Aspect of Omeros

      One aspect of Omeros that I noted repeatedly was the idea of healing through history’s past and coming to reconcile with one’s history.  Several characters seem to experience this. The physical healing of Philoctete’s wound through the heritage and history of Ma Kilman parallels the emotional healing of the pain of slavery during colonization. Walcott writes “Their memory still there although all the pain was gone” (277) Even though the explicit pain may be gone, history is never forgotten. In a way Walcott uses the healing of Philoctete to offer hope for a brighter future, one without slavery or discrimination.

     Just like Philoctete, Achille too has to reflect upon his heritage and history to find himself. He comes to realize that he must first be complete with himself in order to live a personally satisfying life. At some point the sea swift leads Achille back to Africa. It’s here that he discovers the importance of history.  Seven Seas says “his name is what he is out looking for, his name and soul.” Following his journey to Africa and conversation with Afolabe, Achille is able to appreciate is heritage and the European influence found in his name. “The yoke of the wrong name lifted from his shoulders...history has simplified him”. “Today he was not the usual kingfish-fighter / but a muscular woman, a scarf round his head. / Today was the day of fifes, the prattling skin / of the goat-drums, the day of dry gourds, of brass / bells round his ankles, not chains from the Bight of Benin / but those fastened by himself. He was someone else today […] Today he was African, his own epitaph, his own resurrection.  Like Philoctete, Achille comes to reconcile with both his past and present. In search of themselves and history, each character finds their future.