Theme Of Appearance And Reality In The Odyssey

The story of the Odyssey, tells of a cunning hero who has gone on a journey to fight in the Trojan War, to recapture a queen named Helen, who was supposedly kidnapped. Ten years later, the war is over, but Odysseus hasn’t found his way home. Maybe it’s just an inevitable force(s) that causes him to stay away from his homeland for another ten years…who knows. Furthermore, the story shows its complexity through multiple themes its surrounded around. The most profound ones are: appearance versus reality, loyalty, and spiritual growth. Now let’s analyze exactly how these themes are significant to the story. One of the most important reoccurring theme in the Odyssey is appearance versus reality. During this time in Greece, gods and goddesses …show more content…
Well, not really… all a person needs is-loyalty in his or her heart, and that’s exactly what Penelope and the servants possess. Penelope-the wife of Odysseus- sits in her room weeping for what seems like an eternity; she constantly hears of news that her husband is alive or that he is dead on some forgotten island. However, she is not quick to act on any news she receives. She remains optimistic and faithful, even though she has a house full of arrogant young men wanting to take her hand in marriage or to bed. In today’s standards, this mostly likely would not have occurred. Many women would have remarried already and perhaps added an heir(s) to the family. By remaining loyal, shows how Penelope has the utmost respect for herself and for Odysseus. She would not become a victim of circumstance, and submit to the wishes of the suitors. This is also evidence of a strong-willed woman. In likeness, the servants where just as loyal. The old nurse Eurclyeia, the Swineherd, and the Cowhered were amongst the most loyal; they continue to carry out their daily tasks, as if their beloved master is still at home. This symbolizes what type of man and leader Odysseus is. He is kind-hearted and believer in rewarding the loyal. He treats his servants like family, even though they are lower down on the social class ladder; as if this wasn’t enough reward, Odysseus also rewards his servants with food and other treasures (like …show more content…
Both Telemachus-Odysseus son-and Odysseus himself experienced this. When Odysseus leaves for war, Telemachus is only an infant, but now he has become a young teenager. During his teenage years, like many others, Telemachus struggles with finding his identity and voice. These struggles contribute to him not being able to handle the suitors, who have overtaken his father’s house in his absence. However, these imperfections will be rectified, when goddess Athena sends him on a quest (to the city of Nestor and Sparta) to discover information about his father. While Telemachus is gone, he hears of many great stories about his father and that he is still alive and will return home; he then realizes that he is his father’s son. He wants to be a great leader, protector, clever, courageous, and admirable “man” just like him. With this new-found sense of identity and confidence, he makes his way back home and takes control of his house-until Odysseus returns. Telemachus is officially transformed into a man. Meanwhile, Odysseus has undergone a similar change. Being away from home twenty long years can take a toll on a person. This describes the case of Odysseus. While trapped on the islands of Calypso and Phoenicia, Odysseus was surrounded by the most beautiful scenery that any human-being could see and experience, but the only thing