamodelofagencywhichoperateson aslidingscale,governedbyroleinsocietyandnarrativeandcoloured bygender.Maleandfemalemodelsofagencythroughobjectsare teasedapartintermsofnarrativeprogression,boundaries,symbolism,andchronology.LiminalwomenlikeHelenandPenelope,torn betweenlivesandoutsidenormal kyrios control,areseparatedoutas aparticularcategorywithastrikingdegreeofautonomythrough objects.Odysseusishighlightedasauniquemalecharacterwitha uniquerelationshiptoobjects,subordinatedformuchofhisepicby thetextilesofthewomenwhoseektoshapehim,andforegroundedas creator,repurposer,andmanipulatorofmaterials.Objectsareshown tobepowerful,yetnotinfallible,asultimatelyHomerreflectsontheir limitationsandestablishesahierarchyofmemoryinwhichmortals andmaterialsareoutdonebyepicpoetry.
AttentivenesstothingsinHomericepichasimplicationsnotonly forourreadingofcharacterandnarrative,butalsoforourunderstandingoftheroleofwomeninHomericsociety.Thegenderroles andthehuman/objectinteractionsexploredhaveto mean something totheiraudience,andinorderforthistobethecasethepoetmustbe reflecting,atleasttosomedegree,culturalnormsandsocialtruths. Combininganthropologicalandmemorystudieswithgenderstudies, thisbookrevealsanuancedawarenessofthefemalerole,codes,and viewpointonthepartofHomerwhichistestamentbothtoapoetic sensitivityandtoasocialone.GenderTheoryandNewMaterialisms arebroughttogethertorevealthatHomericwomenarenotonly objectifiedbutarealsowell-versedusersofobjects.Thisissomething thatHomerportraysclearly,thatOdysseusunderstands butthat hasoftenescapedmanyothermen,fromOdysseus’ alteregoAethon in Odyssey 19tomodernexpertsonHomericepic.
Acknowledgements
ThisbookbeganasapostdoctoralprojectfundedbytheAlexander vonHumboldtFoundationattheUniversityofHeidelberg.Forthat, IhaveJonasGrethleintothank myHumboldtsponsor,andafellow objectenthusiast.WorkonthebookcontinuedattheUniversityof EdinburghundertheaegisoftheLeverhulmeTrust,whereIhavehad theprivilegeofbringingtogetheradreamteamofscholarsataseries ofconferencesandpanels.IlearnedalotfromvisitorssuchasJon Hesk,MarioTelò,NancyWorman,andFromaZeitlin anditismy greatfortunetocontinuetocollaboratewithMelissaMueller.Drafts havebeenshapedandreshapedinresponsetocommentsfromFelix Budelmann,DouglasCairns,MichaelCarroll,DeborahLyons,Alex Purves,andthereadersandeditorsatOUP,anddiscussionswith KatharineEarnshawhavebeeninvaluableinshapingmythinkingon things.IamgratefultoMaureenAldenforguidingmetothebook’ s coverimage,andtoStephanieWinderforherhelpwiththe final hurdles.AwordofthanksalsotoJamesCorke-Webster,whosecasual mentionofObject-OrientedOntologysetmeonthepathoftheory.
Ihavetakenparticularpleasureinexploringquestionsoffemale agencyandidentitywhile findingmyfeetinacademiaasanew mother.Thankstomyson,Layton,forthecompany,thecuddles, andthecrashcourseintimemanagement.
Finally,Idedicatethisbooktoawomanofmoresubstancethan sheknowswhattodowith myMam.
2.ThePoliticsofObjects55
5.UncontainableThings245
ListofIllustrations
2.1and2.2.Drinkingcup(skyphos)withthedepartureandrecovery ofHelen.Painter:Makron;potter:Hieron;placeof manufacture:Athens, c.490–480 BC.MuseumofFine Arts,Boston,FrancisBartlettDonationof1912, 13.186. 78
4.1.JohnWilliamWaterhouse,UlyssesandtheSirens, 1891,oiloncanvas100.6 202.0cm,NationalGallery ofVictoria,Melbourne,Purchased1891(p.396.3–1). 168
5.1.Red-figureneckamphoraattributedtotheOwlPillar Group, c.450–430 BC.Depicting(possibly)Zeus andPandora/Elpis.BritishMuseum,F147. 258
Abbreviations
Abbreviationsofthenamesofclassicalauthorsandworksarethose usedinS.HornblowerandA.Spawforth(eds)(2012), OxfordClassical Dictionary,4thedition,Oxford.
