The Odyssey By Homer takes us on an interesting adventure of the main character's journey home to his wife. On the way home he is sidetracked by a wide variety of characters. During Odysseus journey, Penelope and his son Telemachus were trying to fight off the suitors a group of men who think Odysseus is dead who are trying to marry Penelope. After 21 years of Odysseus being gone, he appears home in the form of a beggar and kills most of the suitors ending in a bloodbath. Through the Odyssey Homer makes readers ponder whether Odysseus is a loyal husband or not. Despite many readers thoughts of Odysseus being a loyal husband some readers strongly believe Odysseus is not loyal because he got sidetracked for no logical reason, he slept with …show more content…
Homer tells us in book 10 “Come, sheathe your sword, let's go to bed together”. (10,370). This quote is just one example of Odysseus unfaithfulness to Penelope as he journeys home. Another example of unfaithfulness to Penelope is when Homer says “ Ah great goddess, worldly Odysseus answered don't be angry with me, please. All that you say is true, how well I know. Look at my wise Penelope. She falls short of you, your beauty, stature. She is mortal after all and you, you never age or die” (5,236-41). This quote is a prime example displaying his unfaithfulness and lack of loyalty. In this example, Odysseus tells Calypso that she is better and prettier than Penelope. This is really Odysseus telling her you are better than my wife. This example is another example of unfaithfulness by the words Odysseus speaks. The final example of unfaithfullnes is from book 6. Homer gives us hints that Odysseus and Nausicaa might have enjoyed being married by the way that Odysseus and her talk to each other and how they show affection for one another (6, 74-76). This example from the book shows us how even Odysseus thoughts cause him to mentally cheat on Penelope without him realizing it. This shows readers another example of Odysseus unfaithfulness toward his innocent wife Penelope and also shares with readers of the Odysseus …show more content…
This clearly comes to head on the Cyclopes Island. Odysseus says “The hearts of us shook, terrified by his rumbling voice and monstrous hulk” ( 9, 287-88) This quote presents how Odysseus got his crew into a dangerous situation that could have gotten them killed. This quote makes known how Odysseus lack of attention could have killed them. It also indicates how Odysseus is unloyal because he was willing to kill himself by going to tempt the cyclopes and not go home to Penelope. The second reason shares how he got himself into a dangerous situation and was going to kill the suitors. Homer tells us in book 22 that Odysseus was disguised as a beggar and then shot an arrow at Antinous and killed him for what they had done. (22, 14-18). This example expresses to readers how Odysseus put himself in a bad situation right before Penelope's eyes. He could have been killed during this bloodbath. It also shares with readers how Odysseus tempts fate by killing the leader of the suitors. The last example of how Odysseus puts his life in danger is when Odysseus was with the sirens. He knew that they were dangerous but went in anyway. This is a clear indication of where his mind is. He thought because he won Troy that he was invincible when really he could have been killed. Homer shows us in the book how Odysseus goes into the land of the sirens and falls into this trap of their
Intro: There are a wide variety of themes present throughout the Odyssey, written by Homer. Be it hospitality, perseverance, vengeance or power of the Gods, loyalty is truly the theme that brings the whole book together. Being 10 years after the Trojan War, many have forgotten about Odysseus and his men as they constantly brave what the gods throw their way. This essay will be talking about Odysseus and Penelope’s mutual loyalty to one another, the loyal relationships between Gods and men and finally, the loyalty Odysseus’ men show for him until death. This essay with prove to us that without loyalty, Odysseus’ legendary journey would have been put to an end near where they started. The general theme of loyalty is what kept Odysseus
