Calypso tells him, “if you had any idea of all the pain you’re destined to suffer before getting home, you’d stay here with me, deathless-” (V, 205-207). Calypso is perplexed by Odysseus’s desire to leave the island and endure harsher forms of suffering as well as his choosing of his aging Penelope over an immortal goddess. While the decision to take on more suffering seems counterintuitive to the human condition, Odysseus makes that choice. He is determined to accomplish his goal and return home to his wife and son, even in the face of overwhelming hardship. In this way, Homer reveals the strength of mortals through Odysseus. While he does not have the strength of the gods, Odysseus maintains a strong belief in his goal and perseveres through many hardships to gain back what is important to him; his wife,
Calypso tells him, “if you had any idea of all the pain you’re destined to suffer before getting home, you’d stay here with me, deathless-” (V, 205-207). Calypso is perplexed by Odysseus’s desire to leave the island and endure harsher forms of suffering as well as his choosing of his aging Penelope over an immortal goddess. While the decision to take on more suffering seems counterintuitive to the human condition, Odysseus makes that choice. He is determined to accomplish his goal and return home to his wife and son, even in the face of overwhelming hardship. In this way, Homer reveals the strength of mortals through Odysseus. While he does not have the strength of the gods, Odysseus maintains a strong belief in his goal and perseveres through many hardships to gain back what is important to him; his wife,