Homer’s The Odyssey, a sequel to the Greek epic poem The Iliad, is about Odysseus’ ten year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. While Odysseus was on his way back to Ithaka, his wife Penelope and son Telemakhos forestalled the suitors competing for Penelope's hand and Ithaka's throne. Major themes in The Odyssey include the maturation of Telemakhos, civilized versus uncivilized societies, and loyalty versus disloyalty. These three themes have developed as the epic poem progressed. The theme of Telemakhos’ maturation has developed as the epic poem progressed. Telemakhos was still maturing as story began. He is devoted to his mother and his father’s estate, but he does not know how to protect them from the suitors. With Zeus’ consent,
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Characteristics of a civilized society include authority, architecture and agriculture. Characteristics of an uncivilized society include no authority, architecture and agriculture. The societies mentioned in the epic poem include the Phaeacians, Kyklops, Lotus-eaters, Ithaka and Sparta. The epitome of a civilized society was the island of Skheria, home to the Phaeacians. The Phaeacian society can be considered a utopia. The people were civilized, kind and known for going out of their way to help a stranger get back home. The architecture on the island was also magnificent. Odysseus was struck by the splendor of the palace. He also talked about the abundant fruits in the spacious orchard: “To left and right, outside, he saw and orchard / closed by a pale – four spacious acres planted / with trees, pomegranates, brilliant apples, / luscious figs, and olives ripe and dark (VII.119-123).” The Phaeacians was shown as an agricultural society with the abundant supply of fruits they grow. The orchard was four acres and planted in these acres were trees, pomegranates, apples, figs and olives. Because of having agriculture, authority and architecture, the island of Skheria is the epitome of a civilized society. However, the epitome of an uncivilized society was the society of the Kyklops. The island of the Kyklops was described as an uncivilized society: “In the next land we found were Kyklopes, / giants, louts, without a law to bless them. / In ignorance leaving the fruitage of the earth in mystery / to the immortal gods, they neither plow / nor sow by hand, nor till the ground, though grain / wild wheat and barley (IX.113-118).” Compared to the Phaeacian society, the island of the Kyklops was an uncivilized society. While the Phaeacians were civilized, peace loving and agricultural, the Kyklops society had no laws, councils, interest in civility, hospitality and agriculture.
Characteristics of a civilized society include authority, architecture and agriculture. Characteristics of an uncivilized society include no authority, architecture and agriculture. The societies mentioned in the epic poem include the Phaeacians, Kyklops, Lotus-eaters, Ithaka and Sparta. The epitome of a civilized society was the island of Skheria, home to the Phaeacians. The Phaeacian society can be considered a utopia. The people were civilized, kind and known for going out of their way to help a stranger get back home. The architecture on the island was also magnificent. Odysseus was struck by the splendor of the palace. He also talked about the abundant fruits in the spacious orchard: “To left and right, outside, he saw and orchard / closed by a pale – four spacious acres planted / with trees, pomegranates, brilliant apples, / luscious figs, and olives ripe and dark (VII.119-123).” The Phaeacians was shown as an agricultural society with the abundant supply of fruits they grow. The orchard was four acres and planted in these acres were trees, pomegranates, apples, figs and olives. Because of having agriculture, authority and architecture, the island of Skheria is the epitome of a civilized society. However, the epitome of an uncivilized society was the society of the Kyklops. The island of the Kyklops was described as an uncivilized society: “In the next land we found were Kyklopes, / giants, louts, without a law to bless them. / In ignorance leaving the fruitage of the earth in mystery / to the immortal gods, they neither plow / nor sow by hand, nor till the ground, though grain / wild wheat and barley (IX.113-118).” Compared to the Phaeacian society, the island of the Kyklops was an uncivilized society. While the Phaeacians were civilized, peace loving and agricultural, the Kyklops society had no laws, councils, interest in civility, hospitality and agriculture.