Odysseus Motivation

Home is where the heart is, is a theme in the epic demonstrated by the lack of temptation Odysseus feels towards Calypso, and his determination to get home to his wife and son through time and effort.

Being married you commit to your partner and in order to have a strong bond you have to be loyal and Penelope exceeded that as she felt strongly that Odysseus would return. Over the years many men seek to marry Penelope so they can rule the kingdom. She stays loyal to him and waits for Odysseus to come home for twenty years. Penelope turns down men and refuses to marry anyone confident that one day Odysseus will arrive back home. Never losing hope that Odysseus will return, she continues to wait for him.

Odysseus’ relationship with his crew is close, because of everything that they have been through together. They bond further and further through all the difficult obstacles that stand in their way and which they eventually surmount. On their seemingly impossible

The Odyssey, written by Homer, tells the story of Odysseus after the Trojan War. It not only includes an insight on the adventures and return of Odysseus, but it also includes the stories of Telemakhos and Penelope. Telemakhos is the courageous son of Odysseus who goes on a quest in search for information about his father’s whereabouts. Penelope is an extremely clever woman who could match Odysseus in his wit. Penelope is able manipulate the suitors that have come to pursue her in Odysseus’s absence. Though Penelope often spends many nights weeping over the absence of her husband, it seems as if she never loses faith in her husband, and she truly believes that he will return to her and punish the suitors that have taken over their

            Despite this high opinion of Penelope, before he left, Odysseus and Kalypso " . . . retired, this pair [He and Kalypso], to the inner cave/to revel and rest softly, side by side."(Homer V:235-238)  This was not the only time Odysseus "retired", with another woman.  On the island of Kirke "[he] entered Kirke's flawless bed of love"(Homer X:390).  Despite these few instances, Odysseus remained faithful to Penelope in their twenty years apart.  He never loved either Kalypso or Kirke as he did Penelope, and thusly chose not to stay with either of the two.  Although the principle might get lost in the tale, Penelope played the part of the goal for Odysseus to obtain, or re-obtain by the end of the Odyssey.

When reading The Odyssey three main characters stand out that show their trustworthiness to Odysseus while he is away fighting in the Trojan War and trying to make his way back to Ithaca. It seems to me that the most loyal of all these characters is easily be overlooked, but it would definitely have to be Odysseus’s wife Penelope. Even after nearly twenty years apart from her husband, she still remains faithful to Odysseus and refuses to marry one of the awaiting suitors that hassle her day in and day out. There even came a time when Penelope told the suitors that she would wed once she finished Laertes’ shroud, but stated, ‘I would weave that mighty web by day; but then by night, by torchlight, I undid what I had done. This

Even Odysseus, the brave, noble leader feels emotions. When he thinks in remembrance of his family, he cries and wishes he were with them. Odysseus spends his life on Calypso’s island “on the seashore, weeping, crying aloud for his despair, and always looking out upon the sea” (68). Odysseus can’t handle being without his family, and that pushes him to get home. Calypso even said “My poor fellow, you shall not stay here grieving and fretting your life any longer” (65). Odysseus is granted the ability to leave, thanks to the talk given by “Hermes the messenger” (65) to Calypso. When describing the current events within Odysseus’ home Eumaios says “The house has fallen into the hands of the wicked people” (212). The suitors have become a force that even Odysseus has to exterminate. Odysseus’ men “therefore aimed straight in front of them and threw their spears” (307). Odysseus kills the wicked people, the “young men…suitors” (17) that have turned his house and family

Odysseus has a recurring complicated relationship with being loyal to his wife, Penelope, and being unfaithful. He seems loyal to Penelope by always wanting to go home and asking for help to get back to his home. For example, when Calypso asks him to marry her and live on her island for ever he declines. Even when she said she could bring Penelope and his son, he

However, Odysseus isn’t as perfect as most think. He has a lack of control over his shipmates creating a longer time without seeing his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus. Odysseus faced many challenges that got him and his men stuck, but he remained selfless the whole way home to Ithaca. The story of Odysseus and his journey home begins with Athena, a goddess, begging Zeus, a god, to help Odysseus, who has been lost at sea for over ten years. Odysseus’ fight to get home can be explained when Homer wrote, “ while he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home” (Homer 8-9).

Odysseus is the main character in an epic poem called the Odyssey. In the poem Odysseus has had some bad luck getting home, with some of the gods helping him and some hindering him; his journey towards home is a constant struggle. In this poem we see a man being broke and rebuilt, through constant irony his faith was damaged and without the help of Athena he probably would have given up on his journey. Through his hard work and wise spirit he finally does achieve his goal.

Despite these few instances, Odysseus remains faithful to Penelope in their twenty years apart.  He does not love either Calypso or Circe as he did Penelope, and thusly chooses not to stay with either of the two.  Although the principle might get lost in the tale, Penelope played the part of the goal for Odysseus to obtain, or re-obtain by the end of the

Odysseus is the husband to Queen Penelope and father to Prince Telemachus. He struggles to return to Ithaca after the battle of the Trojan War. 20) Penelope - (pa-nel-oh-pee) Mother of Prince Telemachus, wife of King Odysseus, she awaits the return of her husband after 20 years while caring for her son,

Odysseus is loyal to Penelope, and even with a beautiful nymph and everything he could ever want including immortality, he still longs for home and family. It’s the value of both parties wanting the relationship and it not being forced upon one or the other for benefit,

     As a wayfarer in life, The Odyssey focuses on life’s greater purpose through the fulfillment of destiny, perseverance, and loyalty. These three themes recur continuously throughout Odysseus’ journey, molding life’s greater vision. Odysseus comes to understand his purpose in life by remaining true to these major themes as he faces and conquers each obstacle in his journey.

Odysseus loves his family and desires to return despite his act with the nymph Calypso and Circe. At the