Loneliness and Loyalty in the Odyssey

In Homer’s The Odyssey, the most predominant themes are that of fidelity, longing, loyalty and home. The central emotion of the epic being loneliness, many of the characters portray these themes in how they show emotion towards people or places they are no longer with.

The most intriguing example of loyalty comes from Penelope. Penelope has not seen Odysseus in twenty years, yet throughout the whole epic is waiting patiently for his return. Of course she is lonely and often cries at night and must be comforted by Athena in her dreams, but regardless of her situation Penelope never takes another lover despite the many suitors she is presented with. She leads suitors on by telling them all that she will make a decision as soon as specific events transpire in order to put them at ease and make them go away. She even induces an archery competition and says she will choose the winner, knowing the only person who could actually win was her husband.

Hear me, proud suitors. You have used this house

For an eternity now – to eat and drink

In its master’s absence, nor could you offer

Any excuse except your lust to marry me.

Well, your prize is here, and this is the contest.

I set before you the great bow of godlike Odysseus.

Whoever bends this bow and slips the string on its notch

And shoots an arrow through all twelve axes,

With him I will go… (Book 21, Lines 66-74)

Another example of loyalty is displayed in Odysseus’ loneliness. Even when he is spending luxurious time with Calypso on the beach, he is still longing for his land and his home and often weeps about it during his time here. However, he does show more longing for his home than for his wife and family and seems to view them more as property and people he owns rather than people who love him. With Odysseus’ longing it seems as though he just misses power and how people act under his reign.

Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, even stays loyal to his father who he barely knows. He is loyal to his mother and keeping her for his father until he returns. He knew he had to protect his parent’s marriage from all of the suitors that were approaching their estate. Even the workers – Eurycleia, Eumaeus and Philoetius – remain loyal to their masters and possessions by just speaking highly of them. Contrasting are Melanthius and Melantho who had become friendly with the suitors and insult Odysseus while he is in disguise and even go as far as sleeping with the enemy and thereby insulting the royal family.

This issue leads further into the discussion of Odysseus expecting loyalty from people who are actually his property like Penelope. Even though it sounds ignorant to many reading today, the expectation of possession is justification when it comes to sexual fidelity within the Odyssey in terms of the people of Ithaca and Penelope especially are expected to be absolutely loyal to Odysseus.

How do you think modern relationships reflect the relationship standards displayed in the Odyssey? Do you think most aspects have changed or do some remain in current culture?