• Home Page
  • The Role Of Loyalty And Change In Homer's Odyssey

The Role Of Loyalty And Change In Homer's Odyssey

Superior Essays
Show More
Loyalty and Change in The Odyssey The Odyssey, by Homer, is an epic tale of a Greek kings return home. Odysseus yearns to return home to his wife Penelope, his son Telemachus, and the kingdom in which he ruled. Over the course of this journey each character must endure many challenges that shape their personality. Although Penelope remains strong in her personal beliefs, Telemachus and Odysseus change greatly throughout the story. While Odysseus is away, Penelope is left to deal with the sons of Ithaca’s elders. However, these suitors are no gentlemen. Day after day the suitors put pressure on Penelope to decide who her next husband shall be. She tells the suitors that she will announce her decision after completing a burial shroud for her …show more content…
Confucius and Laozi were two ancient Chinese philosophers believed to have lived during one of these times. The Warring States occurred when seven states were fighting to gain control of China. Through many battles and conquests of war lords, the first united Chinese Empire formed, known as the Qin Dynasty. During this time, there was a desire to find peace. Confucius and Laozi appear to agree that the path to achieve this peace begins with one’s self. By aligning with the way, then an individual would be able to escape the corruption and war surrounding them. Yet, how to achieve the way differed with each …show more content…
Accessed 6 October 2017

“Masculine Wisdom From Homer’s Odyssey.” Return Of Kings, 1 June 2015, www.returnofkings.com/64804/masculine-wisdom-from-homers-odyssey.
Accessed 4 October 2017

“Penelope, the Odyssey.” Study Guides and Book Summaries, 5 Apr. 2017, freebooksummary.com/penelope-the-odyssey-23089. Accessed 4 October 2017

“The Norton Anthology of World Literature” W.W. Norton, 2012. Volume A Homer, “The Odyssey”, Book I-XXIV, pp. 332-622 Confucius, “The Analects”, pp. 1330-1344 Laozi, “Daodejing”, pp.1344-1354

“Warring States Period.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, www.ancient.eu/Warring_States_Period/. Accessed 5 October 2017
Weiming, Tu. “Confucianism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 7 Apr. 2017, www.britannica.com/topic/Confucianism. Accessed 5 October

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Loyalty In 'A Character Analysis: The Odyssey'
    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Loyalty In 'A Character Analysis: The Odyssey'

    He cannot leave his crew due to his loyalty, but also, he could be shown as a leader who does not care for the well being of others. Both Penelope and Odysseus are loyal due to social standards and their personal relations with whom they are loyal to. Social standards in ancient Greece require the women to stay faithful to their spouses at all times; however, Odysseus’ prolonged absence forces others to believe he is dead, allowing Penelope to break this statute. When suitors come to marry Penelope, she devises a plan to…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Odysseus Loyalty In The Odyssey: Homer's Loyalty In The Odyssey
    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Odysseus Loyalty In The Odyssey: Homer's Loyalty In The Odyssey

    Homer was able to show that loyalty by presenting it with many different characters. Penelope’s loyalty was established through true love. Telemachus showed his loyalty by going on a search for his father he hardly knew to establish a relationship. Eumaeus and Philoetius was just very loyal and true servants. Odysseus showed a strong sense of respect to the gods, and they helped him overcome difficult obstacles.…

    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Underrated Character Of Penelope In Homer's The Odyssey
    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Underrated Character Of Penelope In Homer's The Odyssey

    In the epic poem The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus has an incredibly difficult journey home. Although he overcomes many obstacles and faces much danger before making it home to Ithaca, his wife also goes through hard times in those 20 years of Odysseus’s absence. Penelope is one of the underrated characters who should be recognized for her heroic and brave actions. After the Trojan war, more than 10 years had passed since Odysseus leaving Ithaca and almost everyone had lost their hopes but Penelope didn’t lose hers until till the day her husband came back home.…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Peer Pressure In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey
    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Peer Pressure In Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

    The Odyssey, by Homer, gives an abundance of lessons to learn from the main character, Odysseus. On his way home to Ithaca, his patient wife Penelope, and newborn son Telemachus, Odysseus overcomes many difficulties; Polyphemus, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, . Also, most of the skills that Odysseus obtained are still relevant in today’s world. Odysseus and I have both needed to decide whether peer pressure is a positive or negative situation, before making a decision that could possibly help us to be more successful.…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Loyalty In The Odyssey
    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Loyalty In The Odyssey

    This symbolizes their marriage and loyalty towards each other which is also shown by Penelope refusing to re-marry and Odysseus’ determination to see her again. Penelope shows her loyalty because“‘...any…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Buddhism And Confucianism Compare And Contrast Essay
    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Buddhism And Confucianism Compare And Contrast Essay

    Confucius created Confucianism during the Warring States era. Confucius…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Curiosity In The Odyssey Analysis
    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Curiosity In The Odyssey Analysis

