Blinding – Homer and The Blues

‘Sing to me, Muse, of that endlessly cunning man. Who was blown off course to the ends of the earth’. The Odyssey, translated by Stephen Mitchell

Blues music originated in the Deep South of the United States in the late 19th century. It was rooted in African American ‘spirituals’, work songs, and folk traditions. It is characterised by its soulful expression of emotion, often reflecting themes of hardship and resilience, using a distinctive 12-bar structure, ‘blue’ notes, and lyrical call-and-response patterns.

Blind singers in the Blues and Gospel music traditions in America included Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Blake, and the Reverend Gary Davis.

Blindness often pushed these artists toward careers as musicians, as physical labour was inaccessible. They became storytellers for their communities, expressing the struggles, hopes, and cultural identity of African Americans.

Shared elements

There is a palpable connection between ‘The Blues’, blind singers and the long history of oral storytelling, starting from Homer himself. It lies in the shared traditions of verbal dexterity and memory, performance, and the unique cultural roles of blind artists as carriers of communal memory and emotion.

Homer, the ancient Greek poet, composer of The Iliad and The Odyssey, is often depicted as blind in classical tradition. His epics were part of a tradition where poets (or ‘rhapsodes’) memorised and performed long narratives, often accompanied by music or rhythm. These tales preserved the history, myths, and cultural values of ancient Greece and were performed for live audiences, similar to musical or poetic performances.

Likewise, Blues musicians captured the experiences of marginalised communities in the American South. Both served as oral historians – cultural memory keepers – transforming lived experiences into art.

Homeric tales and blues songs often explore universal themes of struggle, loss, exile, journeys and resilience. Just as Homer’s characters endure suffering, blues songs articulate pain, perseverance and survival, often in deeply personal terms.

Homer used formulaic phrases and improvisation to adapt their epics to audiences. Blues musicians also improvised lyrics and melodies, creating dynamic, responsive performances.

Blindness is often seen as a metaphor for inner vision, suggesting that true insight comes from beyond mere physical sight. Blindness also holds profound significance in the works of John Milton and Jorge Luis Borges, shaping their literary work.

John Milton, the English poet, became blind later in life, and this loss deeply influenced his work, particularly Paradise Lost. Milton’s blindness forced him to ‘see’ inwardly, leading to a profound exploration of spiritual and moral themes. In the poem, Milton even speaks through the character of Samson, expressing his personal struggle with blindness as both a physical limitation and a source of spiritual strength.

Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentine writer, also went blind later in life. This loss sharpened his philosophical explorations of infinity, time, and the labyrinthine nature of human existence. Borges saw blindness as a gift that pushed him towards deeper intellectual and imaginative realms, as evidenced in his intricate stories and essays.

Just as Homer contributed to the cultural identity of ancient Greeks by celebrating their heroic past, blues music helped forge a sense of identity and unity within the African American community. The music expressed shared experiences and struggles, fostering a sense of solidarity.

Tiresias

The theme of blindness in classical antiquity is also embodied in the character of Tiresias. Tiresias is a revered figure in Greek mythology, known for his wisdom and his gift of prophecy, which he acquired alongside his blindness.

Tiresias’ blindness is explained in several myths. One version recounts that he was blinded by Hera for revealing that women experience greater pleasure than men during sexual intercourse, a judgment he made after living as both a man and a woman.

In compensation for his blindness, Zeus (or Apollo, in some versions) granted Tiresias the ability to foresee the future, and he was gifted an extended lifespan and the ability to communicate with the dead. Tiresias’ blindness symbolises his detachment from the distractions of the physical world, enhancing his spiritual and moral insight.

Tiresias plays significant roles in several works of classical literature, including ‘The Odyssey’, where Odysseus ventures to the Underworld to seek his guidance. Tiresias foretells Odysseus’ challenges, including the dangers of the journey home and the fate of his crew.

Tiresias also plays a prominent role in Sophocles’ Theban plays: in ‘Oedipus the King’ he reveals the truth of Oedipus’ patricide and incest. In ‘Antigone’, Tiresias warns King Creon of the dire consequences of his refusal to bury Polynices and his punishment of Antigone. His prophecy prompts Creon to reconsider his actions, though it is too late to avert tragedy.

Tiresias serves as a voice of truth, often unheeded until calamity strikes, underscoring the perils of ignoring wisdom.

Prophecy

In the Coen Brothers film, ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ (2000), there is a blind character who is an unnamed blind seer, played by Lee Weaver.

He appears as a railroad handcar operator who gives cryptic, prophetic advice to the main characters — Everett, Pete, and Delmar. The character is inspired by Tiresias (fused with Homer himself), aligning with the film’s overall loose adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey.

The blind seer delivers enigmatic lines that set the tone for the protagonists’ journey:
‘You seek a great fortune, you three who are now in chains. And you will find a fortune, though it will not be the one you seek.’

This foreshadows the characters’ transformative journey. Although they initially seek buried treasure, their true ‘fortune’ is redemption and reconciliation.

Our journeys contain more than meets the eye.

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