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The value of loyalty in the odyssey
Odyssey literary analysis
The theme of loyalty in the odyssey
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More handpicked essays just for you.
The value of loyalty in the odyssey
Odyssey literary analysis
The theme of loyalty in the odyssey
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
I chose the word “loyal” to best describe the character Telemachus because if his bravery and loyalty to his father. In the book Odyssey written by Homer,Telemachus waits for his father for twenty years and when he return he stood by his father side in battle against the people that tried to marry his mother. This shows where his loyalty had lied. Telemachus is loyal for his courage to stand in for his father while he was away and him helping him during a battle.
Consider one of our essential questions - how does Odysseus embody the traits of an epic hero? Explain. Ody has many of the traits of an epic hero, to start off, he was a noble at birth. His father, Laertes, was the king which meant one day he will be the king, too. Ody also is capable of deeds of strength and courage.
In the epic, The Odyssey, the epic hero in the story exhibits heroic traits, the most important I think is loyalty. In the first episode, it shows loyalty when they are at the land of the Lotus Eaters. The three men that Odysseus brings along, want to stay with the Lotus Eaters because they are so addicted to the drug. Odysseus must literally drag the men to the ship and tie them up for them to be able to not stay on the island of the Lotus Eaters.
Odysseus (P.567) This story illustrates how a Greek leader by name Odysseus and his men entered the cave finding food and drink to help themselves with but happened that they fell asleep. And Cyclops, whose other name is Polyphemus, joined them in the cave, he lead his flock sheep in the cave and rolled out a big stone against the mouth of the case which was close to the entrance. Therefore, seeing Odysseus, and his men asleep in the cave, he became angry and grabbed two of the men, crushed them to the rocks and ate them, and later he fell asleep. Odysseus seeing that act of Cyclops couldn’t do anything since Cyclops was the only strongest people that rolled out the stone from the cave.
Odysseus watches some of his best men get taken and torn apart and eaten, he states it the worst he has ever suffered yet he continues on his journey home. Another example in “Odysseus and his men are compared to falcons who show no mercy to the flocks of birds they pursue and capture”. Odysseus is so determined to be with his wife and son and get his throne back he kills all of the suitors with his men. This shows how Odysseus illustrates perseverance in the odyssey, because he was able to keep going after going through difficult
Although Odysseus occasionally does something for the short-term benefit of his crew, he does not deserve their loyalty because he does not sincerely care about them, trust them, or listen to them. Even when Odysseus is in the middle of nowhere in a boat with his comrades and crew members for twenty years, he still manages to not care about them and think of his own life as more valuable than any of theirs. An example of this is when Odysseus sends his men into danger instead of being a leader and going first: “All I spied was a plume of smoke, drifting off the land. / So I sent some crew ahead to learn who lived there -- / men like us perhaps, who live on bread?”
For example the author showed how odysseus was loyal when he said “I have fought only to save my life, but my man's life's too.” this shows he was there for his men through their long journey. This also shows that he was loyal because not only did he want to protect his men's life but he also stayed loyal to himself. In addition, he showed his loyalness when the narrator
“[...]the gods brought me to the island Ogygia, where Kalypso lives, with ordered hair, a dread goddess, and she received me and loved me excessively and cared for me, and she promised to make me an immortal and all my days to be ageless, but never so could she win over the heart within me.” (p. 117-118). The theme in The Odyssey by Homer is the idea that loyalty is a good trait to have and it can benefit those involved. Loyalty is shown throughout The Odyssey towards multiple characters. Homer provides us with examples of loyalty to prove being loyal can aid most of the people involved.
The Odyssey by Homer is an exemplary story that teaches life lessons to those going on a journey for themselves. It illustrates how the challenges and obstacles one may face can help someone become a better leader. The Odyssey highlights one man, Odysseus, a man filled with excessive pride, experiencing the wrath of the god Poseidon. He expects to arrive at his home, Ithaca, safely to reunite with his wife, Penelope, but unfortunately faces many temptations and setbacks. Due to the challenges he faces, it prevents him from arriving home as early as he thought he would.
This example shows how honor is not necessarily one thing, but a combination of how one acts, treats others and handles situations. It is a reflection of how others see us and something that others determine. In the encounter with the Cyclops, Odysseus is seen as honorable by his men due to his actions. Rather than run away, he stays with his men and finds a solution to save them all. He does not put his life or value himself more than his men.
Odysseus’s Traits Throughout the Odyssey, the main character Odysseus goes on an epic adventure with his focus being to get home to his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus. He faces many obstacles dealing with characters such as the Cyclopes, Poseidon, Aeolus, Athena, Helios, Calypso, Zeus, Hermes, Scylla, and Circe. Odysseus’s men are some of the most valuable people to him throughout the Odyssey. He always puts himself in front of danger for them to protect them even though they all died from an unexpected turn of events soon before he returns home. When Odysseus comes home he greets his twenty year old son and straightens things out on his homeland, Ithaca.
In The Odyssey, the author Homer writes a fascinating epic poem. It all began when Helen the queen of Sparta was kidnapped. Her husband sent an army of great warriors behind her, including Odysseus. A 10 year war was fought between the trojans and Odysseus’ army. It ended when the greek army retreated leaving only the finest warriors behind, led by Odysseus they hid in a wooden horse that at in front of the trojans gate.
Odysseus battle advice could prove the loyalty of the clan and tribes that are part of the king’s regime. Although, many of the clan and tribesmen were completely worn out and ready to retreat, for they had been gone from home for nearly a decade. A man surely does not want their pride questioned. Speaking ill of them in a manner of incompetence of completing the fall of Troy. Can spark a full renewal of rage and confidence, so showing the clan and tribes in a more vulnerable state where each captain is to lead his troop into battle can show the king who is truly willing to put forth true power to eliminate the enemy, and who is weak in showing force, for they may even fall behind other troops for
Homer was the author of the Odyssey and conveys Odysseus as a great epic hero, but there is an underlying lesson to these conflicts in the Odyssey that he goes through that not all pay attention to. Welcoming strangers into your home is frightening yet they do it all the time. What's even more frightening is not letting someone into your home who is disguised as a god and could be testing you. One can only hope the people they welcome are good ones, but this did not always happen. The theme of the Odyssey is loyalty and Xenia.
A major theme in the Odyssey is reciprocity: people getting what they deserve. Reciprocity is an important theme in the Odyssey because it explains why Odysseus’ journey was very long and treacherous. Eurylochus, Antinous, and Odysseus all suffered consequences due to poorly made actions. Each of them made the wrong decisions which lead to death and a long/adventurous journey. Eurylochus was the first to be killed by Odysseus and his men due to his actions.