essay on loyalty in the odyssey

The Odyssey Theme of Loyalty

No one told him life was going to be this way—but if he has to spend ten years heading home from a decade-long war, at least Odysseus gets to do it with a boatful of loyal companions and a loving wife waiting for him at home. Loyalty is one of the Odyssey 's most important virtues: the epic is full of examples of faithfulness (Penelope, Argos, Eumaios) and betrayal (Klytaimestra, Aphrodite, Melantho). Sure, Odysseus had those little incidents with Circe and Kalypos—but he didn't really mean it, since he never "in his heart" gave consent. So it totally doesn't count. Right?

Questions About Loyalty

• Is Odysseus justified in (or at least excused for) sleeping with Circe and Kalypso?
• Many of Odysseus' Ithakan friends and subjects think he's, yet he still considers them loyal to him. But when he's killing the suitors, he mentions that they didn't think he was coming back. Does loyalty mean something different if he's alive or dead?
• Is Odysseus' loyalty to his men similar in anyway to a wife's loyalty to her husband? Or are they totally different relationships?

Chew on This

In the Odyssey , loyalty is important—but it's not as important as honor and pride.

In the Odyssey , loyalty to family and friends comes before loyalty to the gods.

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Loyalty In The Odyssey

Loyalty to family, community and the gods is an important quality in the lives of ancient Greek citizens. These qualities are clear demonstrated in The Odyssey, a poem about an ancient Greek hero, Odysseus. The loyalty shown by the members of Odysseus’ family to one another highlights their devotion to each other and demonstrates their importance in The Odyssey. The loyalty is shown toward Odysseus by Penelope also demonstrates her strength as a woman. The story of The Odyssey begins with Odysseus leaving for the Trojan War.

For ten years he fought, while his wife Penelope remained at home caring for their child and working on his shroud. When it finally came time for Odysseus to return home, many years had passed and the number of suitors who were courting Penelope increased in number (Stav. ) suitors proved dangerous to Odysseus due to his weakened state when he returned home. The loyalty that Penelope showed towards Odysseus is what made her one of the most valued characters in The Odyssey. The poem is in part about her dedication to Odysseus, despite the fact that she was being courted by many men throughout their time apart.

The loyalty shown by Penelope in The Odyssey demonstrates her devotion to Odysseus and makes it evident why she was so special for him and so deserving of his love and protection. The other members of Odysseus’ family also displayed great loyalty towards each other and toward Odysseus himself. For example, Telemachus demonstrated this quality when he guarded the doors during the battle between Odysseus, The Suitors, and The Suitors’ families. The loyalty shown towards Penelope is also evident when the maids were murdered by Odysseus.

The loyalty of his family members highlights their importance to him and why they were so deserving of being saved from The Suitors. The Odyssey demonstrates that loyalty was a valued quality for ancient Greeks, particularly in wartime when Odysseus was battling enemies trying to take over his palace (Stav. ) The Odyssey displays examples of how important it was for an ancient Greek to be loyal. The poem shows that this quality made up an essential part of someone’s character and helped them become more valued as a member of society.

Loyalty was demonstrated through the example of The Odyssey in Penelope, Odysseus’ family, and The Suitors. The loyalty shown by the family members of Odysseus highlights their importance to one another and shows how The Odyssey is a poem about their reunion after Odysseus was away at war. The Odyssey ultimately demonstrates why loyalty was an essential part of an ancient Greek’s life. How is Penelope loyal in The Odyssey? What are other examples of her loyalty? The Loyalty shown by the members of Odysseus’ family highlights their devotion to each other and demonstrates how important relationships are in The Odyssey.

The loyalty is shown toward Odysseus by Penelope also demonstrates her strength as a woman. The story of The Odyssey begins with Odysseus leaving for the Trojan War. For ten years he fought, while his wife Penelope remained at home caring for their child and working on his shroud. When it finally came time for Odysseus to return home, many years had passed and The Suitors increased in number (Stav. ) The loyalty that Penelope showed towards Odysseus is what made her one of the most valued characters in The Odyssey.

The poem is in part about her dedication to Odysseus, even though she was being courted by many men throughout their time apart. The loyalty shown by Penelope in The Odyssey demonstrates her devotion to Odysseus and makes it evident why she was so special for him and so deserving of his love and protection. The other members of Odysseus’ family also displayed great loyalty towards each other and toward Odysseus himself. For example, Telemachus demonstrated this quality when he guarded the doors during the battle between Odysseus, The Suitors, and The Suitors’ families.

