The Human Condition In Odyssey's In The Heights

In the musical In the Heights, Usnavi always wanted to go back to Puerto Rico and see his birthplace to honor his parents. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus is focused on getting home to his family. He turns down riches and vast land for himself and focused on getting home. Therefore, the human condition is ruled by the need for family and home rather than greed and lust.

For the duration of most of his journey home, Odysseus is with Calypso, a beautiful nymph; he spends the time there unhappy and longing to go home to Ithaca. For example, in book V, Athena notices Odysseus’ need to go home and pleads with Zeus to help him: “Meanwhile he lives and grieves upon that island / in thralldom to the nymph” (V, 15-16) Athena is a helping hand to Odysseus

The Ancient Greeks believed that it’s more virtuous for women to stay faithful to their husband, while it didn’t really matter for the men. So, if a goddess/nymph wanted to keep Odysseus for a little bit in return for passage home, Odysseus agreed. For instance, Circe demands Odysseus to stay with her to which he replies: “‘Here in this house you turned my men to swine; / now it is I myself you hold, enticing / into your chamber, to your dangerous bed, / to take my manhood when you have me stripped. / I mount no bed of love with you upon it. / Or swear me first a great oath, if I do, / you’ll work no more enchantment to my harm.’” (X, 381-387) He refuses to be unfaithful to his wife but then realizes that he can use this to save his crew and get home safely. Odysseus made a deal with Circe that if he stays with her for a while, she’ll let them go. Another example is when King Alkinoos offered his daughter’s hand in marriage, or passage home: “seeing the man you are, seeing your thoughts / are my own thoughts--my daughter should be yours / and you my son-in-law, if you remained. / A home, lands, riches you should have from me / if you contented here. If not, / by Father Zeus, let none of our men hold you!” (VII, 334-339) But, Odysseus replies “O Father Zeus, let all this be fulfilled / as spoken by Alkinoos! Earth of harvests / remember him! Return me to my homeland!” (VII, 355-357) He turned down

For example, while at Lotos Island after realizing that the Lotos being offered was interfering with the journey home he says, “‘All hands aboard; / come, clear the beach and no one taste / the Lotos, or you lose your hope of home.’” (IX, 117-119) He makes sure that nothing is going to slow down the journey back to Ithaca. Similarly, after Cyclops Island, his crew, now greatly diminished, is led by Odysseus back onto the ocean without mourning their murdered friends. “When the young Dawn with finger tips of rose / touched the world, I roused the men, gave orders / to man the ships, cast off the mooring lines; / and filing in to sit beside the rowlocks / oarsmen in line dipped oars in the grey sea. / So we moved out, sad in the vast offing, / having our precious lives, but not our friends.” (IX, 612-618) Odysseus realizes that they have to keep going despite his friends’