    The Greek epic, The Odyssey, is a story of Odysseus, a war hero whom, after the Trojan War, had to find his way home to Ithaca. On his journey, he comes upon many perils, afflicting his crew and himself. His journey lasts twenty years, and the story consists of many different islands. The Odyssey can be interpreted as an allegory for the curiosity and temptations people face in life, as Odysseus must keep himself and his men from the Lotus Eaters, and Sirens, who lure them away from their voyage, and the Cyclops, who Odysseus meets out of curiosity.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Loyalty In Homer's The Iliad And The Odyssey
    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Loyalty In Homer's The Iliad And The Odyssey

    Between both epic poems by Homer; The Iliad and The Odyssey, the reader is able distinguish a variety of themes that set both stories apart. But there are also multiple instances where the themes of the poems overlap and actually build off of each other. This is where Homer is able to help the reader fully understand both stories by implementing themes through both poems and a multitude of characters and situations to help his message get across. One of the biggest similarities between both poems is actually the main theme in The Iliad; vengeance. As the poem starts “sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles” (Homer, “The Iliad” 4) the reader is able to understand that this poem will not be a story of happiness.…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Theme Of Loyalty In The Odyssey And The Iliad
    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Theme Of Loyalty In The Odyssey And The Iliad

    In the world of Homer, the successful role of the family is crucial in how father and son relationships develop. In The Odyssey and The Iliad, the bond between father and son is important for the development of the family role in honor and pride, along with the expectation of loyalty from the son to the father and vice versa. In The Iliad, Hector is loyal to his father, Priam, when Hector himself heads back to the war without a second thought. Meanwhile, in The Odyssey, Orestes is loyal to his father, Agamemnon, when Orestes himself avenges his father’s killer. Meanwhile, Laertes is loyal to Odysseus because he is honored to see Odysseus back from war, and lastly Telemachos is prideful to stand in his father’s throne and continue the legacy…

    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    Compare Daoism And Legalism
    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Compare Daoism And Legalism

    Amid the warring states period, Ancient China starts to develop different schools of thought but the three ones were Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism. These three schools had different teachings and ideas that was bestowed upon its followers for them to follow, upheld and pass on to others. Although these schools had separate teachings, Confucianism was taking the most negative reactions because of how others directly disagreed with the teaching of Confucius and his followers. The two notable for doing this were Daoism and Legalism. I will explain how these two school of thoughts that disagreed with Confucius was different in teaching and ideas.…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Arrogance Quotes In Odysseus
    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Arrogance Quotes In Odysseus

    Have you ever spent nearly 20 years trying to reach one goal? Have you’ve heard the great story of The Odyssey by Homer? This is a heroic story of a man and his determination to return to his homeland and to his family. Odysseus, the heroic man, that endures different obstacles that are in his way in order to return home to the life he once had. Throughout his journey, Odysseus loses friends and encounters Greek gods.…

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Strugity Of Trust In Homer's The Odyssey
    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Strugity Of Trust In Homer's The Odyssey

    Trust is needed to reach an end goal and gain a sense of tranquility and security from completing this end goal. In The Odyssey, trustworthiness leads to tranquility and security of people. Trust extends from thoughts to people in The Odyssey. Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, trusts in the idea that his father is still alive and gains tranquility and security when his trust is fulfilled when his father returns to Ithaca. Penelope’s trustworthy relationship with Odysseus manages to keep the suitors at bay until Odysseus can return and battle them alongside Telemachus.…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Odyssey Book Report
    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Odyssey Book Report

    The Odyssey was written by Homer. The main Character in The Odyssey is Odysseus, a man of advancing age who has earned the glory and worship of his people. Odysseus spent 20 years at war and returning home. With the help of the Greek Goddess Athena and her father Zeus, Odysseus was able to return to Ithaca. Upon returning to Ithaca Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar.…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Examples Of Guile In The Odyssey
    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Examples Of Guile In The Odyssey

    From beginning to end, Penelope remains faithful to her king and never stops believing her husband is alive, even though she has no evidence if her husband is alive. Because of her cleverness, she managed to fend off the suitors until Odysseus returned. Homer shows Penelope’s cleverness through her actions while Odysseus is away. Penelope's guile is shown by prolonging the time spent to knit a funeral shroud for Laërtês, placing the suitors in the impossible competition with Odysseus’s bow, and testing Odysseus to distinguish whether…

    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    Odyssey Telemachus Character Analysis
    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Odyssey Telemachus Character Analysis

    Derek Muir 10/6/17 Period 1 English Inn every epic there is a character that goes through a life changing journey. In Homer’s The Odyssey Odysseus, Telemachus’ father, has not returned home from the war in Troy for twenty years. Poseidon, the god of the sea, leaves him trapped on a island in the middle of the sea. During his absence his palace on Ithaca has been overrun by suitors for his wife, Penelope, and his son Telemachus is too immature to kick them out.…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings