The Usage in Ithaca

The usage in Ithaca

In the poem “Ithaca” Constantine P. Cavafy uses allusions, repetition, metaphors, and imagery to portray his theme. The poem theme in my opinion is life and what you go through to get through life but in the end time you will eventually die. One way to realize that this poem can be also used as going through life because in the second line of the poem it says “pray that your roads a long one”. Therefore, that can mean hope that your life is long, full not short, and empty.

Constantine used allusion in the poem. One example of him using allusion is “Ithaca” because it could mean journey. In line one it says, “When you set out for Ithaca” so that could mean when you set out for a journey. Moreover, another example is “laistrygonians, Cyclops, angry Poseidon” that could mean the stomps or obstacles in life that you go through. Constantine used many allusions in the poem “Ithaca”.

Constantine used a lot of repetition in the poem, most of the time to get the point across. He used a lot of “you/your” because he wanted to let the reader know that you would be the one going through life. He also used a lot of “full of” a number of times. He used full of because life is full of many things as far as pain, disappointment, happiness, etc. Constantine used a lot of repetition in Ithaca.

Constantine used many metaphors too. One particular metaphor that is common is “road”. In addition “road” in the poem means the journey you are traveling. Another metaphor is “Cyclopes” that could be an obstacle that is in the way of your life. Another metaphor in the poem is “harbors”. “Harbors” can be used to represent a struggle that can happen in life, you never know when it may come. Constantine used many metaphors in the poem to bring out the theme.

The poem “Ithaca” is filled with many allusions, metaphors, repetitions, and imagery.