Journalnamesareabbreviatedaccordingtotheusageof L’AnnéePhilologique. The Iliad textusedistheTeubnereditionofM.L.West(vol.11998,vol.2 2000),andthe Odyssey textisthatofH.vanThiel(1991).The Theogony text isWest’s1966edition,andthe WorksandDays his1978edition.Textsof the ShieldofHeracles andthe CatalogueofWomen aretakenfromGlenn Most’s2007Loebedition.
Introduction:TheProggyMat
MyNanausedtotellastory.Thewomenweremakingtheirproggy mats,exchangingscrapsoftextileandgossipboth.Thatday,oneof thegirlshadratheralotoffabrictouse. ‘He’sgoneoff,’ sheexplained succinctly.Thefabriccamefromclothesthathadbeen ‘his’—now shredded,destinedtobepokedandprogged,tofestoonthe floorand betroddendown.Themessagewasclear.
Inthisstory,theobjectssayasmuchasdothewomen ifnot more.Peopleandthingscommunicatewithandthrougheachother. Thereisasubtexttothetextiles,encodedanddecodedbythewomen. Inorderfullytounderstandthestory,wehavetoreadobjectaswell ascharacter;listentowhatisnotsaidbutisexpressedthrougha materialmedium.Wehavetobeattentivetothings.
Thisisastory.Butitisatruestory,ofrealpeopleandrealobjects. Itisalsoastorythattakesplaceagainstabackdropfamiliartoits audience(therewasprobablyaproggymatonthe floorwhenmy Nanawastellingit).Interpretationisstraightforwardwithinits context,minimalextrapolationrequired.What,then,happenswhen wetransferourattentiontothingsinamorecomplexandlayered narrative?Whathappens, firstofall,whenwedonothavemyNana, butratherawholesetofquestionsaboutauthorshipandtradition? Second,whathappenswhenthewomenandtheirobjectsarefound notinalivingroominthenorth-eastofEngland,butinaquasimythicalsettingprobablyasunfamiliartoanoriginalaudienceasto subsequentones?IntakingmyNana’sstoryoutofitscultural context,wealreadyrunintodifficultiesofcomprehension how manyofthisbook’sreadersactuallyknowwhataproggymatis?1
1 Anorthernbreedofragrug,ifyouwerewondering.
2 WomenofSubstanceinHomericEpic
Andthird,whathappenswhentheeyewitnessaccountofobjectsseen andtouchedisreplacedbyapoeticdescriptionofimaginedthings? ThisbookisconcernedwithwomenandobjectsinHomericepic.Itis abookaboutmaterialityandaboutagency butitisalsoabook aboutthepoeticrepresentationofthem.
Thestoryoftheproggymatstarswomen,andwastoldbyawoman, toafemaleaudience.Noneofthis findsitsparallelintheHomericepic tradition(unless,ofcourse,youareSamuelButler moreonhim later).Andyet,whatIshallcall ‘thepoliticsofobjects’ pertainsto bothstories.Inbeingattentivetothings,wecangivevoicetosilenced women;bringmarginalizedfemalecharactersintothespotlight; revealacomplexcodeofcommunicationandnegotiationofagency operatingwithingenderconstraints.Itisnot,ofcourse,onlyHomeric womenwhouseobjects:theHomericmaledomainhasitsown materialitytoo.Buttherelationshipbetweenobjectsandagencyis onethatiscoloured,influenced,even constituted bygenderroles.
