Loyalty in The Odyssey
The Odyssey by Homer shows many inspiring traits from ancient Greek culture. Throughout this Epic Poem, withstanding loyalty is the truest act of strength and bravery. Loyalty is revealed in the odyssey firstly when Hermes witnesses Odysseus staring out at the sea, depressed because he misses his family. Even though the island Odysseus is on is filled with wonder, he is loyal to his family. Next loyalty is shown through Odysseus when he rushes to save his men from Circe’s influence. Even though he could have listened to Eurylochus who tells him they should leave. Loyalty is then shown when Odysseus risks putting himself through more danger, by going back to Circe’s island to bury his fallen team member, Elpenor. Another example of loyalty is exposed through Odysseus’ dog, Argos, when Odysseus comes home from his long journey and sees his beloved dog uncared for and weak. Argos shows love for Odysseus and dies soon after he sees his master. IAs though Argos was waiting for Odysseus’ return. Lastly loyalty is displayed as Penelope is grieving her husband, even after twenty years.
Odysseus shows great mental strength and bravery through his loyalty,as he sits watching the ocean on a mesmerizing island, that is filled with a
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Without a second thought Odysseus rushes to rescue his men, not caring about the danger, even after Eurylochus begs him to leave the island. The quote reads,” Eurylochus tells Odysseus what has happened and begs him to sail away from Circe's’ island. Against this advice, however, Odysseus rushes to save his men from the enchantress.”(Page: 1225, Lines 46-48) Bravery shines through this act of loyalty, by Odysseus putting his own life at risk to save others. The abundant amount of mental strength that it took for him to do this, really proves how loyal of a person Odysseus
One of Odysseus’ traits is bravery. One example of Odysseus’ bravery is when he injures a Cyclops that is 5 times his size, “I drew it from the coals and my four fellows/ gave me a hand, lugging it near the Cyclops/ as more than natural force nerved them, straight forward they sprinted, lifted it, and rammed it/ deep in his crater eye. 329-332” This quote shows how brave Odysseus and his men are to face the Cyclops. Odysseus was intelligent to think about this idea, but
Intro: There are a wide variety of themes present throughout the Odyssey, written by Homer. Be it hospitality, perseverance, vengeance or power of the Gods, loyalty is truly the theme that brings the whole book together. Being 10 years after the Trojan War, many have forgotten about Odysseus and his men as they constantly brave what the gods throw their way. This essay will be talking about Odysseus and Penelope’s mutual loyalty to one another, the loyal relationships between Gods and men and finally, the loyalty Odysseus’ men show for him until death. This essay with prove to us that without loyalty, Odysseus’ legendary journey would have been put to an end near where they started. The general theme of loyalty is what kept Odysseus
Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and the main character in homer’s The Odyssey, was gone for twenty years before finally returning to his family and his homeland. He struggled through many hardships and lost many loyal companions. The King of Ithaca would not have made it home without the assistance of the Greek gods. Despite all of the help and advice that Odysseus receives from the gods, he is a very brave man because his courage and daring in the cave of the Cyclops, his inability to give up and abandon his men on Circe’s island, and his flawless following of the gods instructions are acts of bravery that is uncommon in most men.
Bravery was probably one of the traits Odysseus was known for best. Without his bravery, the story most-likely wouldn't have been as exciting and suspenseful as it was. One of the situations that displayed this trait was when they landed on the
Loyalty is heroic. Loyalty is defined as faithfulness or devotion to a person, cause, obligations, or duties. In Homer's Odyssey one can see loyalty in many forms. Odysseus is loyal to the gods whom he realized held his life in their hands. Penelope was loyal to Odysseus, while trying not to offend the rude suitors. Telemachus was loyal to a father whom he only knew from the stories he had been told. Time and time again we see loyalty in the strongest sense, complete fidelity in time of uncertainty.
Loyalty to family, community, and the gods is an important quality in the lives of ancient Greek citizens. These qualities are clear demonstrated in The Odyssey through Penelope, Telemakhos, and Odysseus.
Loyalty is a trait that can help guide you through many difficult situations. It is a quality that the Ancient Greeks were shown to value through their epics. Odysseus, hero of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, is a character that reveals several values of Ancient Greek culture through his qualities of honesty, devotion, and support. One of the most prominent values portrayed throughout the story is loyalty.
