Homer tells a complicated story with a difficult protagonist whose character is complex and hard to analyze. Odysseus’s desire seems to interact with his fate in different ways, making everything even more complicated. As a reader I want to trust Odysseus’s desire to return and see him home so bad his actions make it impossible. The reason so is that he might not be ready yet. Showing his emotions the way he did while listening to Domodokos made me believe that he is very attached to his journeys, battles and experiences and is not ready to give up on them yet and return home.
I agree that Homer tells a very complicated story with back and forth with Odysseus’s journey. However I do believe that Odysseus will return home. I believe that he will continue on his path bravely even though he has been knock off his path many times. Reference in book5, pg 87 line 229-233 “I long for the sight of home. If any god has marked me out again for shipwreck, my tough heart can undergo it. What hardship have I not long since endured at sea, in battle! Let the trial come.” I also notice Athena love for Odysseus desire to return, through all of his shipwreck and the storm after he left Kalypso Athena has been his guide. It makes me think even more that Odysseus returning to his homeland is more of Athena’s mission to make sure it come to pass and she would not give up.
You really make a good point on his desire to make it home, it does seem like he is enjoying the twist and turns that have elongated his journey home. Its like he is obsessed with his own story and each obstacle furthers his story in his heroic plight. The journey seems to boost his ego and once he gets home it will be over. He will then have to think about what am I going to do now that I am settled home?