Chapter1, ‘HowFarAreWefromaHotBath?’,setsthecontext andparametersoftheanalysis, firstbyplacingthisbookagainsta backdropofNewMaterialism or,moreaccurately,NewMaterialisms.Thisisarapidlyevolving fieldinphilosophy,anthropology,and thesocialsciences,anditisonewithwhichIengagethroughoutthis book.Itisa fieldwhichatitsbestproductivelyengenders ‘attentivenesstothings’,andIhopethatthisbookwillbothshowHomerto havesuchattentivenessandencouragereaderstodevelopthisattentivenessthemselves.InChapter1.1IusetheframeworkofThing Theoryinitsvariousmanifestationstounpackseeminglyinnocuous butinrealitysurprisinglyloadedtermslike ‘object’ and ‘agent’,and begintodefineandlocateagency,akeyconceptforthisbook.This sectionrelatesthenon-orpost-CartesianapproachesoftheNew MaterialismstoHomericepic,raisingthequestionofboundaries:to whatextentdoestheMaterialistslogan ‘Thingsareus!’ applyto Homer?Mostofthefoundationalstudiesinthe fieldofobjector ‘thing’ theoryareconcernedwiththedirect,real-worldrelation betweenpeopleandthings,andcomparativelylittleworkhasbeen doneon representations ofthatrelation:thatis,therelationshipas presentedorasconceivedinliterature,inart,indrama,orthrough othermedia.DrawingontheworkofAlfredGell,Chapter1.1argues thatthisrepresentationalfactorisofparamountimportance,asit makesasubstantialdifferencetothestatusofobjectsandtothe locationofagency.Thesectionconcludeswithanexplorationofthe
productivetensionbetweenthisbook’scoreapproaches:Gender TheoryandNewMaterialism.
WithChapter1.1havinglaidthetheoreticalgroundwork,Chapter 1.2thenaddressesthehistoricalandsocialramificationsofthisbook. Theimportanceofobjectsinelitemalegiftexchangeisexplored throughthecomplexexampleoftheexchangeofarmourbetween GlaucusandDiomedesin Iliad 6 ascenewhosemeaninghasbeen contestedsinceHomer’sauthorialcommentonwards.Thisdiscussionisbalancedbyaconsiderationoftheimportanceofobjectsatthe otherendofthesocialscale,throughthesceneofOdysseus’ meeting withtheswineherdEumaeusinwhichobjectsproliferate.Most importantly,theimplicationsof ‘attentivenesstothings’ forour readingofHomericsociety andspecificallytheroleofwomenin Homericsociety areworkedout.Chapter1.3thenbeginstodraw outsomeinitialdichotomiesandcategories,startingwiththedifferencesbetweenmaleandfemaleinteractionswithobjects.Itfocuses ononefunctionofobjectsthatisintrinsictoboththecontextand aimsoftheHomericpoems:thatofmemoryand,morespecifically, memorialization.Usingstudiesofculturalandcollectivememoryand anthropologicalstudiesofgiftgiving,thissectionbroadlydefines maleobjectsasoperatingonacontinuumofmemory.Theideaof theculturalbiographyofthingsisintroduced,andobjectsoflatent powersuchasAgamemnon’ssceptreandOdysseus’ bowareusedas examplesofitemswithprovenanceandlineage.Femaleobjects,onthe otherhand,aredefinedasprimarilyprospective,preservingmemory ofthepresentforposterity andthekeyfactorhereisthatofcreation. Homericwomenareforegroundedasproducersofobjects,andjustas theycreateanobjectandimbueitwithasymbolicresonance,sotoo dotheyhandlememoryinmuchthesameway.Thequestionof boundariesisrevisited,andadistinctionmadebetweenmenasusers ofobjectswithpermeableboundariesbetweenpersonandthing,and womenasconsciousofthecreativeprocessandthuslinkedto,yetat oneremovefrom,theobjectstheyproduce.