Odysseus shows surprising bravery in the events of the Cicones island when facing the native people in battle. At the battle, Odysseus had to show bravery when his shipmates took too long to load the ship, and the fugitives escaped and brought an army back to the coastal
Odysseus has trials and tribulations throughout this entire wandering, and he is faced with tremendously challenging decisions that only courage could allow him to properly make. One of the keys to surviving on foreign soil is the ability to
Another trait that Odysseus demonstrates repeatedly throughout the story is his loyalty. In various situations he never gives up on his crew, even when he has reason to. During an episode in the epic, Odysseus travels to the underworld to receive a prophecy. He meets his great friend Elpenor, who has died earlier in Circe’s hall. Because he is unburied and unmourned he asks Odysseus to build a cairn in his honor. Odysseus replies, “Unhappy spirit, / I promise you the barrow and the burial.” (Homer, lines 609-610). Although Odysseus is preoccupied with finding Tiresias, he shows loyalty to his crew mate by spending time with his spirit, and carrying out the spirit’s request. It could have been easy for Odysseus to ignore the spirit of Elpenor, but Odysseus shows a real emotional reply to this meeting. Not only does he show loyalty to his crew but his homeland as well. Although he could have given up during the ten year span Odysseus wandered from home, he persisted even though giving up would have been easier. At one point Odysseus is detained by the enchantress, Circe, but remains determined to reach home:
Odysseus showed that he was loyal to his men just not by leaving them behind, but he revealed his true colors to notify his men that they cannot not ever give up even when things get difficult. He was known for his leadership skills; leaving home for so many years, to return back to his family. During Odysseus early life, he had the ability to solve problems as well as outwit his opponents. He promotes his own code of conduct through his exploits. Odysseus is more intense than Achilles, more pensive, but still is able to create explosive violence. Odysseus is all about being victorious; even when it was time for him to return back to his home.” A man who has been through bitter experiences and travelled far enjoys even his sufferings after a time” (Odyssey). This quote represents all of the misery that he came upon his excursion. He played a special role in Homer’s lliad; demonstrating his abilities to advise his followers so they can be independent.
One of the biggest traits Odysseus shows throughout the story is his bravery. The whole story Odysseus shows his courage. Taking every mission knowing there could be death; Odysseus still did not give up. Odysseus did whatever it took to make back to Ithaca for his wife and son. Odysseus showed courage by outsmarting the Cyclops. Odysseus went to the land of the dead just to bury a dead shipmate with no fear. But Odysseus showed his every bit of bravery when planning and fighting against the suitors. Odysseus set up plans to kill all the suitors with only 3 people with him. Odysseus refused to back down from the suitors so when the time came he was prepared. When all the suitors were killed Odysseus and his family had finally reunited. After 20 years of Odysseus bravery had all paid off. That’s why I think Odysseus shows he has lots of bravery throughout the story.
Loyalty and perseverance have been in everyone but not all of us can achieve what the impossible can. The impossible are the ones that do without asking. We probably see one every day or someone you know like a soldier willing to go into battle to risk his life and are four legged friends that keep us company at home. These are the types of people and dogs that have been loyal and have persevered in our society. This theme of loyalty and perseverance can be connected to the book The Odyssey by Homer. Odysseus the main character in the book is lost at sea for over twenty years. His wife, Penelope has not given up hope as she thinks about where Odysseus has been. This sacrifice of not remarrying shows how loyal of a wife Penelope is to her husband. Also, Telemachus’s has to chosen to go on a journey to find his father with the assistance of Athena. These major theme that occurs has been seen in both the modern world and the Odyssey. I need more and a thesis
Odysseus in the epic poetry The Odyssey, written by Homer, is trying to make his way home after the long and treacherous Trojan War, which he fought in. Odysseus throughout the book has gotten himself into many tricky situations, however Athena, the goddess of wisdom and military victory, has been beside him and aiding him through his journey home. Loyalty is an aspect of life, which Athena portrays throughout the entire epic poetry. Athena throughout the epic poem, The Odyssey, has shown her loyalty to Odysseus and his family in his journey to return home.
Odysseus’s faith and guidance towards his men are what accurately characterize his as an epic hero. For instance, when they were sailing past the island of the Sirens, Odysseus “stopped the ears of my comrades one by one”(Book 12, 193). Odysseus proves his skillful leadership by protected his men from the siren’s song, allowing them to harmlessly row past the enchanted island. In addition to his experienced control over his men, Odysseus is extremely loyal to his men, such as the time when 3 of his crew members lost their desire of returning home from eating lotus fruit,