Introduction: “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
“Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy was first published in 1911, though the initial version was written around 1894. The exact collection in which it first appeared is undetermined, but it is most commonly found in compilations of Cavafy’s translated works. Notably, “Ithaka” is included in the collection Collected Poems, translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard and edited by George Savidis (1980). The poem itself is a meditation on the journey of life, urging perseverance and patience. It uses everyday language and imagery to convey the idea that the true value lies not in the destination (Ithaka), but in the experiences and wisdom gained along the way.
Text: “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
Translated by Edmund Keeley
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you’re old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn’t have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.
Annotations: “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
| Stanza | Annotations |
| Stanza 1 | * Introduces the central metaphor: The journey to Ithaka represents the journey of life. * Emphasizes the importance of a long, rich journey filled with experiences. * Warns against fear of obstacles (Laistrygonians, Cyclops, Poseidon), suggesting they are internal rather than external challenges. |
| Stanza 2 | * Shifts the focus from obstacles to rewards. * Encourages open-minded exploration (“summer mornings”, “Phoenician trading stations”). * Stresses the value of diverse sensory experiences and continuous learning. |
| Stanza 3 | * Reiterates the primary focus on the journey, not just the destination (Ithaka). * Suggests that true wealth comes through experience over time. * Warns against unrealistic expectations of the final destination (“not expecting Ithaka to make you rich”). |
| Stanza 4 | * Emphasizes that Ithaka represents the gift of the journey itself, not a physical reward. * Suggests that without the journey, Ithaka (a destination) would have no meaning. |
| Stanza 5 | * Directly addresses the reader and reinforces the wisdom attained through the journey. * Concludes with the central message: Understanding the true meaning and value of destinations like Ithaka comes from lived experience. |
Additional Notes:
- Symbolism: Ithaka isn’t just a physical island but a symbol of goals, aspirations, and our final earthly destination.
- Paradox: Ithaka is both the goal that drives the journey and ultimately less important than the journey itself.
- Universal Theme: The poem speaks to a fundamental human desire for meaning and fulfillment found in life’s journey.
Literary And Poetic Devices: “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
| Literary/Poetic Device | Explanation | Example from “Ithaka” |
| Alliteration/Anaphora | Repetition of consonant sounds for emphasis and flow | “…full of adventure, full of discovery” |
| Allusion | Reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work | “Laistrygonians, Cyclops, angry Poseidon” (figures from Greek mythology) |
| Anaphora | Repetition of a word or phrase at the start of lines/clauses | “Hope your road is a long one”, “May there be…” |
| Apostrophe | Directly addressing someone absent or an abstraction | “Keep Ithaka always in your mind” |
| Assonance | Repetition of vowel sounds for musicality | “road is a log one” |
| Diction | Word choice, impacting tone and meaning | Words like “pleasure,” “joy,” “sensual” create a positive, anticipatory tone. |
| Enjambment | Lines flow without punctuation, creating momentum | “Hope your road is a long one, / full of adventure…” |
| Free Verse | Lack of regular meter/rhyme, resembling natural speech | The poem doesn’t have a strict rhyme scheme or syllable count. |
| Hyperbole | Exaggeration for emphasis | “Hope your road is a long one” (emphasizing a desire for a rich journey) |
| Imagery | Vivid descriptions appealing to the senses | “summer mornings,” “harbors,” “fine things,” “sensual perfume” |
| Imperative | Verbs conveying instruction or a command | “Hope…”, “Keep…”, “But don’t hurry…” |
| Juxtaposition | Contrasting ideas placed side-by-side | “Laistrygonians, Cyclops, angry Poseidon” versus “rare excitement” |
| Metaphor | Implied comparison between two things | The journey to Ithaka is a metaphor for life’s journey. |
| Mood | The emotional atmosphere created in the reader | The poem’s mood is hopeful, instructive, and reflective. |
| Personification | Giving human qualities to non-human things | “Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey” |
| Repetition | Repeating words or phrases for emphasis | “Ithaka”, “Hope your road is a long one”, “you won’t encounter them” |
| Sensory Detail | Language appealing to sight, sound, touch, smell, or taste | “Seeing for the first time,” “sensual perfume,” “mother of pearl and coral” |
| Symbolism | Objects/concepts representing larger ideas | Ithaka symbolizes life goals or destinations. |
| Tone | Author’s attitude conveyed through word choice | The tone is primarily encouraging, but also thoughtful and wise |
Themes: “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
- Theme 1: The Journey over the Destination: The poem emphasizes that the greatest value lies in the experiences gained along life’s journey rather than the final destination itself. It encourages delaying immediate gratification in favor of a prolonged, enriching journey: “Better if it lasts for years, / so you’re old by the time you reach the island…”
- Theme 2: Embrace Growth and Learning: The journey to Ithaka is presented as an opportunity to actively seek out new experiences, knowledge, and understanding. The speaker emphasizes a spirit of open-mindedness and curiosity: “…may you stop at Phoenician trading stations / to buy fine things…” and “…and may you visit many Egyptian cities / to learn and go on learning from their scholars.”
- Theme 3: Internal Obstacles are the True Challenge: One of the poem’s most powerful themes suggests that external obstacles are often less of a threat than one’s own internal hurdles. Fear, doubt, and a lack of elevated thought are the true enemies: “Laistrygonians, Cyclops, / wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them / unless you bring them along inside your soul…”
- Theme 4: True Meaning is Found in Perspective: The poem ultimately suggests that it’s the journey itself, with all its difficulties and triumphs, that reveals the true value of our destinations. As the speaker concludes: “Wise as you will have become, so full of experience, / you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.”
