Question: Discuss The Odyssey’s focus on vengeance and/or loyalty and betrayal.
Answer: Throughout The Odyssey, the ideas of vengeance, loyalty, and betrayal is depicted numerously. Vengeance and betrayal is shown when Aegisthus married Clytemnestra while her husband, Agamemnon, was away at war. Clytemnestra even approved of Aegisthus murdering Agamemnon when he returned, demonstrating ultimate betrayal to her husband. Due to this event, Agamemnon’s son, Orestes, plotted revenge and killed both Aegisthus and Clytemnestra as punishment for their actions. Additionally, when Odysseus blinded the Cyclops Polyphemus, Polyphemus urged his father Poseidon to take vengeance on his behalf. As it’s known, Poseidon used all his efforts to make the journey home for Odysseus an arduous one. Athena’s acts of kindness can be said to demonstrate loyalty towards Telemachus and Odysseus as the goddess encouraged Telemachus to take control of his father’s home from the suitors and set out on a journey to find news of Odysseus. Along the way, Athena also assisted Odysseus through obstacles on his journey home.
I agree with you, I believe that one of the betrayal moments was when Clytemnestra approved her husband’s murder when he returned from war. It also can be seen that vengeance and betrayal are very well connected in this example. Because Clytemnestra betrayed her husband, a feeling of revenge came into existence. I also agree that Athena was extremely loyal to Odysseys’s household as she treats Telemachus as her own son by supporting and helping him, showing her loyalty towards Odysseus and Telemachus.