The loyalty shown towards Penelope is also evident when the maids were murdered by Odysseus. The loyalty of his family members highlights their importance to him and why they were so deserving of being saved from The Suitors. The Odyssey demonstrates that loyalty was a valued quality for ancient Greeks, particularly in wartime when Odysseus was battling enemies trying to take over his palace (Stav. ) The loyalty of The Suitors towards The Penelope and Odysseus also shows how The Odyssey is a poem about the importance of loyalty and relationships.

They spent years courting The Penelope and continued to do so after ten years had passed with no word from her husband Odysseus, demonstrating their loyalty toward each other. The fact that The Suitors were willing to kill one another to win The Penelope’s hand shows why they were such valued members of society. Loyalty was an important quality for ancient Greeks because it made up such an integral part of someone’s character. Being loyal meant being devoted, trustworthy caring, understanding, fair, and respectful towards others.

The Odyssey demonstrates the importance of these character traits and why loyalty is so important in a person’s life. The poem is a story about a man who returns home after being away for twenty years and the family members he left behind. The reunion of Odysseus and Penelope emphasizes their love for one another, which highlights how loyal they both were when Odysseus was at war fighting The Trojan War (Stav. ) The quality that makes Penelope “so deserving” of Odysseus’ love according to his family members The Odyssey is a poem depicting what happens when there is no loyalty in people’s lives during times of war.

Without characters like The Suitors going against Odysseus, The Odyssey would have had a very different story. The loyalty shown in The Odyssey shows how it is an important quality in one’s life and why relationships are so integral to the plot of The Odyssey. The poem would have been completely different without The Penelope’s extreme devotion to Odysseus or The Suitors’ dedication to winning over The Penelope. The Odyssey demonstrates that loyalty makes people who they are because it is such an important feature in the lives of all humans, especially during times of war, when character traits are most valued.

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Loyalty in the Odyssey

This essay will discuss examples of loyalty in Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will explore instances of steadfast loyalty demonstrated by characters like Penelope, Telemachus, and Odysseus’ crew, and how these acts of loyalty contribute to the narrative. The piece will analyze the importance of loyalty as a virtue in the epic and its role in the characters’ journeys and relationships. PapersOwl offers a variety of free essay examples on the topic of Loyalty.

How it works

In the novel The Odyssey by Homer, characters in the book are found to have an abundance of loyalty. For a few examples penelope to odysseus, telemachus odysseus and a few more. Homer develops this message by putting the characters through situations where loyalty will be important. There are also examples of disloyalty in the book and there are certain consequences also.

Penelope shows many signs of loyalty towards Odysseus. For many years Odysseus is away from home and during that time in Penelope’s home there were suiters there waiting to get married.

Penelope shows her loyalty to Odysseus by creating a distraction to the suitors to avoid getting married. In the text Penelope says Young men, those of you who are my suitors, since lord Odysseus is dead, you must wait,although you’re keen for me to marry, till I complete this cloak. This supports my claim because realistically if someone’s wife or husband is gone for over 10 years and there people there wanting to marry you the spouse is leaving you. Therefore penelope had the loyalty to even so create a distraction to make sure her husband is back before she can wed to another man

Telemachos also shows major signs of loyalty towards to Odysseus despite not even knowing what he looks like. You see in the beginning of the book Telemachos goes out of his way to search for his father or any news of him not knowing If he is alive or not. He is also there on his side when Odysseus came to take his home back and kill the suitors. In the text Telemachos says For i am going to Sparta and sandy Pylos to find out about my father…Then If I hear that my father is alive and on his way back, for all my wearing and tearing I can bear up for another year.Telemachos shows loyalty from this because he went out of his way to look for a man that not only does he not know what he looks like but he doesn’t even know if he is actually his father. Adding to that, modern time people don’t go out there way to look for people even real father’s most just conclude that there dead.

