Family Structure In The Odyssey

Family Structure in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ramayana, and the Odyssey are epic stories that chronicle the adventure of a hero that are transferred from one generation to the next through oral tradition. Folk epics narrate important events in a given civilization and reflect the history and culture for people of those times. The epics Gilgamesh, Ramayana and the Odyssey are few examples of epic poetry that reflects the culture of different civilizations. They reflect the tribes' different ways of life, spiritual beliefs and family structures. Family structure is a major component of every culture and this paper will explore how these three epics depict the structure of families in the respective cultures that they represent. The Epic of

Homer's the Odyssey exemplifies the culture of patriarchal family among the Greeks. The kingdom celebrates the courage of their king, and mourn at his deferred arrival after the fall of Troy. However, Ithaca regains hope with the rising of a promising prince in the character of Telemachus. Separated by miles of physical distance, Odysseus and Telemachus had surprisingly established a strong relationship and developed a lasting admiration for each other. The absence of his father ignited the desire of Telemachus to set his own "odyssey" or journey despite his lack of experience in traveling in far seas. For once, he never thought that Odysseus was among the soldiers who died in the Trojan war. He admires him so much that even if it has been years since the war ended, he did not lose hope that his father would come back. He did not cry in despair; instead, he looked for ways to discover the whereabouts of his father. He travels to the kingdom of King Menelaus with young courage and the burning hope that the King would give him answers. On the other part of the ocean, Odysseus is trying his best to reach Ithaca despite the tempest that cannot be controlled even by his supernatural courage and endurance. Because he longs to see his son, he finally asks for the intervention of the gods whom he had cursed during his journey. There mutual desire to connect and

The Epic of Gilgamesh reflects the closeness of mother and son. Furthermore, it mirrors the Mesopotamian culture of valuing a heroic partner other than the wife figure. On the other hand, the Odyssey stresses the importance of father-son relationship in the Greek's family structure. It further extols the glory of a strong family who defies every challenge because all members have stable confidence to the patriarchal character. Lastly, Ramayana depicts the paradigmatic bond between brothers as an important aspect of the Hindu family structure. The epic upholds to the importance of ideal brotherhood as a primary element of Indian family. Despite this diversity, there is a dominating element in the epic stories; the sense of unity among family members. These epics reflect the essential message that a family can triumphed over numerous challenges if they remain united. The epics of Gilgamesh, Ramayana" and the Odyssey embody the different family structures of the people of ancient Mesopotamia, the Hindus and the Greeks, but they carry a single theme. These epic stories suggest that the functionality of a family does not primarily lie in its structure; rather, it lies in the unifying values shared by the involved family