Odysseus Lack Of Loyalty In Homer's The Odyssey

“A true hero is not just someone who is brave and strong, but someone who is loyal and true to their cause, their values, and their friends” (Anonymous). This quote from the poem “Beowulf” truly embodies the most important aspect of heroism: loyalty. Without loyalty, one does not have a will to get things done, but instead is ignited by a false sense of passion and driven by a superficial hope for recognition. Thus, the argument is born: in “The Odyssey” by Homer, is Odysseus making his journey to Ithaca out of loyalty to his homeland or just simply to be a hero? In this epic, Odysseus is met by treacherous obstacles and beasts, somehow surviving them all and continuing on his voyage. It is then clear that Odysseus returns to Ithaca

Odysseus makes the journey back to Ithaca because he wants to see Penelope. Even when he gets trapped on Calypso’s island for seven years, slowing him down. Eventually, Calypso lets a forlorn Odysseus go by a demand from Hermes. Despite Calypso being the most beautiful being in the world, Odysseus wants to leave, which causes Calypso to ask “‘Son of Laertes… after all these years with me, you still desire your old home? Even so, I wish you well. If you could see it all, before you go— all the adversity you face at sea— you would stay here… and be immortal—though you wanted her [Penelope] forever… Can I be less desirable than she is?’” (Homer 734). To this, Odysseus responds “‘My lady goddess, there is no cause for anger. My quiet Penelope… would seem a shade before your majesty… yet, it is true, each day I long for home…’” (Homer 734). Odysseus labels Penelope as “quiet,” indicating that the excitement he

One of the destinations that Odysseus lands on is the witch Circe’s island. There, her beguiling voice attracts Odysseus’ men. When they arrive at her hall, Circe turns the men to pigs. Eurylochus urgently runs to Odysseus to alert him, to which “Odysseus leaves the ship and rushes to Circe’s hall” (Homer 758). Circe forces Odysseus and his men to stay for months until they finally beg to leave. Circe tells them they can leave only if they go to the underworld and speak to Tiresias, a major prophet whose visions are always correct. Hearing such distressful news, Odysseus feels “… a weight like stone… and, moaning, pressed… length against the bed, with no desire to see the daylight more” (Homer 759). Odysseus says he feels a weight pressed against him, which symbolizes the internal pain he experiences knowing his journey will have to be even longer than it already has been. He has a very dramatic reaction, saying he doesn’t even want to see the sun anymore, as his world is so dark and bleak. (Something about his world being dark) He doesn’t feel like living if he can’t be at home with his wife, son, and home, which actively displays extreme loyalty towards them. Odysseus leaves Circe’s island and sails to the Land of the Dead, a.k.a. the underworld. Here, he speaks to Tiresias who tells him anguish lies ahead in his journey and that he must go to Thrinakia, the land of Helios’ cows. Following this, he sees the