Greek Values Revealed In Homer's The Odyssey

To be seen as the ideal Greek man or woman one must obey the Greek values revealed in The Odyssey. Many Greek poems and books are written suggesting how to live life as the ideal person. The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer. The Odyssey tells the story of the epic Greek hero Odysseus and his journey home to Ithica after winning the Trojan War. Throughout the voyage Odysseus and his crew face many difficulties. These include: encountering Lotus-eaters, Cyclopes, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, Helios and his cattle and many more. After a tiresome ten-year voyage home Odysseus arrives home to Ithica with no crewmembers remaining. Upon his arrival he finds his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus invaded by suitors who wish to marry his wife as a way to acquire his property and wealth.

In his absence Penelope is fighting off the suitors with tricks that she can no longer uphold. She is forced to choose a suitor as a husband, so she creates an impossible task that she knows only Odysseus can achieve. Odysseus, still disguised as a beggar, achieves the task and reveals himself as Odysseus, King of Ithica. He kills the suitors with the help of his son Telemachus. Penelope is skeptical that the man who claims to be her husband truly is Odysseus. Penelope puts Odysseus to one last test to confirm he is her husband. Odysseus passes her test proving himself as Odysseus and takes back his rightful place, as King of Ithica. Penelope and Odysseus are overwhelmed with love and happiness because they are finally reunited. The Odyssey portrays Penelope as the ideal Greek woman and wife dutifully following Greek culture as she employs cunning and loyal actions to remain faithful to her