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Examples Of Loyalty In The Odyssey

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In Greek culture, loyalty was greatly emphasized, most importantly towards superiors and family. To teach this lesson, they included various examples of people being rewarded for staying loyal, as well as the punishments for being disloyal, such as in Homer's epic poem The Odyssey. The Odyssey expresses the message that loyalty towards one another is rewarded, as shown by Eurycleia’s and Penelope's cases, and disloyal actions are punished, as shown by Odysseus' mutinous men. First off, the disloyal actions of Odysseus' crew regarding the cases of Helios' cattle and the bag of winds are two examples showing part the message The Odyssey has about loyalty: that disloyal actions are punished. During Odysseus' journey home, he and his crew comes …show more content…

Over the 20 years that Odysseus was missing, Penelope stayed loyal to him, despite having no way of knowing if he was dead or alive. She also faced pressure from the suitors to remarry, and still didn't give in. Because of this, her loyalty to Odysseus was rewarded, as the ghost of Atreus' son says, "How faithfully she kept her husband's image in mind! So the glory of her excellence will not fade, instead the gods will create a song of delight for mortal ears, in honor of Penelope" (Bk XXIV: 98-24). She would be remembered for eternity for staying loyal to Odysseus. Eurycleia is similar in that she stayed loyal to Odysseus after all this time. She does so by respecting his household as well as showing her willingness to play along with Odysseus' plan for the suitors, as well as offering to aid him, as she says "You know how strong and steady my spirit is. I will be as silent as solid stone or iron" (Bk XIX:476-507). Her reward for staying loyal to Odysseus is that she was reunited with her beloved master, as well as not having to suffer the same fate as the other unfaithful maids would.The examples given, as well as others in the story, further support The Odyssey's message that loyalty is important, and is rewarded if

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I think that the main idea/value in the Odyssey is loyalty. Homer develops this idea throughout the epic by showing the consequences of being disloyal, as well as the rewards for staying true. Every character or group of characters that was disloyal to the main character is dead by the end of the book. Ody is a strong man who stays loyal to everyone who has never done him wrong. An instance of disloyalty in The Odyssey is near the end of the epic.

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2) Discuss the value of loyalty within Odysseus’s world. To what extent are our characters loyal to one another? What are the consequences of disloyalty? How does Homer develop his message? Discuss at least three instance from the text.

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Odysseus possess the character strengths of loyalty and compassion because he cares deeply for his comrades. For example, Odysseus proves his loyalty to his dead comrade Elpenor when he travels back to the island of Aeaea, “We cut logs in haste and out on the islands jutting headland his funeral rights in sorrow, streaming tears” (12.10-12). Odysseus feels a deep sense of loyalty towards his comrades as shown when he immediately returns to bury his friend. He exhibits compassion and loyalty towards his trusted friends throughout the book; he always puts the safety and well-being of his men first. Furthermore, Odysseus portrays his compassion and loyalty when after gaining Circe’s trust, he demands, “If you really want me to eat and drink, set

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loy·al·ty ˈloiəltē/ noun the quality of being loyal to someone or something. a strong feeling of support or allegiance. Loyalty is very strong and very meaningful, like true love or brotherhood. Loyalty has to be earned, not just given away. In The Odyssey, the epic poem by Homer, Odysseus’ crew is steadfastly loyal to him and follow nearly his every direction, even though they are given many reasons not to be.

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In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, some might argue that Odysseus’s dishonesty and deceit cause loss of trust and negative consequences. However, Odysseus’s dishonesty and deceit do not always have bad intentions, it can be seen when Odysseus and his men escaped out of Polyphemus’s cave to get out of trouble and when Odysseus received help from his men to get closer to their objective. While lying is looked down upon, people

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In The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus has dealt with many obstacles set forth by the gods and goddesses, in order to overcome his flaw of hubris and become a better person. Now, twenty years after the Trojan war, Odysseus returns to his home in Ithaca and finds that his beloved dog, Argus, once strong and brave is now old, weak, and treated like garbage; his son has grown up without him; and that his wife, Penelope, is sought after for marriage by men whom have vitiated his home and belongings. This infuriates Odysseus and forces him to face the karma and consequences of his hubris of his younger self. After Odysseus meets his son, Telemachus, for the first time, Odysseus must now take back his rightful place, but he must do so as a beggar, which is sad and humiliating for his son to watch: “ ‘If they make fun of me in my own courtyard, let your ribs cage up your springing heart, no matter what I suffer, no matter if they pull me by the heels or practice shots at me, to drive me out. Look on, hold down your anger.

