The Odyssey

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.

Homer’s story, The Odysseus revolves around Odysseus’s journey through many tribulations that he has to overcome. Odysseus, the main character faces many challenges in the battles at Troy and in the attempt to trace his way home to Ithaca. Odysseus is a hero is this story for numerous reasons. One of the major reasons is his escape, triumph over the trials he experiences and the way he maintains composure in the wake of tribulations such as his descent to the land of the dead, captivity, subjection to multiple marriage propositions, defying death, escaping the god’s wrath and the offer of immortality.

During, Homer’s, The Odyssey many strengths were tested throughout the entire book. This book was a mythological Greek folk tale that was created between the eleventh and eighth century B.C, therefore it is filled with many exaggerated stories about the Gods and treacherous adventures Odysseus had ventured on. He encounters a cyclops and after battles a six-headed monster. His crew discovers their talent for making mistakes such as being turned into pigs by Circe and letting strong winds out of the bag sending them farther from home. Odysseus experiences battles with his emotional stamina as well. His depression about his travels are shown through his lamentation on Calypsos’ island and his will power to discover the loyalty of his house mates is tested by Odysseus disguising himself as a beggar in his own home. Throughout, Homer’s, The Odyssey perseverance holds significance emotionally, physically, and mentally when enduring the battles and setbacks he experiences.

In The Odyssey written by Homer the main protagonist, Odysseus, learns many things about himself on his journey back home and reveals the truth that mankind can be easily manipulated by someone who seems more powerful and or intimidating. Odysseus has a troubling time getting back home to his wife and kingdom when the god of the sea, Poseidon, does almost everything in his power to stop him from doing so. Along Odysseus’s journey he has to face many obstacles and he learns to display three main traits of bravery, wittiness and perseverance which he uses to get home safely and avoid the dangers of threatening people and or things that get in the way. Odysseus proves himself to be full of bravery, which he exhibits during a fight with a cyclops:

Determined, she influentially announces to the gods, “But my heart breaks for Odysseus, that seasoned veteran cursed by fate so long…” (Homer 79). Stealthily, Athena carries out her plans to get Odysseus off of Calypso’s island while Poseidon, the antagonist, is not present. As a result, he cannot interfere with her arguments. This wise action emphasizes Athena’s loyalty and caring gesture toward Odysseus.

As the king of Ithaca and the crew leader of several men accompanying him on his focal return journey from the site of the Trojan War, Odysseus is necessarily loyal to his men, and to his denizens, as otherwise, Ithaca would falter, and the men on board with him would not be able to withstand the lengthy, epic journey as they had done. The demonstrations of this vital heroic character trait are numerous, such as when Odysseus remains alongside his supportive crew men during an assault upon his ships, with only the one upon which the previous portion of the odyssey had been conducted remaining afterward, and when his men are in despair at his temporary absence, coming to them in order to not only assuage them, but more importantly to signal to all of them that he would always be with them; that he would be their natural, passionate

During his journey back to Ithaca, Odysseus’ main concern was how to win back Penelope from the suitors. He was barely worried about the condition of the city he had left many years ago. He wanted to return to his homeland for the sheer satisfaction of renewing his title of king.

Another character that was loyal to Odysseus is Athena, the goddess of wisdom, aided and stayed loyal to Odysseus through his journey in the Odyssey. By persuading Zeus and the Olympian court that the time has come for Odysseus to be set free from Calypso, a sea nymph who detained Odysseus for seven years, and should be reunited with Telemachus Odysseus’ son (Athena's Assistance,2). Next, Athena inspires Telemachus to embark on a journey to seek information about his father. She disguises herself as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus, giving Telemachos hope that his father is still alive and that the only way to find out the truth about his return is to go search for him personally (3). Without Athena’s persistence Odysseus would never have been able to leave Calypso’s island to continue on his journey back to Ithaca . By arguing in front of the Olympian court, Athena convinces Zeus to send Hermes, a messenger of the gods, to Calypso’s island and instructs Calypso that the time has come for her to release Odysseus from her

“The Odyssey” is a story about a hero’s journey home in Ancient Greece. It was written by, who is believed to be, Homer, in the 8th century B.C. Odysseus left home to a go at war at Troy, which lasted ten years. Over the course of another ten years, Odysseus struggles to find his way back home. Odysseus, and others show loyalty towards each other at different instances throughout this story. Loyalty is the strongest theme portrayed in this story.

Athena smiled. Now all Odysseus had to do prove himself for her, and her blessing would be bestowed on him. When Odysseus pressed to the advantage she let herself fade to the palace’s dining hall standing above all, as if she were some avenging

But now he lies away on an island suffering strong pains in the palace of nymph Calypso, and she detains him by constraint , and he cannot make his way to his country…” (12-15, 88). Therefore, Athena inaugurated Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca, although she also contributed along the way. For example, book twenty-two depicts how Athena, with the appearance of the Mentor, commiserates Odysseus.

Ten years after the fall of Troy, the victorious Greek hero Odysseus has still not returned to his native land Ithaca. A band of rowdy suitors, believing Odysseus to be dead, has overrun his palace, courting his faithful—though weakening—wife Penelope, and going through his stock for food. With permission from Zeus, the goddess Athena, Odysseus' greatest immortal ally, appears in disguise and urges Odysseus' son Telemachus to seek news of his father at Pylos and Sparta. However, the suitors, led by Antinous, plan to ambush him upon return.

Then once more Athena helps Odysseus by, as the summary says, “She disguises him as an old man, so that he can surprise the suitors, and then urges him to visit the faithful swineherd, Eumaeus.” (Homer, 16, Summary). Without Athena Odysseus’s trip home, his life, and safety could have all failed.

The first several books of Homer’s Odyssey are spent in suspense as the reader waits to meet the legendary Odysseus himself. His son Telemachus is distraught trying to maintain his father’s honor amidst the home being overrun. His wife Penelope unspins yarn at night to fend off suitors in a desperate attempt to stay faithful to her absent love after all of these years. Even the goddess Athena herself goes before Zeus to vie for Odysseus, and explain{s} how perverse it is that this great man be denied rescue from his unnecessarily excessive punishment. And finally we meet this great leader, Odysseus, tragically stuck on an island sleeping with the goddess Calypso bemoaning his fading reputation and opportunity for glory. Odysseus, initially thought by many to be an impeccable and even god-like character simply plagued by a misfortune of fate, upon further inspection proves himself to be too personally flawed to be even considered an effective leader.

Homer's epic tale The Odyssey is a story of the triumphs and downfalls that are in store for one warrior's long pillage home.  Odysseus, the hero from the Trojan wars, has led his people of Ithaca and other Achaean soldiers to victory and now wishes to return home to his wife and family of Ithaca.  Through his twenty year journey Odysseus is often tested not only of his physical strength, but his wits as well.  The many accomplishments he achieved earned him great status and recognition throughout ancient Greece.  The mistakes he made caused the deaths of many men.  Consequently, we as readers are able to see the many personas that Odysseus carries with him.