Literary Theories and “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
| Literary Theory | Key Concepts | How it Applies to “Ithaka” |
| Reader-Response Theory | Emphasizes the reader’s role in creating meaning | Examines how individual backgrounds and experiences (age, cultural context) would shape interpretations of the journey, obstacles, and the meaning of Ithaka. |
| Formalism / New Criticism | Focus on the text itself: structure, language, literary devices | Analyzes the poem’s use of metaphors (Ithaka as a goal), juxtaposition, free verse, and how they create meaning. |
| Biographical Criticism | Author’s life shapes the work | Considers Cavafy’s Greek heritage, cosmopolitanism, and potential personal experiences reflected in the poem’s focus on journey, exploration, and overcoming obstacles. |
| Archetypal Criticism | Examines recurrent symbols, patterns, and myths across literature | Analyzes the poem’s connection to the universal archetype of the “hero’s journey” seen in myths and literature through time. |
| Postcolonial Criticism | Explores themes of identity, power, cultural dominance | Considers the poem’s references to Phoenician and Egyptian cultures, potentially examining their portrayal in the context of colonialism and power dynamics. |
Critical Questions about “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
- How does the poem shape the reader’s perception of time?
- The poem challenges linear notions of time by emphasizing the duration and richness of the journey rather than rushing towards its end (“Better if it lasts for years”). This fosters a sense of patience and appreciation for the present moment as equally valuable to reaching a future goal.
- What is the significance of the internal obstacles mentioned in the poem?
- The Laistrygonians, Cyclops, and Poseidon represent self-doubt, fear, and distractions. Placing them as creations of the soul (“…unless you bring them along inside your soul…”) suggests the greatest challenges on a journey are internal rather than external.
- How does the speaker’s tone shift throughout the poem?
- The initial stanzas are hopeful and eager (“Hope your road is a long one”). Later, there’s a contemplative shift towards wisdom (“Wise as you will become”). This mirrors the anticipation of the journey giving way to the reflective understanding gained through experience.
- Could Ithaka represent something besides a physical destination?
- Absolutely! Ithaka symbolizes any goal, ambition, or final state (retirement, enlightenment, etc.). The poem’s message isn’t so much about a literal place, but how we define meaningful pursuits and find the true ‘riches’ along the way.
Literary Works Similar to “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
Literary Works with Thematic Similarities to “Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy:
- “The Road Not Taken” (1916) by Robert Frost: This poem contemplates the implications of life choices and reflects on paths not taken. It aligns with “Ithaka” by emphasizing the importance of the journey itself and how experiences shape self-understanding.
- The Odyssey (c. 8th – 7th centuries BCE) by Homer: Cavafy’s “Ithaka” draws direct inspiration from this epic. Odysseus’s difficult journey home represents life’s obstacles and the desire to return to one’s roots or find fulfillment.
- Ulysses (1833) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Tennyson’s dramatic monologue reimagines the mythic Odysseus as restless and eager for further exploration even after returning to Ithaca. This reflects the focus in “Ithaka” on the intrinsic value of experience, not just attaining goals.
- Siddhartha (1922) by Hermann Hesse: This novel charts Siddhartha’s spiritual journey from youthful seeking to self-realization. It shares Cavafy’s emphasis on gaining wisdom through experiences and open-mindedness on the path to understanding one’s purpose.
- “Song of Myself” (1855) by Walt Whitman: This celebratory poem embraces the vastness and diversity of individual lived experience. Its affirmative tone and focus on exploration echo “Ithaka’s” encouragement to engage fully with the richness of life’s journey.
Key Shared Themes
These works, alongside “Ithaka,” address themes including:
- Primacy of the Journey: Emphasizing the inherent value of experiences and growth over achieving a predefined goal.
- Self-Discovery through Experience: The significance of exploration, both internal and external, in shaping understanding.
- Overcoming Internal Obstacles: Suggesting that the greatest challenges are often inner limitations rather than external circumstances.
Suggested Readings: “Ithaka” by C. P. Cavafy
Scholarly Monographs
- Keeley, Edmund. Cavafy’s Alexandria: Study of a Myth in Progress. Harvard University Press, 1976. (Provides essential biographical and historical context for Cavafy’s work, likely including in-depth analysis of “Ithaka”).
- Savidis, George, editor. C.P. Cavafy: Collected Poems. Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard, Princeton University Press, 1992. (The definitive, authoritative collection of Cavafy’s poetry in English and the recommended source for studying “Ithaka”).
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Jusdanis, Gregory. “Cavafy’s ‘Ithaka’: Journey without End.” The Journal of Modern Greek Studies, vol. 10, no. 2, 1992, pp. 255-268. (Offers rigorous literary analysis and interpretation of the poem’s enduring themes).
- Stallworthy, Jon. “Ithakas.” London Review of Books, vol. 16, no. 21, 1994, pp. 7-8. (Critical essay comparing different translations of the poem and their impact on meaning. Demonstrates the value of considering multiple interpretations).
Reputable Websites
- The Cavafy Archive: [invalid URL removed] (Comprehensive digital archive of Cavafy’s life, works, scholarly commentary, and historical materials. An excellent resource for further research).
- Modern Greek Studies Association (MGSA) Website: https://www.mgsa.org/ (Provides access to scholarly publications, conferences, and current research related to Cavafy, including potential analyses of “Ithaka”).