Chapter2, ‘ThePoliticsofObjects’,openswithadiscussionof differentmodelsandparametersoffemaleagency.IliadicandOdysseanwomenaredifferentiatedintermsoftheirrolesinwar-and peacetimerespectively,andthewaysinwhichAndromacheand Helenweaveareusedascasestudiesfor ‘normal’ and ‘exceptional’ femalecharacters.Chapter2.2engagesmorecloselywiththeseexceptionalwomen,bringingtogetherHelenandPenelopeintermsoftheir
liminalpositioninsociety.Suchaposition,withtheelevatedautonomyitinvolves,isshowntobereflectedinthesewomen’suseof objects,andinparticularintheirexpressedawarenessof kleos andthe mechanismsforachievingit.Eachwomanmakesanexplicitlinkwith theother,forgingaconnectionthroughtheirlackofmaleguardianship.Chapter2.3examinestheguardianofthe limen itself,Eurycleia, andheragentobjects:thedoorandthelock.Thisintroduces,onthe onehand,femaleproximitytothehouseasaphysicalobject:somethingwhichPenelopeexemplifiesthroughoutthe Odyssey,asinmany ofherappearancessheisstandingbesideapillar.Throughher openingandclosingofdoorsontotheaction,Eurycleiaalsointroducesthecinematicpotentialofepicobjects,andtheeffectthishason narrativepace.Anarratorialfocusor ‘zoomingin’ onobjectsslows therhythmofthenarrative.Whenthe ‘ camera ’ isontheobjects, thoughweknowthestoryiscontinuing,wecannotseeit.Thepace necessarilyslowsinthismaterialmoment.WhenPenelopeuses textilestopausetimeinIthaca,theonlyobjectthatcangettime movingagainisherandOdysseus’ maritalbed.Chapter2.3presents thebedasaconstitutivesymbolwithresonanceforbothgenders.Itis inalienable,andasiteofagonismforPenelope’shand,forOdysseus’ identity,andultimatelyforthedynamicsoftheirreconciliation.The bedandtheraftarebothobjectsmadebyOdysseus,butarestarkly contrasted,suggestingacorrespondingfemaleagonism:between Calypso,whodonatesmaterialforasail,andPenelope,who,should Odysseuseverarrivehome,willrecognizethematerialasagiftfrom anotherwoman.Suchamessagetransmittedthroughtextilesisone exampleofthecodedcommunicationwithwhichtherestofthis chapterisconcerned.Drawingonfeministliteratureonfemalecommunicativechannelsandthepotentiallyliberatingpoweroftechnology,thischaptertakestheseideasbacktobeforethejacquardloom, beforethetelephoneswitchboard,andarguesthatsuchchannelsare embeddedinHomericepic.Throughthecreationanddistributionof textiles,thesesupposedly ‘commodified’ characterscreatetheirown kindofcommerce,andtheirownwayofcommunicating.Thisisthe politicsofobjects:materialmeansofsendingmessagesbeyondthe household,promotingone’sownhouseholdand(inexceptional cases)oneself,andmappingalliancesthroughthedistributionof one ’shouseholdproduction.
Chapter3, ‘Object-OrientedOdysseus’,turnstotheeponymous andexceptionalhero.Hisrelationshipwithobjectsisauniqueone,
andonethatdeservesitsownchapterevenwithinabookonHomeric women.ThewaysinwhichOdysseususesobjectsraisequestions abouttheslidingscaleofagencyandhowitrelatestogender. Chapter2showedhowthebedallowsOdysseustoreclaimbothhis wifeandhimself:thatis,thepartofhimselfthatis τέκτων,an Odysseuswhohasbeenconcealedundertextilesformuchofthe poem.Chapter3.1followsthestringofwomenwhotrytousetextiles toshapeOdysseusintowhattheywanthimtobe.Odysseusisshown tobealiminal figure,farfromhome,yetunabletoputdownroots elsewhere,tornbetweenwomen,theiragentobjects,andthepotential livestheyrepresent.AsauniquemalecharacterintheHomeric poems,Odysseusexpresseshimselfthroughobjectsinaunique way.Beingmale,thisexpressioncanhardlycomeintheformof increasedagency;itmanifestsitself,therefore,withatwist.Thatthis twistiscolouredbythefemalespherepointstowardstheparallels betweenhisliminalpositionandthatofhiswife,aswellasthe homophrosynē thatbindsthem.Italsohighlightstheverycauseof hisliminality:themanywomenbetweenwhomheiscaught.
Chapter3.2focusesononeparticularobject:thechestgivento OdysseusbyAretein Odyssey 8.Closereadingofthispassageis combinedwithresearchonpsychologyandtheemotions,showing thistobeanexampleofHomericnostalgiaastheobjecttriggersa reveriewhichtakesthenarrator,theaudience,andOdysseushimself fromAretetoCirce,Calypso,andNausicaa.Crucially,andagainstthe expectationsofboththepsychologicalandHomericscholarship,this isaninstanceofnostalgiclongingforsomethingotherthan nostos. Drawingonscholarshiponentangledobjectsandtheanthropologyof thegift,Chapter3.2suggeststhatinthisstrikingpassageHomer reversestheontologicalpolarityofpersonandthing,asitisnotthe objectbut Odysseus whohasbeenpassedfromonepossessortothe next,andintheprocesshehasbecomethegiftuponwhichmemories areinscribed.Chapter3.3revisitsthegenderedmodelofcreation, focusingonhandiworkand,morespecifically,thehandsthemselves. Thehandisacontactpointbetweenpersonandthing,apointat whichtheboundarybecomesblurred.Thetransformativeeffectsof touchareexplored,intermsofmetonymyandhybridagencyand focusingonOdysseus’ proximitytopartsofhissailingvessels. Chapter3.4thenshiftsfromOdysseus’ creationofobjectstohis repurposingofthem,engagingwith ‘StuffTheory’ andexploring themuch-discussedthemeofOdysseus’ fluididentitythroughhis
6 WomenofSubstanceinHomericEpic
use,notofwords(themediummoregenerallyassociatedwithhim) butofobjects.Odysseus’ propensityforrepurposingistrackedalso insimile,withthereconceptualizingfunctionofsimilemobilized especiallyinrelationtothemanofmanyturns.Throughsimilethis Chapterrevisitsthedifferentbehavioursofobjectsinthe Iliad andthe Odyssey,andconsiderstheextenttowhichobjectsare ‘enlivened’ in figurativelanguage.