Throughout the book there are many times were dishonesty is shown and dishonesty in the book always got shown to have a punishment. The first Is when Odysseus and his crew were riding by the 6 headed monster Scylla, Odysseus in his right mind couldn’t be straight up with the crew and tell them that the monster was there. Because of that some of his crew members lives were lost.In the text odysseus says But I took care not to mention Scylla and the peril we could not avoid; I thought they would be likely to leave the oars in a panic and huddle down below. It seems to me that Odysseus was not only being dishonest but also selfish for he knew he wouldn’t get passed if he had told his men but took the chances and let some of his men die for his own sake. Another time Odysseus is disloyalty is while he was visiting the land of the dead he found his mother there. I think in his mind he was thinking what has he done, if he never stayed at Circe’s island for that long he could have came home to his mother alive. In the text it says Then there came up the spirit of my dead mother, Anticleia, the daughter of great-hearted Autolycus, whom I had left alive when I departed for sacred Ilios. At sight of her I wept, and my heart had compassion on her.At this point i really feel like Odysseus was thinking how much he messed up and how he could have avoided this situation. If he had been loyal enough to think about even getting home as soon as possible but instead proceeds to stay on circe’s island for longer than he should have I resulted in his mother’s death

The book had many signs of loyalty . Telemachus and Penelope both stayed loyal to Odysseus. But there were also times of disloyalty Odysseus was dishonest to his crew at some time. I think homers message from the examples of loyalty and disloyalty was seen through the book as an impact on what was going on around with other characters.

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85 Odyssey Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Looking for the Odyssey essay examples and writing tips? This article contains the Odyssey literary analysis how-to guide, prompts, title ideas, outlining tips, and examples.

💡 The Odyssey Essay: Themes & Ideas

❗ the odyssey thesis statements, 🎣 hooks for the odyssey essay, 📜 odyssey essay: how to write, 🏆 the odyssey essay examples, 👍 the odyssey essay topics, ❓ odyssey essay questions.

Homer’s Odyssey remains one of the most impressive masterpieces of the Greek literature. It’s not surprising that students often are assigned to write an essay on this poem.

Brainstorm the ideas you’re willing to discuss in the paper and make a list of all the key points. Look through the essay samples represented below for inspiration or check the list of the Odyssey themes and ideas below.

• Symbolism in the Odyssey. What do Odysseus struggles symbolize? How can you compare the Odysseus trials and adventures to our lives? Can we say that our lives are similar to the hero’s journey when we’re on the way to achieve something we desire.
• Hospitality theme in the Odyssey. How do people welcome strangers? Explore the ways Odysseus was welcomed when he returned home and when he was welcomed by the king and queen.
• Theme of loyalty in the Odyssey. Think, why loyalty is important. Explain why Penelope and Telemachus stayed loyal to Odysseus even when they received the message about his death.
• Theme of revenge in the Odyssey. Why does the theme of vengeance is important in the poem? Analyze it from the point of view of Odysseus and Poseidon. You can also compare and contrast vengeance in “Odysseus” and Christian teachings. Think if it is acceptable to kill in the name of vengeance.
• The role of women in the Odyssey. Discuss how does the female characters influence the plot of the story. What roles do they play in Telemachus and Odysseus journeys?

A thesis statement is the main point of your paper summarized in one sentence. It usually appears in the introductory paragraph of the text.

Below you’ll find a list of the Odyssey thesis statements that you might want to use for inspiration.

• There are parallels between the Odyssey and Near Eastern mythology, especially the Epic of Gilgamesh .
• The central themes of the Odyssey are wandering and homecoming.
• Women in the Odyssey are presented as inferior to men; even goddesses are described as angry and short-sighted.
• The key symbols in the Odyssey are the bow, the sea, and the shroud.

When writing your paper introduction, keep in mind that you have to engage your reader and make them want to read the entire text. Avoid phrases like “In this essay I’m going to discuss…” at the beginning of the paper.

A good idea is to start your Odyssey essay with an interesting fact about the epic poem or a quote. For instance, if you’re planning to focus on Odysseus as an epic hero, you can use a quote about heroic qualities of a person.

Below you’ll find a list of the Odyssey hook ideas.

• “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” (Joseph Campbell)
• “Show me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald)
• “Nobody – that’s my name. Nobody — so my mother and father call me, all my friends.” (the Odyssey)

Regardless of what Odyssey essay topic you will choose, you should tell your readers about the background and event developments of the poem.

Analyze the content and provide connections between the events or/and characters and your essay key idea. Make sure that all the paragraphs are logically connected.

When writing the Odyssey essay conclusion, make it bright and clear. Restate the thesis statement and add your personal impressions on the poem.

After you finish your paper read it again carefully and add some touches you might miss during the writing. Proofread the essay and get rid of all grammar, style and spelling mistakes. Did you know that some professors can cut out up to 20% of grade because of errors?

Still not sure how to complete your essay on Homer’s Odyssey and get the best grade? Check IvyPanda’s essay examples below, written by professionals for your convenience!

