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The Odysseus: The Theme of Love
There are many essential emotions that form the building blocks of our
lives. These emotions help to shape the people that we are. These feelings
are emotional necessities to ultimately keep us happy. Nothing makes these
feelings more evident than the Odyssey by Homer. Through out the course of
this book there is one major emotional theme which is love.
Often times in life we search for a companion, someone to share our love
and life with. Odysseus and Penelope's lasting relationship is an obvious
representation of love in the Odyssey. Although Odysseus is gone for twenty
years he never forgets his faithful wife in Ithaca. This love almost seems
to help him persevere through the many hardships that he encounters on his
journey home. On the other hand, Penelope also exemplifies this same kind
of love for Odysseus. At home in Ithaca, she stays loyal to Odysseus by
unraveling his shroud and delaying her marriage to the suitors that are
courting her. She always keeps the hope that her love, Odysseus, will
return. Odysseus and Penelope's marriage clearly illustrates the theme of
love. There are also many other bonds formed in life that show great love
and guidance. One of the most emphasized in the Odyssey is the father -
son relationship. These relationships clearly support the issue of love in
the Odyssey.
The father - son relationship between Odysseus and Telemachos is a little
awkward because they both never really got to know each other but they
still care for each other's well being. When Odysseus hears of all the
suitors devouring Telemachos's future fortune and mistreating him, he wants
to return and revenge the misuse of his family and property. Odysseus,
like any parent, also misses his only child while he is at war. Telemachos
on the contrary also displays a lot of love for his father. Telemachos
leaves Ithaca, inexperienced, to find any knowledge of his father in hope
that he is still alive. Telemachos through out most of his life has lacked
a father figure and desperately needs that special help and guidance from
Odysseus as he becomes a man. Their relationship seems to show how love can
give you the strength to carry on.
The other important father - son relationship in the Odyssey that exhibits
love is the one between Odysseus and Laertes. Odysseus, when he returns,
wishes to go see his father. When he confronts his father and tries to
hide his identity, he is unable to finish his story because of the great
sorrow in his father's eyes. This shows how much he loves his father and
what great suffering he caused him. This anguish that Laertes exhibits also
shows how much love he has for his son. Since Odysseus was assumed to be
dead, it almost sent Laertes into a kind of depression. When Odysseus
returned it gave Laetes an overwhelming happiness. This is a case where
love seems to be the cure for pain and grief. Love is major emotional theme
and it is seen often in the Odyssey. Even though love comes and goes it
still plays and important role in everyone's lives. It is not hard to see
how happiness relies on love. It definitely shapes who we are and what we
do with our lives.
ADDITIONAL FEATURED ESSAYS
Odysseus: Character And Development
Odysseus character and development from when the story starts and when it finish is fascinating. The development of his
The Odyssey
In "", Athene helped Odysseus numerous ways physically and mentally by aiding him, Telemachus, and Penelope. In book I,
The Oddysey
This book began with Odysseus finishing his tale in the King Alcinous' palace. King Alicinous that tell Odysseus he will
Odysseus And Aeneas
are very alike in some ways and very different. They are both epic heroes except that one is Greek and the other is a Tr
The Odyssey: Odysseus Learns Patience, The Sanctity Of Life, And Humility
In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus learns patience, the sanctity of life, and humility on his seven year journey back to h
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