Chapter4, ‘BeyondtheVeil’,returnstothethemeofmemory, beginningthistimewithitslimitations.Chapter4.1exploressubversions,suppressions,andperversionsofmemory,throughtheSirens andtheMuseswhoclaimtomemorializebutdosowithambivalent resultsand(importantly)withoutobjects,andthroughthe pharmaka usedbyCirceandbyHelentotakeawaymemory.Odysseusappears againthroughoutthissection,asamalecounterpointtotheelevated femaleagencydescribed.TheninChapter4.2materialandmortal memoryarepushedtotheirlimits.Muchofthebookupuntilthis pointisconcernedwithwhatobjectscan do;inthissection,however, itisarguedthatobjectsarenotinfallible.TheHomericpoemsare showntoreflectonthelimitationsofobjects;howthememories encasedinobjectsarepresentedastransient;howthistransience hasagenderedaspect;andhowobjectsascommemoratorsare consistentlypresentedbythepoetasinferiortothemediumof poetry.Ahierarchyissetupbetweenmodesofmemory,going frommortalsandmaterialstoepic.Afurtherdistinctionismade betweenoralmemoryingeneral,suchasstoriesattachedtoobjects, andepicpoetryinparticularasthemostdurablechannelformemory. Asmanyofthepassagesdiscussedinthissectionshow,theentanglementofobjectsisaprecariousthing.DrawingonJanVansina’ s conceptofthe ‘floatinggap’ inoraltraditionalmemory,thischapter usesitsreadingofobjectstoshowthatHomerisdoingsomething striking:hedisplaysan awareness ofthis floatinggapbypointingout thecracksinmemory,revealingthatthereisinfactaremotepastthat islosttohisheroes.
Chapter4.3thenoffersawayinwhichobjectsmightbeableto overcometheirlimitations:throughentanglementwithimmortality, withthedivine.Thoughissuesofagencyandmemorymayseem almostredundantwhenitcomestothedivinesphere,evenon Olympustherearegenderrolesinoperationandsotherelative agencyofmaleandfemaleisupfornegotiation.Throughaseriesof examples,Chapter4.3considerswhetherfemalegoddesseshaveless
agencythanmalegods,andtowhatextentthesepositionsareestablished,expressed,andmanipulatedthroughobjects.Italsoexamines divineinteractionswithmortals,consideringthegenderroles assumedbytheimmortalswhentheyappearonearthandthegender rolestheypropagateformortals,andhowbothmanifestintermsof objects.Akey figureinthissectionisAthena,afemalegoddesswho reachesacrossthegenderboundary,anddoessospecificallythrough objects.Sheispatronofcrafts,bothmale(shipbuilding)andfemale (weaving):shegovernsthe ἱστός inbothitsgenderedincarnations. Adiscussionoftheaegisshowsthat,aswellasbeingentangledinthe immortalityandpowerofitspossessors,italsobecomeslinkedwith, evenshapedby,theirgender,andbeinglinkedwithbothgenders (usedbybothZeusandAthena),itdevelopssomethingofanidentity crisis.ThefocusthenturnstotheShieldofAchilles,andtheabilityof ekphrasistobridgethegapbetweenmaterialmemoryandepic memory,compensatingforthefailingsoftheformerwiththelongevityofthelatter.Thesectionthenofferstwoexamplesofinteractionsbetweengoddessesandmortalwomen,showinghowthe politicsofobjectscancrossoverbetweentheimmortalandmortal worlds.The first,thepresentationofarobetoAthenain Iliad 6, revisitsthequestionoffemalecodedcommunication,andmore specificallyconstitutesanexampleof miscommunication.Thesecond,Aphrodite’suseofobjectsin Iliad 3,revisitscategoriesofagency asitshowsacloseaffinitytoHelenandanunderstandingofher precariousliminalposition.Objectsaredefinedbythosewhouse them:theyacquirebiographiesandareentangledinstatusand gender.Theyarealsoentangledinthemortalityoftheirpossessors. Astheearliersectionsofthischaptershow,mortalsare flawed memorializers,astheycankeepmemoryaliveonlyforonelifetime. AccordingtoHomer,objectscannotdomuchmore.Buttocomplicatethingsfurther,noteventheimmortalsfeelsecureinthelongevity oftheirobjects.Chapter4.4temperstheprecedingsectionthrougha considerationoftheAchaean teichopoiia andPoseidon’sanxietyabout thedurabilityofhisownwall’smemory.Itconcludeswithaconsiderationofarchitecturalelementsandthewaysinwhichdynamicsof genderandagencyplayoutonalargescale.
