When they saw each other, Penelope didn’t recognize him since it has been years since they’ve seen each other. Odysseus showed that he had the guts to Odysseus aged a little bit more and his hair was grey and he had a long beard
Notably, the song in the chorus describes how at home his love remains waiting silently for him. Likewise in The Odyssey, Penelope remains loyal to Odysseus through all the pandemonium from the suitors and nearly a 20 year absence from Odysseus. In one such instance with Penelope talking with Eurymachus, she describes the pride she has for herself and her marriage with Odysseus by saying ”'Eurymachus, all my excellence, my beauty and figure, were ruined by the immortals at that time when the Argives took ship for Ilion, and with them went my husband, Odysseus. If he were to come back to me and take care of my life, then my reputation would be more great and splendid(18.251-255).” Furthermore, the lyrics of the song constantly deal with the desire to return home; similarly, this is a common story development for Odysseus in The Odyssey.
(Homer, 10.515-20) Once again, Odysseus proves he is not loyal to Penelope by just how many dangerous situations he puts himself in. One may say that it was necessary for his return home, but there were some that were not. He risked his life for no reason, almost leaving Penelope and Telemachus without him with no way of knowing so. One of these times being when Odysseus and his men invaded and then fought the Cicones: [...] we stood and fought them off, massed as they were, but then when the sun wheeled past the hour for unyoking oxen, the Cicones broke our lines and beat us down at least.
When Odysseus is talking to Penelope as a beggar, he tells her,”’I have heard that Odysseus now, at last, is on his way…’” (Odysseus/page 399/line 310). Odysseus tells this to Penelope to see if she is still in love with him. The way she responded to the news would give Odysseus his answer. This was a struggle in Penelope and Odysseus’
He felt obligated to remain with her in a perfect paradise for seven years. However, throughout the entire time he was trapped with Calypso, Odysseus felt that he was wanted elsewhere. Thus, he longed to return to his home and to his dearly loved Penelope. Odysseus’ passion for being with his wife ultimately won the call for him to return home.
The main character Odysseus in the Odyssey written by Homer is generally thought to be a great hero; however, he shows more traits of a quite flawed character on closer inspection. Around the beginning of Odysseus’ journey home after the war, Odysseus decides to take a detour to the home of a cyclops deciding to not listen to his men’s suggestions to leave while they still could; consequently, it does not end well: “Ah, how sound that was, Yet I refused. I wished to see the caveman, what he had to offer no pretty sight it turned out, for my friend” (9.130-132). This thought by Odysseus shows that he realized his decision to go to the mysterious island wasn’t the most rational one and that his men’s pleas to leave were the better option, but he decides to be stubborn and place his curiosity before his men’s safety resulting in a non-heroic
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.
”(5.91-96). which Calypso is the cause of. This quote supports the reason because it shows that Odysseus does not like being trapped on Ogygia, especially with a woman he did not like. If he truly liked Calypso, he would have decided to stay with her forever, and forget his wife. But, he did not which proves his true loyalty to his wife Penelope.
Desire for fame is another reason for Odysseus to return his homeland. If he had married with Calypso, he could be immortal at once and he would not die, but in that island he had no fame for his personality. Odyssey’s journey after he left his home to troy, and from troy to Calypso’s island means much more for him; though the situation in his home and the journey was unpleasant, he will get the fame for his deeds once he will reach Ithaca. Even the journey was incredibly painful, Odysseus shared every things to people on the way because his journey was meaningful for him as he went to Trojan’s war, killed Troy’s companion, blinded Cyclops, cursed by Poseidon, reached the kingdom of the Dead, save his troops from Circe, all his commanders died
This quote is very important because Odysseus and Penelope finally reunited after long years. Odysseus and Penelope have a strong relationship because Penelope shows loyalty, love, and faith. Odysseus loyalty is in his battles to get home to his wife. Penelope's loyalty is steady as she waits for Odysseus while raising their son, staying faithful to him and refusing to take a suitor. The quote represents the love they share across miles and over the years is very resisting as both promise that they will be reunited.
In the novel “The Odyssey” {{mention the author here}} we see that the main character Odysseus has been held captive by Calypso, Calypso held Odysseus for a number of years, however Calypso gave Odysseus whatever he wants and has provided for Odysseus in many ways. Odysseus still is a married man to Penelope and they have a young son that he wants to get back to and be with them. Calypso has held Odysseus to for seven years trying to marry him and sleep with Odysseus and she has given everything to Odysseus that he desires. Odysseus has a son that he wants to get back to and a wife that needs him. Odysseus has enough courage to try to leave the island when Hermes helped Odysseus escape.
In The Odyssey Odysseus faces many setbacks and problems during his journey. All the time he is stuck and can’t continue working to get home he thinks of his family, especially his faithful wife. He never forgets about them or gives up trying to get home. One major drawback of his journey is when he is kept by Calypso on her island. He claims that he is always “sitting,still/ weeping, his eyes never dry, his sweet life flowing away/ with the tears he wept for his foiled journey home,” (Homer 157).
While Odysseus does want to get home to his family, it would be so much easier for him to stay on the island, where he has almost no problems, with the beautiful Calypso. She tries to tell him this, saying that, “if you could see it all, before you go, the adversity you face at sea, you would stay here… and be immortal”, but Odysseus decides to leave anyway (I: 114-116). This demonstrates the theme of resisting temptation because Calypso tempts Odysseus to stay on the island and even offers him immortality, making staying seem the the easiest and best decision, but Odysseus holds strong and leaves for his family and his wife who, as Calypso reminds him, is not as beautiful as
The Odyssey is a story about coming home, or more so, the journey back there. Odysseus will not give up his pursuit of Ithaca. He feels empty and longs to be where he belongs. Readers can relate to him because he is in a circumstance he does not want to be in, much like the ones we ourselves fall into. The story stretches over different difficulties that prolong his journey.
He is coming, and I am here.” (518). In The Odyssey, Odysseus is motivated to pursue his strenuous journey is his love for Penelope, for she is the reason he longs to go back home. He states: "Nevertheless I long—I pine, all my days—to travel home and see the dawn of my return. And if a god will wreck me yet again on the wine-dark sea, I can bear that too, with a spirit tempered to endure … bring the trial on" (Homer, 84), showing that he is willing to endure anything so long as he can return home.