Odysseus has no reason to save his men’s lives but for his own convenience. Finally, Odysseus is home and after a long journey in which he shows no heroic actions and yet proves to be nothing but a villain, he once again proves throughout his actions that he is a villain. Odysseus is finally home, on Ithaca, and is then helped by Athena and disguises himself as an old beggar. He proves then to be a villain by seeking his revenge for the suitors and maidservants that once betray him (696, summary). Another way in which Odysseus shows he is a villain is when he finally reunites with his wife Penelope and reacts with rage when she tests him. This reveals Odysseus is a villain because he reacts as if he was innocent and some way being betrayed by his own wife. Of course, though, he never tells his loyal wife Penelope about his love affairs with Calypso and Circe. In conclusion, Odysseus throughout his actions proves to be not only veil but a villain. He leads his men into trouble, kills the suitors and maidservants without mercy, and betrays loyal wife. This allows readers to truly see Odysseus other side. He was a villain and there is no doubt about it. However, think about his so called heroic actions and the way he made everything work out for his own benefits. He knew he was a villain and somehow still got away with
First, an example of his unfaithfulness to his wife is when on the island of Kirke he was told to sleep with the evil witch, and he automatically did it without even asking questions. He could have threatened to kill Kirke or reason with her, but no he took his favorite way out, sleeping with her. Another time Odysseus was unfaithful to his wife was while on the island of Kylpso he willingly slept with her countless times over his seven year captivity on the island. Penelope, Odysseus' faithful wife, never cheated on him once during his 20 year absence in Ithaka. A time he is unfaithful to the Gods is when he receives the ride home from the Phaeakians he did not pry or sacrifice anything to Poseidon before his trip if he would have done this he could have saved the lives of the Phaeakians sailors, who were killed by Poseidon. Finally, Odysseus was unfaithful to the Gods when he does not except Polyphemos sincere apology and says, “ Kyklops, if any mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son whose home’s on Ithaka!” (IX 548-552). Which shows disrespect to the Gods by not
Odysseus is also disloyal to his wife who stayed faithful to him despite the circumstances. During his journey back home to Ithaca, Odysseus commited adultery twice. When he landed on the island of Aiaia, he sleeps with Kirke. He has been cheating on his wife by sleeping with another woman. Odysseus doesn’t do this only once through his journey back, he does it again with Kalypso for seven years and by will: “He lay with her each night, for she compelled him.” (V, 163). Odysseus doesn’t resist Kalypso’s charm and cheats on his wife Penelope. Despite all of the suitors, Penelope stays loyal to Odysseus. Even when Odysseus was thought to be dead, she still puts up with the suitors’ behavior and refuses to remarry. She came up with a ruse so she could stall having to remarry: Ruses served my turn…with honor. (XIX, lines 163-190) Penelope is experiencing so much pressure from the suitors and her family, but she still refuses to succumb and does not cheat on
Odysseus was both physically and emotionally unfaithful to Penelope, his wife. On the island of Ogygia, Odysseus slept with Kalypso numerous times over the seven years. Although it was Kalypso that wished to lay with Odysseus, it was his choice to agree to her, “She received me, she loved me.” (224) His decision to be unfaithful to his wife was caused by no one but himself. His promiscuous behavior followed him to the island of Aiolia. He was smitten by Kirke, a witch who had transformed Odysseus’s men into pigs. His affair with her lasted for an entire year. If it were not for his crew, it is without a doubt that Odysseus would have forgotten about Ithaka and remained on Aiolia forever, “So day… year grew fat.” (pg 179). All the while Odysseus had been
Homer 's Odyssey chronicles the journey of the great Greek hero Odysseus and the setbacks he encountered on his way home from the Trojan war. Odysseus
When Odysseus encounters the sirens, he comes up with a plan to help them escape them. In “Book Twelve, line 142,” Odysseus says, “Friends, have we never been in danger before this? More fearsome, is it now, than when the Cyclops penned us in his cave?... Did I not keep my nerve, and use my wits to find a way out for us?” Even in danger Odysseus is able to keep himself together and lead his men. Homer, in this, shows us that a leader needs to be brave in all times, always ready to take control and calm his men. Before Odysseus returns home, his wisdom is shown once again when his men don’t listen to him, because of this, all his men die and Odysseus returns