Chapter5, ‘UncontainableThings’,deploysarangeofcasestudiesto pushtheanalysisbeyondtheboundsoftheHomericpoems,intothe Hesiodiccorpus(broadlydefined).Chapter5.1isatestofintertextualitythroughobjects,andalsoofwhatwemightcall ‘interobjectivity’ .
Onetypeofobject,thecontainer,isfollowedfromZeus’ twojarsoffate in Iliad 24,throughthenymphs’ jarsin Odyssey 13,toPandora’sjarin Hesiod’ s WorksandDays and(notably)itsabsencefromthe Theogony. Thissectionaddstothecompositeimageoftheobjectificationof womenbyconsideringtheobject-likedepictionofwoman,theblendingofanimateandinanimate.Onerecurringobjecttypeisusedto comparethecentralthemes,concerns,andperspectivesofeachofthe poemsinwhichitappears,inordertoofferanexampleoftheextent towhich ‘attentivenesstothings’ cannuanceourreading,notonlyof onepoem,butofarangeofpoetrytogether.Readingobjectsmore broadlycanenhanceourunderstandingofHomericobjects,interms oftheirresonanceforanaudience,theirembeddednessinpoetic diction,andparticularusesofmoregenerallymobilizedmotifs.The motifofthejaristhenfollowedintomaterialculture,withtwo examplesofreal-worldthingsthatshowPandora’sinextricableconnectionwithheragentobject.
Chapter5.2explorestherelationshipbetweenwomen,objects,and agencyinthe CatalogueofWomen.ThestoryofMestraiscompared withPenelope’ssolicitingofgiftsin Odyssey 18,toprovideapictureof women ’scontrolofwealthinthedomesticsphere.AsPenelope’srole shiftswhenhersoncomesofageandshemustshiftherstrategy tocompensate,soMestramobilizesthisideaofagenticshiftingat themythicallevel,asshecanphysicallychangeshape and,like Penelope,sheusesherabilitiesaspartofastrategytosupporther family finances.Mestrabecomesacommoditythatkeepsoncirculating.ThestoryofAlcmeneisusedasanothercasestudyinintertextualitythroughobjects,thistimefocusingonbonds:thebonds fromwhichAmphitryonhasescaped,recallingnotonlytalesof Prometheus,Heracles,andHephaestusbutalsoOdysseus.Odysseus hasbeenatriskofbeingboundbyvariouswomen;Amphitryonhas beenonhisownjourney,buthasescapedfrompowerfulbonds werethey,too,thebondsoffemaleallure?Thispotentialitytakeson anironiccastinthecontext,asinthisstoryitisthewife,notthe husband,whohasfamouslybeenunfaithful.Atalantaisdiscussedas anotherliminalcharacter,anditisshownthatthereversalofnormsand theconflationofsocialprocessesinthisepisodeareconveyedthrougha seriesofobjects.Finally,thekeyepisodeofthesuitorsofHelenis approachedintermsofHelen’selevatedagency,andthetelltalegifts offeredbyeachofthesuitors. Odyssey 18isagainutilizedintertextually indecodingOdysseus’ half-heartedwooingstrategyinthe Catalogue,in whichwordsaregivenprecedenceoverobjects.
