The Origin of Nausicaa
By Brittny Hacker
Nausicaa is a character in the Studio Ghibli film "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind." Nausicaa has two origins. One being a Phaeacian princess in Homer's epic "Oddessy" and the other a symbol in the Japanese folktale "The Princess Who Loved Insects". Hayao Miyazaki took elements from both of these stories for the main character Nausicca in the Japanese animation "Nausicca of the Vally of the Wind". While watching the film you can plainly see characteristics of the princesses from both stories in Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaa. I could not find the Japanese story of "The Princess who Loved Insects", so I retold story of the Greek princess Nausicaa.
While
Odysseus slept, Athena went to the city of the Phaeacians. Years
ago, the people lived close to the Cyclopes as proud, arrogant men. The
god-like Nausithous took the people and led them to a land called
Scheria, and had them build a wall around the city, build homes and
temples, and till the land. However, he died shortly after and
Alcinous became king, a man who was granted wisdom by the gods. Athena
went to his home to arrange for a journey home for Odysseus. She went
to Alcinous’ daughter’s bedroom. Her name was Nausicaa. Athena changed
her form to appear as the daughter of Dymas, a man
famous for the ships he owned. In that form, she spoke to Nausicaa.
“Nausicaa,” she said, “how did
you become so careless? Your clothes are all scattered about, and
just when your wedding day is near! Let’s go in the morning and
wash the clothing. I’ll help you, and together we’ll prepare you
to be a fine bride. Ask your father for a wagon and some mules, so
that we can arrive faster to the washing basins across town.” With
that, Athena went back to Olympus.
As the day began, Nausicaa awoke
and
went to her parents. She approached her father, who was leaving to
meet well known kings, and said, “Father, can you prepare a wagon
for me? I want to go wash my clothes, because they’re all dirty
and strown about.”
Her father agreed, and he called slaves
to assist Nausicaa. The slaves prepared a good wagon for her, and
she filled it with the splendid clothing from her room. Her mother
gave her a box filled with good food, as well as some wine in a goat
skin. She then gave Nausicaa a flask full of olive oil, so she and
her handmaidens could use it when they bathed.
When they arrived at the stream of the
river, where the washing tubs were, they unloaded the wagon and let
the mules graze in a nearby pasture. The girls took the clothing and
carried it into the murky waters, scrubbing and trampling the
clothing. Once they had washed the clothes, they laid them out to
dry along the shore. Using the oil, they bathed together. They ate
the food they were provided and played catch.
One of the girls gave a loud
scream,
which woke Odysseus, who was asleep behind the bushes at the shore. He
awoke, startled, and wondered if there were people nearby. Though
nearly naked, save a leafy branch concealing his shame, he stumbled
out into the open. The women shrieked with fright and hid at the
sight of Odysseus, who was caked with brine and a terrible image to
behold.
Nausicaa, however, was brave and did
not flee. Instead, she stood there, meeting Odysseus' gaze. Odysseus,
not certain whether to keep his distance or get on his
hands and knees and beg. Instead, Odysseus used his wit and spoke to
her soothingly, and said, “Oh great queen, I do not know whether
you are a goddess or a mortal, but you are surely lovely. I know no
one here, and you are the first person I have approached in weeks. I
implore you – could you show me the town and give me a rag or
wrapping to cover myself with? I pray that the gods grant all your
desires.”
Nausicaa answered him, “You don't
seem wicked or foolish. I am the daughter of our king Alcinous. You've
reached our land, and you will not want for clothes or
anything else.” With that, she and her servants set out clothing
and oil for him to bathe with. He said to the attendants, “I am
ashamed to wash myself in front of such lovely girls. Could you move
away a little ways?"
After Odysseus bathed, Nausicaa looked
upon him with great admiration, seeing that he was not as crude as
she had first thought. She and her servants fed him, and he ate
gratefully. They loaded the wagon, and Nausicaa said to Odysseus, “I
will take you to my father's house, where you will meet the finest of
all the Phaeacians. However, you must stay far behind me, because if
they see you following me, they will start rumors about having a
lover, because I am not married. Instead, sit and wait at the grove
of Athena, until you think we've had enough time to get home. After
a time, come into the city and ask the whereabouts of my father's
house; it will not be hard to find. Then, when you reach my father's
room, embrace my mother's knees. If she is well disposed to you, you
will have an escort home.”
Bibliography
Nausicaa.net(2006)
by Team Ghiblink
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~Johnstoi/homer/odyssey6.htm
oomu.org
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