What is Tiresias’ role in The Odyssey?
Tiresias' main role in The Odyssey is to provide guidance to Ulysses on his journey home. He is the only ghost in the underworld who still has his reason and can provide advice to Ulysses on how to navigate the underworld and return home safely. He warns Ulysses of the dangers of the Thrinacian island and the consequences of harming the flocks of the sun god, and foretells of the destruction of Ulysses' ship and men if he does not heed his advice. He also predicts the trouble Ulysses will face when he returns home, and the revenge he will take on the suitors. Additionally, Tiresias warns the people of Ithaca of Ulysses' impending return and the consequences of not heeding his advice. He advises Telemachus to send his mother back to her father, and warns the suitors of the consequences of their actions. He also provides instructions to Ulysses on how to consult the ghost of the Theban prophet Teiresias, including offering a sacrifice of two sheep and drawing his sword to prevent other ghosts from approaching the spilt blood. He also reveals to Penelope the presence of Minerva accompanying Telemachus on his journey.
Here are the top passages from The Odyssey related to the question:
“And the goddess answered, ‘Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, you shall none of you stay here any longer if you do not want to, but there is another journey which you have got to take before you can sail homewards. You must go to the house of Hades and of dread Proserpine to consult the ghost of the blind Theban prophet Teiresias, whose reason is still unshaken. To him alone has Proserpine left his understanding even in death, but the other ghosts flit about aimlessly.’ “I was dismayed when I heard this. I sat up in bed and wept, and would gladly have lived no longer to see the light of the sun, but presently when I was tired of weeping and tossing myself about, I said, ‘And who shall guide me upon this voyage—for the house of Hades is a port that no ship can reach.’
“Thus, then, did we sit and hold sad talk with one another, I on the one side of the trench with my sword held over the blood, and the ghost of my comrade saying all this to me from the other side. Then came the ghost of my dead mother Anticlea, daughter to Autolycus. I had left her alive when I set out for Troy and was moved to tears when I saw her, but even so, for all my sorrow I would not let her come near the blood till I had asked my questions of Teiresias.
“Then came also the ghost of Theban Teiresias, with his golden sceptre in his hand. He knew me and said, ‘Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, why, poor man, have you left the light of day and come down to visit the dead in this sad place? Stand back from the trench and withdraw your sword that I may drink of the blood and answer your questions truly.’ “So I drew back, and sheathed my sword, whereon when he had drank of the blood he began with his prophecy. “‘You want to know,’ said he, ‘about your return home, but heaven will make this hard for you. I do not think that you will escape the eye of Neptune, who still nurses his bitter grudge against you for having blinded his son. Still, after much suffering you may get home if you can restrain yourself and your companions when your ship reaches the Thrinacian island, where you will find the sheep and cattle belonging to the sun, who sees and gives ear to everything. If you leave these flocks unharmed and think of nothing but of getting home, you may yet after much hardship reach Ithaca; but if you harm them, then I forewarn you of the destruction both of your ship and of your men. Even though you may yourself escape, you will return in bad plight after losing all your men, [in another man’s ship, and you will find trouble in your house, which will be overrun by high-handed people, who are devouring your substance under the pretext of paying court and making presents to your wife.
