Omeros Chapter IV Summary

i

  • As one does, Philoctete goes to his yam garden, contemplating his suffering.
  • He suffers intensely from the pain in his leg and holds his sharp cutlass in his hands, thinking of the possibility of hacking the offending bit from his body. Yikes.
  • He takes his anger out on the yams and is reduced to tears amid the yam slaughter.

ii

  • Philoctete turns onto his back and does some cloud watching, vowing to ask forgiveness from God.
  • He decides to suffer with patience, and attempts to stand once more.

iii

  • The narrator sits in a café/restaurant on the beach, watching a waiter try to navigate the sands of the beach to bring tourists their drinks.
  • Both the waiter and the narrator focus on a "mirage," which turns out to actually be the proud and beautiful Helen.
  • When a tourist asks about her, a waitress tells him with a sniff that "she too proud."
  • When the waitress names her, the narrator explains that when Helen comes on the scene, the whole drama unfolds.