Odysseus Relationships In Homer's Odyssey

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Love binds people together even when they are miles apart. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus still loves Penelope and Telemachus even though he has not seen them for years. This causes Odysseus to conquer unimaginable events all because in his heart he loves both his wife and son. Odysseus realizes his love for his family is one of the many reasons why he refuses to abandon the hope of returning to Ithaca. One must remember the love of their life even in dire circumstances. When Odysseus is held captive on Calypso’s Island, he does his best to remind himself of his wife, “But when day came he sat on the rocky shore / and broke his own heart groaning, / with eyes wet scanning the bare horizon of the sea” (292-96). This is one of the first instances where Odysseus can do nothing to resist Calypso, but still intends on returning to his faithful wife Penelope. In addition, even when Calypso offers Odysseus immortality, he declines because his true love is Penelope and a life surrounded by beauty would not change the love he has for his wife. Nevertheless, Odysseus adores his …show more content…

When Odysseus is at the swineherd’s house he receives comforting news about his son, “‘‘ In the ranks of men he’ll match his father, / his own dear father- amazing in build and looks that boy! / off he’s gone to catch / some news of his father, down to holy Pylos ’’” (203-06). Odysseus feels somewhat hopeful that Telemachus might not have relinquished hope that his father is dead. Even though Odysseus has never met his son, he loves him enough to trust him with his plan to take back his kingdom. At the same time, Odysseus owes Telemachus a father and son relationship because Telemachus did not have a father figure while Odysseus was away. Furthermore, Odysseus wants his son to know he did not deliberately mean to neglect him while he was on his journey and will redeem himself by reclaiming his rightful throne and reuniting with his

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