After going over the text properly I believe that Odysseus is not sure whether he wants to return home or not. Although the author focuses on the fact that Odysseus loves his wife and is loyal to her, I think otherwise. Odysseus is an opportunist. During his stay at the Island of Ogygia with the nymph Calypso, Odysseus did have sexual intercourse with her but still claims himself as loyal. He is an opportunist because he saw that Calypso desires him and he took advantage of that. He wanted to make his stay at the island very pleasant and the only way he could have achieved it was by giving into his sexual desires.
Odysseus shows that he desperately wants to return home but I think that he wouldn’t mind staying in Ogygia forever. He is getting everything he wants. He is being taken care of by a Goddess who wants to make him her immortal husband. What else could someone ask for? I think Homer believes the same thing. He also believes in the fact that Odysseus wouldn’t mind staying with Calypso.
I completely agree with your opinion on why you do not think Odysseus really desires to return home. Although he says he wants to return home and claims that he is loyal to his wife, he certainly does seem to enjoy his time away. Another reason I believe he does not want to return home as badly as he makes it seem is because instead of trying to make a name for himself in order to prove that he is a powerful man, he could’ve just stayed humble and not put himself in the positions that he did. Additionally, he could have just apologized to Poseidon and paid homage to him in order to ensure his voyage would be peaceful.
I also agree with your point of view. I think Odysseus wants to get home and reunite with his family, however, at the same time, he enjoys his staying with Calypso. Once he starts to miss his home, he tries to escape the Island of Ogygia, but when he faces challenges on the way back home, he at some point gives up. And if not Athene who is the goddess of wisdom and battle, Odysseus would never come back home to his family.
I agree with you. Odysseus want to go back to his family at first time.
He changed his mind. As you mentioned.