• Examples of Hospitality in The Odyssey by Homer: Review While the tale has various mythical and magical motifs in the form of Gods, Goddesses, nymphs, witches, and magic; one of the most interesting and a rather unusual aspect of the story was the astounding […]
• Deception Role in “The Odyssey” by Homer He also pretended to be a beggar to test the loyalty of others and to devise his plan of overthrowing the other suitors.
• Father-Son Relationship in The Odyssey by Homer In Odyssey therefore, it is expected that the relationship of Odysseus and Telemachus is as admiring as it is; the father is proud of his son, who is courageous and the son is proud of […]
• The Ghosts in Homer’s The Odyssey I find the ghost one of my favorite because of the hope and information he gives Odysseus.”The ghost reveals to Odysseus that Poseidon was busy punishing and killing the Achaeans “. From the encounter with […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer Throughout the story, there is a constant struggle of the growing Telemachus to imitate the actions of his father and then eventually become like him that he comes to an end of his journey.
• Roles of Women in “The Odyssey” by Homer Of course, she is not a mortal woman as she is a nymph and is beyond the laws of human society. Of course, the woman is meant to be devoted to her husband and her […]
• Disguise in “The Odyssey”: Character Development & Athena’s Impact Athena also had to pour a sea fog around Odysseus to protect him, and then she assumed the shape of a little girl and showed him the way to the palace.
• Role of Fate and Divine Intervention in Oedipus and The Odyssey This is because while the gods are obviously responsible for choosing the path that one’s life is to take, it still takes the free will of the involved person to follow that path.
• Homer’s “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”: Main Themes The Iliad and the Odyssey are anti-war poems, even though the actions in the stories are mainly conflict-oriented. They are anti-conflict because the aftermath of the fights is tragic, and every individual always engaged in […]
• Odysseus as Husband Being a good father and an excellent husband, Odysseus did everything he could to return home, however, there were a number of barriers, however, having returned home Odysseus killed all people who wanted evil to […]
• The Symbol of Weaving in the Poem “The Odyssey” The Penelope image is associated with the goddess of the house, the keeper of the hearth, and all households. During his wanderings, the goddess is the patroness of Odysseus.
• An Exemplary Hero: Homer’s “The Odyssey” The masterpiece describes the life of Odysseus and his journey especially after the infamous fall of Troy. One outstanding fact about Odysseus is that he is the main hero of the epic.
• Gender Role Expectations in “The Odyssey” by Homer The reason is that many behaviors of these female characters are masculine in their nature, and they need to be further discussed with reference to examples.
• Women in Literature: Oedipus the King and The Odyssey Two major works of literature, ‘Oedipus the king’ and ‘The Odyssey’, provide some of the best examples of how the role of female characters is portrayed in different ways and how these women influence the […]
• Varying Moral Worlds in The Odyssey and Aeneid Some of the issues that differ between the two societies, as highlighted in the two poems, include marital love, representation of the underworld, the idea of fate, and pride/hubris. It is believed that the intention […]
• Importance of the Book “The Odyssey” by Homer It is a book with a story that has lasted for ages due to its major themes such as the relation between father and son, the role of women, the significance of hospitality and the […]
• Telemachus Journey From Boyhood to Hero: Homer’s The Odyssey As described by Arnold van Gennep in “The rites of Passage,” the concept of the rites of passage is a ritual event used to signify the process of transition of a person from one social […]
• Divine Comedy and The Odyssey as Epics It is a poem about the supernatural more than about a hero, which is the first difference between the current poem and ‘The Odyssey’.’Divine Comedy’ has 14, 233 lines, the number that is almost equal […]
• The Journey to the Land of the Dead: Homer’s “The Odyssey” Homer is regarded as a legendary Greek due to his great works of literature such as “The journey to the Land of the Dead”.
• The Plays “The Iliad,” “The Odyssey,” and “Agamemnon”: Understanding of Leadership Finally, the story of Agamemnon told in The Iliad and Agamemnon taught us that a capable leader must remain humble and self-aware.
• Sophocles II and The Odyssey: Book Analysis Penelope’s hand is one of the allusions in The Odyssey that offers the reader a comprehensive picture of who Odysseus was and how powerful he was.
• Women in The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh In particular, the women’s power in the story was shown in their ability to influence significantly men, who were depicted as the wisest and most powerful beings.
