Cultural Values In The Odyssey In Homer's The Odyssey

The Odyssey begins as Odysseus leaves an island he was trapped on for 10 years to go back to his hometown, Ithaca. However, we do not know if he will make it back, as it is highly probable that he will die. The Odyssey is a Greek Epic involving some of their ancient Gods. On the way to Ithaca Odysseus faces many challenges while his wife deals with challenges of her own at their house. Suitors have taken over Odysseus’s home, and are all trying to marry Odysseus’s wife, Penelope. However, some characters in the epic display many great qualities. In The Odyssey by Homer, loyalty, courage, and trickery are displayed throughout the book in a positive manner, showing that they are the Greek’s cultural values. First, loyalty is shown as a cultural

Starting with, Odysseus getting the Cyclops drunk. Right when the folly Cyclops was about to attack him, Odysseus,”Hands his guest a gift to warm his heart. Our soil yields the Cyclops powerful, full-bodied wine.” (9. 400-401) The Cyclops is offered wine from Odysseus and his crew, and the Cyclops takes it and drinks it. This is an example of trickery because Odysseus tricked the Cyclops into doing something stupid so that he could get a strategic advantage. Next, trickery is shown as a cultural value when Odysseus tricks Circe into freeing his friend. Odysseus makes a deal with the lolling Circe that says,”Mount your bed? Not for all the world. Not until you consent to swear, goddess, a binding oath. You’ll never plot some new intrique to harm me!” (10. 380-382) Circe had captured one of Odysseus’s crew members, by forcing him to take a drug that turns him into an animal. However, Odysseus found a way past this drug, which caused Circe to adore him. Then, Odysseus cadged for a deal to get the crew member back. Trickery is shown here because he put Circe in a position where she would have to free his crew member, and he used a trick to get to that point where he could make the deal. Finally, trickery is shown as a cultural value in the Odyssey because Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, tricks the suitors into thinking she will marry them, when she won’t. Penelope ensnares them by, “Building each man’s hopes, - dangling promises, dropping hints to each - but all the while with something else in mind.” (2. 97-100) Penelope’s trick is to lead the men on to think she will marry them, but she never does. This is an example of trickery because she does something to fool the men into giving her what she wants without being bothered. In conclusion,