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Loyalty & Disloyalty in The Odyssey The Odyssey has many themes of loyalty in the story as well as themes of disloyalty. Throughout the story, Odysseus’ relationships with characters prove these motifs. Odysseus himself is a primary example of loyalty and he shows it in the interactions with the characters. Many of the disloyal interactions result in consequences that affect Odysseus in the form of the adversities he goes through in the story.

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Although Odysseus claims he wants to get home to his beloved wife, Penelope, he continues to contradict himself throughout the story both through his actions by sleeping around, through taking unnecessary trips that stalled his journey back home even more and flirting with other women along with leading them on. Odysseus throughout the Odyssey claimed he wanted to get home to Penelope and his home land, Ithaca, but he not only contradicts himself through his actions, he also shows a tremendous amount of disloyalty to Penelope throughout the book. One of his stops during his journey home is to the goddess Circe 's island. Odysseus explained to the Phaeacians his stay at Circe 's island by saying, “ -and when she’d finished, then, at last,

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From Odysseus’ time with Calypso in Ogygia up until the moment he takes back his home and wife from the suitors in Ithaca, the struggles he faces help answer what makes for a good life. Homer uses Odysseus’ journey throughout “The Odyssey” to identify four aspects of a good life: mortality, honor, hospitality, and experiences. Homer reveals that mortality is necessary for a good life when Odysseus denies the opportunity for immortality that Calypso offers, he shows the significance of honor in his description of Odysseus’ bravery in the Trojan war and the consequent respect that Odysseus’ crew has for him, Homer reinforces the importance of hospitality in each city Odysseus travels to, and he conveys that experiences, good or bad, define a good life. The Greeks held their gods in high esteem and therefore when Homer or other characters in the epic refer to Odysseus as being “godlike,” this is one of the highest compliments he could receive.

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In epic Greek poems, gods have a major influence in the overall storyline and the Odyssey is no exception. The gods and goddesses constantly are appearing sometimes in a disguised form, but all nonetheless crafting the scenes to their accord so that they may offer gratitude for the mortal’s loyalty or to gain revenge for their disloyalty. Not only do they alter events, but people also alter their actions while keeping the appeasement of gods in mind. By paying respect to the gods, the characters express much more than a simple gesture of reverence; instead, it is also a way of showing compassion for something other than themselves. Odysseus strategically exploits his devotion to the gods in various scenes in a way to improve his own character

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Odyssey Essay Did you know Odysseus let many of his men die in the Odyssey? Well, Odysseus is also known for his brave and heroic acts, but to further understand him, you have to know about his Greek Values. In the Odyssey, Odysseus’ strength and weaknesses of leadership, intelligence, and his selfishness. This reflects the Greek Values of leading others to success, and accomplishment, outsmarting others, and caring for others.

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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.

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There are many lessons Odysseus and is men learn on their journey home in the Odyssey. Unfortunately, only Odysseus makes it home and the rest of men are dead because of their foolish actions. In the Thrinacia and The Cattle of the Sun episode of the Odyssey Odysseus’s men once again disobey him and cost them their lives. The men and Odysseus learn valuable lessons throughout their epic journey, but in the episode the most important lessons they learn are; temptation can lead to death, being obedient can save your life, and trust your instincts. If Odysseus’s men would have been more obedient to their leader Odysseus perhaps all of them would have made it back home alive.

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The Odyssey illustrates that the actions of being disloyal leads to punishment and being loyal leads to awards.

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