Odysseus is also unheroic because he shows disloyalty during his journey home by indulging himself in treacherous acts. Odysseus commits adultery twice. When he lands on the island of Aiaia, he sleeps with Kirke. Later in the journey, Odysseus commits adultery again with Kalypso for seven years and by will: “He lay with her each night, for she compelled him.” (V, 163). Odysseus does not resist Kalypso’s charm, thus cheats on his wife Penelope. Despite the suitors, Penelope stays loyal to Odysseus. Even when Odysseus was thought to be dead, she still puts up with the suitors’ behavior and refuses to remarry. She even comes up with a ruse so she can stall having to remarry. Penelope is experiencing so much pressure from the suitors and her family, but she still refuses to succumb and does not cheat on Odysseus. Odysseus’s acts of adultery and
With Penelope, a faithful and loving wife to Odysseus, Homer reveals to us how the Greeks believed wives should act. She was loyal to Odysseus the entire time he was away on his journey, and even when it appeared as if he had passed on she still had faith that he would return. She resisted the suitors on the sole basis that she loved Odysseus and could not see herself with another man when he could still be alive. She was smart, and cunning. She shows us this in Book II when we
In Homer's epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus is an epic hero with an epic wife, Penelope. Penelope is also the Queen of Ithaca, a vital role indeed. Penelope's love and devotion towards Odysseus is proven when she waits nineteen years for her husband to return from the wine dark sea, rather than losing faith and marrying another man. Penelope's character is strong and solid, and her personality remains consistent throughout Homer's Odyssey.
The epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, throughout the Odyssey there are many relationships that represent love and loyalty between two people. The reader learns about the characters’ relationship throughout Odysseus journey back home from the Trojan War. These relationships are between man and family, also between man and servant. For example, the relationships between Odysseus with Penelope and Telemachus. Also the relationship between Telemachus and Eumaeus.
Odysseus’ journey was not one for the faint of heart; he had to exemplify many admirable traits, including loyalty to his home and bravery even in the face of danger. One example of Odysseus’ loyalty is his guilt upon sleeping with Calypso. He feels he is required to lie with her out of duty (and safety) but sombers around afterwards due to the pain of being unfaithful to his wife Penelope. His body may lie in a foreign land and with a foreign woman, but his heart continues to thrive with his true home, Penelope in Ithaca. Loyalty is not the only quality a hero of Odysseus’ caliber must prove; he must also be brave. Danger lurking around every corner to strike down the righteous hero is an essential theme in epics such as The Odyssey, but our
“The Odyssey” is read as a moral story. Odysseus learned lessons and faces many obstacles that challenge his faith and loyalty. He was able to survive because he learned he needed to listen to the Gods and Goddesses. An example of Odysseus being loyal to his wife and crew was when he heard the Sirens. In book 12, line 192, it states, “So they spoke, sending forth their beautiful voice, and my heart was fain to listen, and I bade my comrades loose me, nodding to them with my brows; but they fell to their oars and rowed on. And presently Perimedes and Eurylochus arose and bound me with yet more bonds and drew them tighter. But when they had rowed past the Sirens, and we could no more hear their voice or their song, then straightway my trusty comrades took away the wax with which I had anointed their ears and loosed me from my bonds.” He warned his men, told them to put wax in their ears, and tied himself to his ship. This shows how he was loyal and faithful for not being tempted by the Sirens.
Even though Odysseus is the hero in this epic, it is shown he is only human and he makes mistakes too. No matter how noble or strong we may be, it is only natural to error. When he traveled to Circe’s home, he was enchanted by her and was unfaithful to his wife, Penelope. By being around a beautiful goddess and not having seen your wife in years, Odysseus naturally had a tendency to cheat on Penelope. We see that in our culture today. When spouses are gone for too long and if you know they don’t have a chance to find out about your whereabouts, people succumb to their
Homer's Odyssey is a story of the homecoming of Odysseus after the Trojan War. Odysseus left his wife, Penelope, and their young son, Telemachos, almost twenty years before the telling of this story to fight in the Trojan War. His absence places Penelope in a rather precarious position. Faced with many different circumstances, both good and bad, Penelope is on her own to decide the path she wishes to take. Depending on her decisions, the situations could either be filled with wonderful opportunities or perilous dangers. The strong character of Penelope is revealed by her decisions.