• Culture of Ancient Greece in The Odyssey by Homer The Odyssey is one of the oldest and most well-known epics in the world. This can be attributed to Homer’s ability to describe the culture and life of the people of the ancient era with […]
• The Poems “The Song of Roland,” “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” and “The Odyssey” The emphasis on bravery and dignity in Roland represents a stark contrast to the characters of Odysseus and Gilgamesh. Therefore, Roland as a character is vital in the evolution of heroic characters in epic narratives.
• “The Odyssey” by Homer as a Vehicle for Creative Works One of the characters that can be interesting to examine in a more broad way is Telemachus. It works well to tie in a sense of loss and longing for a father with Telemachus, allowing […]
• Community Conflict in The Odyssey The Iliad heroes, Diomedes and Glaucus, provide a glimpse into the constructs of community and conflict. Such a story is that of Glaucus and Diomedes who recognized their ancestors as heroes, resulting in mutual respect […]
• Characters in The Odyssey: Athena, Poseidon, and Polyphemus In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus encounters Athena, Poseidon and Polyphemus are surrounded by unique myths and occupy a distinct place in Odysseus’ journey.
• Deception in King Lear, The Odyssey and Gilgamesh The forms of deception in the book seem to come effortlessly to Odysseus, and the stories he tells throughout the book serve to protect him and his family.
• The Oldest Epics of Ramayana and The Odyssey Thus, the main similarity is the narrative about the difficulties of the protagonists, and the difference is the presence of magical characteristics.
• Heroism and the Spirit of Adventure: The Odyssey and Gilgamesh Interpretation In fact, the ancient epic is famous nowadays mainly due to the fact that some of the works are considered as the first official mentioning of a hero.
• The Role of Women in Great Epic Works: “The Odyssey” and “Gilgamesh” To summarize the influence of both women on Gilgamesh, it is possible to cite Kelley to describe Gilgamesh’s advice to him during one of the toughest period of the epic: When the gods created man, […]
• The Power of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” Nowadays The significance of Iliad and Odyssey in the modern world can be explained by the fact that they are the first ancient epics, which have survived to this day.
• Plot Analysis of Homer’s The Odyssey Through the meeting of Telemachus with Menelaus, the author emphasizes the significance of hospitality as a primary value and develops such features and discretion, leadership, and heroism of the son of Odysseus.
• The Relevance of the Book “The Odyssey” The book’s central motif is the adventurous journey, the complete transformation of the king of Ithaca from the Trojan battle.
• Manhood in Homer’s Poem The Odyssey From the point of view of the author of the poem, the heroism of Odysseus lies in the fact that he remains faithful to his homeland, the island of Ithaca, nothing scares him in achieving […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer and Its Legacy: A Romantic Vision of the State Odysseus is known all over the world as one of the most outstanding models of leadership anthemed in the literature of the ancient world.
• The Odyssey by Homer: Comprehensive Analysis of the Character of Penelope Penelope is believed to be the faithful wife of Ulysses and she stood really strong in his absence. She had a lot of persistence and composure, her image had been overshadowed because of Ulysses, and […]
• “Bhagavad-Gita”, “The Odyssey” and “The Epic of Gilgamesh”: Contrast and Comparison The sole aim of all the religions is to make the people realize the value of life and to make the most of the same but doing holy acts and by not indulging in undesirable […]
• Themes in Books VIII-XI of Homer’s “The Odyssey” For instance, Retief and Cilliers argue that Book XI of The Odyssey largely shaped the perception of Hades, or the Greek land of the dead, as well as of the Ancient views on death and […]
• The 11 Book of Homer’s “The Odyssey” The 11th book of the Odyssey tells about the trip of Odysseus to the Underworld. He expresses pity that Odysseus is also in the land of the dead and tells about his journey in Hades […]
• Comparative Literature: “The Odyssey” and “The Aeneid” The Odyssey and The Aeneid are some of the major epics created by the western civilizations. On balance, it is possible to state that the two epics share a lot of features as Virgil’s work […]
• “The Odyssey” by Homer Discussion With this knowledge, it is necessary to examine the role played by the other characters in the poem. On the other hand, Penelope knows that she is expected to remain faithful to her husband.
• ‘Homer’s The Odyssey’ by Bernhard Frank Literature Analysis Bernhard makes use of clear words and concrete examples as well as numerous quotes to articulate his belief that the cause and sequence of the events in this book were created on purpose by Homer […]
