Nausicaa and the inner journey: An unfinished bildungsroman in greek epic

Abstract

The episode of Nausicaa in the Odyssey (Book VI) can be read as a miniature Bildungsroman, in which the young Phaeacian princess undergoes an educational experience through the dream sent by Athena, her encounter with Odysseus, and the confrontation with the social expectations attached to her role. Following the typical stages of the novel of formation – the call to change, the transformative encounter, the moment of awareness, and the return to reality – Nausicaa experiences a process of inner growth that nevertheless remains incomplete, as it does not culminate in emancipation. Her figure embodies a female educational model in which the desire for autonomy is counterbalanced by adherence to traditional norms. This contribution analyses the pedagogical significance of her experience, setting it in dialogue with Homeric archetypes and modern narratives, and shows how Nausicaa, a liminal figure between growth, eros, and destiny, has shaped the literary tradition, influencing authors such as Goethe, Joyce, Graves, Miyazaki, and Ieranò.