Ithaca by C.P. Cavafy Essay -- Ithaca C.P. Cavafy Greek Poetry Essays

Ithaca by C.P. CavafyEveryone is given the opportunity to take the odysseythat is life, however it is important to make the travel asmemorable as one possibly can. The poem Ithaca by C.P. Cavafysuggests that what is most important in life is the experience that isincorporated with the travel, not necessarily just reaching theultimate goal. It is the quest, not the destination which mattersmost. This message is conveyed through the poem through the use ofallusion, myth and symbolism.The poem, Ithaca, is based loosely around the huge epicthe Odyssey by ancient Greek poet Homer. In the Odyssey the characterOdysseus trying to make his way home to his kingdom, Ithaca. Thecharacter faces many vicious creatures and other challenges he mustendure in order to make it to the final goal. This is alluded to inthe poem, by making reference to one of the characters starting out onhis journey to Ithaca (line 1). C.P. Cavafy also refers tomythological creatures such as the Cyclopes and the fierc e Poseidon(line 5), as well as the Lestrygonians (li...