• Monstrous and Human Relationship in “The Odyssey” In each stage of the adventure readers are introduced to an ever increasing similarity between what is monstrous and what is man to the point that the line between the two blurs resulting in actions […]
• “The Odyssey”: The Relationship Between the Monstrous and the Human When looking at the relationship between the monstrous and the human in Odyssey, it can be seen that monsters represent, in many instances, the darker side of humanity.
• The Expression of Sarcasm in The Odyssey The suitors laughed and teased Telemachos of his struggles to defend the beggar. Odysseus simply examines the bow and one of the suitors mocks him saying he is a connoisseur.
• The Comparison of Gilgamesh and Odysseus This paper is aimed at discussing the journeys undertaken by the main characters; in particular one should focus on their motives of the protagonists and the way in which both Gilgamesh and Odysseus were transformed […]
• Greek Culture in Homer’s “The Odyssey” Therefore, a critical analysis of the story enlightens the contemporary society on the aspect of hospitality in relation to the people of Greece.
• The Role of Hospitality in the Homeric World-Odyssey None the less the Homeric world gives a glimpse of the noble men and women who live within that society, they appreciate and acknowledge the little favors and hospitality extended to them and in some […]
• The Meaning and Impact of the Closing Book of The Odyssey Critics such as William Merritt Sale argue that Homer’s purpose in creating the mythic poem of The Odyssey was to represent the inherent struggle of the human condition when faced with the choice between the […]
• Human Potential in Rig Veda, Genesis and Homer’s The Odyssey Human beings need to meditate from time to time to find out specific modes of behaviour they need to observe. The value of hard work is used to explain how human beings need to be […]
• Greek/Roman Humanities: Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey The earliest works of fiction included the work of fiction the Epic of Gilgamesh that dates from the beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia and Homer’s Odyssey, greatest ancient works of literature attributed to Homer.
• Analysis of Job’s and Odysseus The strong character traits of the main characters Odyssey and Job in the epic The Odyssey and The Story of Job help develop their plots from the beginning to the rise of conflict and their […]
• Gods and Humans in “The Odyssey” by Homer For instance, the journey of Odysseus back to Ithaca feature him as an important figure to Calypso therefore helping in building up the story as his return remains the center of all agony that begets […]
• The Concept of Moral Principles in Literature Works He formulated the trick of the great wooden horse to give victory to the Greeks. The prince was also supposed to strike a balance of generosity to the citizens.
• What Is an Example of Alliteration From “The Odyssey”?
• What Does “Odyssey” Mean in Greek Mythology?
• What Occupation Did Eumaeus Have in “The Odyssey”?
• Where Did the Cyclops Live in “The Odyssey”?
• How Is “The Odyssey” Book Written Based on the Flaws and Imperfections of the Main Characters?
• What Is the Land of Death in “The Odyssey”?
• Did Atreides Make It Home in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does Odysseus Feel About Telemachus in “The Odyssey”?
• How the Greeks Portrayed God in “The Odyssey”?
• Are Women the Source of Many Difficulties for Odysseus in “The Odyssey”?
• What Is the Main Message in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does Hubris Affect Odysseus in “The Odyssey” Epic Poem?
• How Does “The Odyssey” Relate to Life Today?
• How Did Odysseus Display the Characteristics of a Hero in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does “The Odyssey” Represent the Importance of Family?
• What Did Homer Want to Say in “The Odyssey”?
• Whether the Olympians Prefer War or Peace in “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey”?
• Did Odysseus Bring the Trouble on Himself in “The Odyssey”?
• Which Epic Has Most Relevance to a Twenty-First Century Reader, Virgil’s “Aeneid” or Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• What Does “The Odyssey” Teach Us About Greek Culture?
• Did Odysseus Prove to Be a Good Leader or No in “The Odyssey”?
• What Can We Learn From “The Odyssey” Journey?
• How Telemachus Evolved From a Boy to a Man in “The Odyssey”?
• How Fate and Free Will Play a Part in “The Odyssey”?
• How Does Homer Use Suspense to Make the Story of “The Odyssey” More Interesting?
• How Women Are Portrayed in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• How Was the Divine Represented in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• How the Star Crossed Lover Theme Appears in the “Aeneid” and “The Odyssey”?
• What Is a Good Thesis Statement for “The Odyssey”?
• Why Does Odysseus Fit the Epic Hero’s Mold in Homer’s “The Odyssey”?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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The Odyssey: Themes

