Question

What is Ulysses’ clarion call to his sailors? How does he inspire them?

Answer 1

In the third part of the poem, Ulysses makes a clarion call to his hearty compatriots (i.e.) mariners. They have been with him both during ‘thick and thin’ or thunders or sunshine. Similar to Ulysses they possess “free hearts and free foreheads” (i.e.) their hearts and brains are unburdened by domestic cares and responsibilities. They had frolicsome time fighting along with Ulysses against great warriors and Gods in the past. Ulysses does not want to live in the memory of glory. He believes they need not waste away their precious time in nostalgic memories just recounting their escapades to the younger generation. They can really do ‘ something of noble note’ before the end. He is conscious of the impending death in old age. But he tells it is not “too late to seek a newer world”.

The many “voices of the ocean” call out to the mariners to resume the voyage. Ulysses is not content with having earned a name for himself. He has seen many countries and acquired knowledge of various cultures. Those experiences are not to be taken as accomplishments. They are just an ‘arch leading them to an “untravelled world” and constantly sailing to the ever-expanding horizon. He does not want his compatriots to miss even an hour which could provide them novel experiences in their voyage. He persuades his compatriots to gather at the port as the sails are already puffing up welcoming them all. Their life would be one of fulfillment only when they venture out into the unknown on the seas. He uses emotional bait to his mariners. He highlights the probable outcome of their voyage. They might reach the “Happy Isles” (i.e.) great paradise and meet Achilles, their war hero. No matter how much strength they have, they still have some “strength of will” left to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.