Asthesummarysuggests,thisbookhasamultifacetedtheoretical framework,incorporatingculturalandcollectivememoryand anthropologicalstudiesofgiftgiving,feministliterarytheory,narratology,cinematography,psychology,andthestudyofemotions. Whatbringsalloftheseelementstogether,however,is ‘attentiveness tothings’:anewandproductivewayoflookingattheworldandour positioninit.AstrongimpetusbehindthisbookisthatoftheNew Materialisms:fromThingTheorytoVibrantMaterialism,StuffTheorytoActorNetworkTheory,Object-OrientedOntologytoMaterial EngagementTheory.Intheirdetail,thesetheoreticalapproachesmay notalwaysbeentirelyrelevanttothestudyofHomericepic.However,byallowingthesetheoriestoplayoutinthebackground, underpinningourreadings bytestingarangeofNewMaterialist theoriestodiscoverwhicharemoreusefulandforwhat weinevitablybringobjectstothefore,andkeepthemthere.Traditional literaryanalysisforegroundsthetext,thelanguage,thestyle,the poetics.Noneoftheseelementscanorshouldbeneglected,andyet wemightapproachthemfromanotherangle.Itiseasytoslipback intostandardexegeticalmodes,evenwhilstprofessingtofocuson literaryobjectsratherthanliterature.ButtheNewMaterialismshave generatedanewenthusiasmforthings;theyhaveproblematizedthe ingrainedCartesiandichotomybetweenmanandmaterial;theyhave initiatedadebatethatisnotsemiotic,butprimarilyontological.2 From suchavantagepoint bylettingobjectsleadourinterpretation we cantrulytackleoldproblemsinnewways.Readingancientliterature isthemostfundamentalactivityofeveryclassicist.Oneaimofthis bookistodevelopanewapproachtothismostessentialofendeavours.Itaimstoaddtotheclassicist’stoolkitanapproachdrawnfrom outsidethediscipline,yetcompellinglycompatiblewithit.TheNew Materialismsgiveusanewwayintoancienttexts,byaskingdifferent questionsofthetextsandtheauthorsandsocietiesthatproduced them,byforegroundingdifferentactants,byaground-breakingprogrammeof ‘anthropodecentrism’.Byfocusingonobjects firstand foremost,weresist,revisit,orrevisestandardmodesofliteraryexegesis.Byshakingupourowningrainedwaysofthinkingaboutthings, weleaveourselvesopentonewreadingsandnewunderstandingsof ancientworksandancientworldviews.Howcanmurderweapons standtrialinanAthenianlawcourt?DopropsinGreekdramahavea
stagelifeoftheirown?WhenTheocritusaddressesadistaff,doesit answerhimback?WhatcanaProbouloslearnfromasewingbasket? IfAjaxisabulwark,thegodsbuildwalls,andAjaxandOdysseus wrestlelikerafters,whatkindofhousehasHomerbuilt?
Inthisbook,NewMaterialismsandGenderTheoryarebrought togetherwithexcitingresults.Womendonotalways fitwhatcounts asasubjectintheHomericvaluesystem.Sowhatcanwelearnabout themwhenwedecentrethesubject?Andwhathappenswhenafocus onthewomanasobjectiscombinedwithanapproachthatquestions theverynotionoftheobject?
1.1WOMEN,OBJECTS,THINGS
Throughsocialprocessesasdiverseasmarriageandthespoilsof warfare,thewomenofGreekepicarecaughtupinamale-controlled networkofexchange.1 Infactthe firstwomanisgiventomankindas partofanexchangeoftricksbetweenZeusandPrometheus(Theogony 534–601, WorksandDays 42–105),andindeedPandora’ svery nameconnectsherwithgiftgiving(WorksandDays 80–2).2 Thelist ofprizesAchillesprovidesforPatroclus’ funeralgamesrunsseamlesslyfromcattletowomentometal,withlittledifferentiation betweenthem:
Hebroughtoutprizesfromhisships:cauldronsandtripods, horsesandmulesandstrongheadsofoxen, andwell-girdledwomenandgreyiron.
Iliad 23.259–61
Hesiodwouldbeonboardwiththejuxtapositionofwomenandiron here,giventheroleheattributestothefemalesexintheestablishment
1 Franco2012:57: ‘the Iliad stressestheroleofwomenastheobjectsoverwhich men fighteachother.’
2 FormoreonPandoraandherconnectionwithobjects,seeChapter5.1with Fraser2011andCanevaro2015a:108–15and187–8.