Homer’s Oddysey is an iconic ancient Greek epic poem that remains popular even nowadays. One of the reasons for the enormous success of this literary piece is the numerous important issues raised in it. The themes of The Odyssey impress with their diversity and pertinence.

What is the theme of The Odyssey ? There are several of them, but the most prominent motifs are hospitality and loyalty. Below, you will find a detailed analysis of these topics discussed in the epic.

• Loyalty & Perseverance

Hospitality

Loyalty & perseverance.

Loyalty and perseverance are the key themes of The Odyssey . Being multifaceted notions, they are represented in the epic from different perspectives. There is loyalty to family, friends, and gods.

Loyalty to family

Penelope is the brightest example of loyalty in The Odyssey . There was a considerable number of suitors at her home, forcing her to choose a new husband. However, she patiently waits for her husband and persistently rejects all the proposals to get remarried.

Telemachus is another loyal family member. Instead of taking his fathers’ throne, he stands for Odysseus against the suitors. Telemachus does his best to make his family reunited.

Odysseus himself is also one of the brightest loyalty and perseverance examples. At first sight, it might seem that he is not that faithful to his wife. Unlike Penelope, Odysseus doesn’t demonstrate his sexual fertility. However, he resists the temptation to marry Calypso , Circe , or Nausicaa. Thus, he rejects living his entire life in marvelous luxury. His heart belongs to Penelope, so he stubbornly overcomes all the obstacles and reaches home.

Overall, Penelope’s loyalty, Odysseus’ perseverance, and Telemachus’ faithfulness play a crucial role in the family reunion.

Loyalty to friends

Loyalty to friends is another point covered in The Odyssey . Homer provides a considerable number of examples when friends’ faithfulness determines the fate of Odysseus. For instance, the old nurse, Eurycleia, remains faithful to Penelope and her absent master. Also, Odysseus’ crew never leave him during their journey home. All of these factors significantly contribute to the main character’s success.

The key loyal figure is Odysseus’ dog Argos who waited for his master for 20 years. It was the first one who recognizes Odysseus disguised as a beggar. Unfortunately, the loyal dog dies . Therefore, Argos in The Odyssey is a symbol of danger that hangs upon Ithaca. Odysseus’ two decades of absence caused many troubles at home that lead to disastrous consequences. Thus, he should not waste his time and immediately impose order in Ithaca. The Odyssey proves that the loyalty of friends is a powerful tool for reaching the goal.

Loyalty to gods

Odysseus believes that his fate is in the gods’ hands. Thus, he is loyal to the Greek gods. The hero has an unusually profound connection with the goddess of wisdom, Athena . Being faithful to her, he receives Athena’s loyalty in return. She assists the main character throughout his entire journey and brings him home. Athena often asks his father, Zeus, for help. Here she risks a lot because angry at Odysseus Poseidon is Zeus’ brother. Still, Athena proves her dedication to Odysseus as a response to his faithfulness towards her.

There is a distinct tendency that can be inferred. Everyone loyal to another character somehow belongs to this person. Argos, for example, is Odysseus’ dog. In a way, Penelope and Telemachus belong to him.

The relationships between the gods and the people are very similar. People have to obey and stay faithful to the chosen divine figures. In return, the gods are supposed to support their followers and give them blessings.

• “I am Odysseus, son of Laertes, known to the world for every kind of craft—my fame has reached the skies. Sunny Ithaca is my home. […] Mine is a rugged land but good for raising sons— and I myself, I know no sweeter sight on earth than a man’s own native country.” Book 9
• “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 far short of you, your beauty, stature. She is mortal after all and you, you never age or die … Nevertheless I long—I pine, all my days— to travel home and see the dawn of my return.” Book 5
• “Happy Odysseus!” Agamemnon’s ghost cried out. “Son of old Laertes— mastermind—what a fine, faithful wife you won! What good sense resided in your Penelope— how well Icarius’ daughter remembered you, Odysseus, the man she married once! The fame of her great virtue will never die. The immortal gods will lift a song for all mankind, a glorious song in praise of self-possessed Penelope.” Book 24
• “All is now made good, my heart’s desire, your convoy home, your precious, loving gifts, and may the gods of Olympus bless them for me! May I find an unswerving wife when I reach home, and loved ones hale, unharmed! And you, my friends remaining here in your kingdom now, may you delight in your loyal wives and children! May the gods rain down all kinds of fortune on your lives, misfortune never harbor in your homeland!” Book 13
• “Astonished, she withdrew to her own room. She took to heart the clear good sense in what her son had said. Climbing up to the lofty chamber with her women, she fell to weeping for Odysseus, her beloved husband, till watchful Athena sealed her eyes with welcome sleep.” Book 1

One of the central topics of The Odyssey is Greek hospitality. While reading the poem , modern readers are often astonished by some paradoxical things. For example, why some of Odysseus’ enemies welcome him warmly at their places? Or why can’t Penelope kick the annoying suitors out? And why Telemachus is forced to endure mayhem the mother’s admirers cause in their house?

Turns out that the ancient Greek world was following the strict rules of hospitality . Greek mythology even has a specific term to determine this aspect of the culture – xenia . In The Odyssey , every household adheres to the principle of xenia. The ancient Greek civilization expected the hosts to provide guests with food, drinks, accommodation, and assistance.

One of the brightest examples of hospitality in The Odyssey is Odysseus’ household. While the King of Ithaca is absent, Penelope’s suitors fill the house. They act immorally and destroy Odysseus’ property. These people don’t hesitate to eat and drink all the food and beverages. Nevertheless, neither Penelope nor Telemachus don’t dare to kick the annoying and rude guests out. They are not willing to destroy the Ithaca’s long-standing tradition of hospitality.

Another case that focuses on hospitality in The Odyssey is the way Telemachus greets Athena who is disguised as Mentor . He doesn’t know who the stranger is, where he is from, and what he wants. Nevertheless, Telemachus invites him into the house and offers food and drinks. Only after a warm welcome, he establishes the stranger’s identity.

Besides Odysseus’ household, Circe also follows the rules of xenia. The nymph turns out to be an incredibly welcoming host. She treats Odysseus honorably and surrounds him with luxury. Moreover, she is a great assistant to the traveler. She’s the one who helps Odysseus to overcome the obstacles of the Sirens , Scylla, and Charybdis .

The Phaeacians with Princess Nausicaa, King Alcinous, and Queen Arete are hospitable people as well. Being excited about Odysseus’ military achievements, they listen to his stories with much excitement. They provide him with food, shelter, gifts, and help him reach the city of Scheria.

However, not all the characters of the poem are faithful to ancient Greek traditions. Here are some of them who disobey xenia. One such example the readers find in The Odyssey is the Cyclops. Instead of welcoming the strangers, the one-eyed giants act rudely and immorally. They cause a lot of danger to travelers. The beautiful creatures from the Greek myths, Sirens, behave similarly. They pretend to be lovely ladies singing their bewitching song. But in fact, they attract travelers to kill them.

Overall, the ancient Greek traditions of hospitality take an essential place in The Odyssey . Homer proves that it may become an inevitable factor for somebody’s fate.

• First by far to see her was Prince Telemachus, sitting among the suitors, heart obsessed with grief. […] Daydreaming so as he sat among the suitors, he glimpsed Athena now and straight to the porch he went, mortified that a guest might still be standing at the doors. Pausing beside her there, he clasped her right hand and relieving her at once of her long bronze spear, met her with winged words: “Greetings, stranger! Here in our house you’ll find a royal welcome. Have supper first, then tell us what you need.” Book 1
• “She called out to her girls with lovely braids: “Stop, my friends! Why run when you see a man? Surely you don’t think him an enemy, do you? There’s no one alive, there never will be one, who’d reach Phaeacian soil and lay it waste. […] So, quick, my girls, give our newfound friend some food and drink and bathe the man in the river, wherever you find some shelter from the wind.” Book 6
• “Straightaway she began to swear the oath that I required—never, she’d never do me harm—and when she’d finished, then, at last, I mounted Circe’s gorgeous bed … At the same time her handmaids bustled through the halls. […] One draped the chairs with fine crimson covers over the seats she’d spread with linen cloths below. A second drew up silver tables before the chairs and laid out golden trays to hold the bread. A third mulled heady, heart-warming wine in a silver bowl and set out golden cups. A fourth brought water and lit a blazing fire beneath a massive cauldron. […] The bathing finished, rubbing me sleek with oil, throwing warm fleece and a shirt around my shoulders, she led me in to sit on a silver-studded chair, ornately carved, with a stool to rest my feet.” Book 10
• But lustrous Calypso shuddered at those words and burst into a flight of indignation: “There all the rest of his loyal shipmates died but the wind drove him on, the current bore him here. And I welcomed him warmly, cherished him, even vowed to make the man immortal, ageless, all his days …” Book 5
• “But now the suitors trooped in with all their swagger and took their seats on low and high-backed chairs. Heralds poured water over their hands for rinsing, serving maids brought bread heaped high in trays and the young men brimmed the mixing-bowls with wine. They reached out for the good things that lay at hand, and when they’d put aside desire for food and drink the suitors set their minds on other pleasures, song and dancing, all that crowns a feast.” Book 1
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Odysseus Heros Journey Analysis

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Published: Mar 5, 2024

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