The Odyssey

From the very start of this story you can begin to see how things in Ithaca are much different from things of other polis’s. The fact that the suitors of the area were so blatant in the destruction of the kingdom led me to believe that there was no respect for Prince Telemachus. During their actions the suitors went as far as to plan an attack on the ship that the prince was on. But the amazing thing of this situation is how Telemachus chose to ignore this, letting the suitors have their way with his goods and his home, although, after Athena came to see Telemachus you can see a definite change in his sheepish activities. He went from a childish acting boy who had no idea on how a prince should act, to a young man who was bent on finding out information about his father. This journey that he would take to find the information he was looking for would also lead him into adulthood. Because of the people he met, kingdoms he visited, and stories he heard of his father Telemachus began to see that some of the problems in Ithaca may lay within himself. After realizing this you can see a change in the way of his thinking. He is no longer the adolescent that started the journey but rather a young warrior who think

In my opinion Odysseus was a great man during his time. He showed great bravery and the ability to do rational reasoning. During the times that he lived being a thinker was unheard of, but with this ability Odysseus was able to withstand his enemies at Troy, his journey, and the suitors within his own home. For these reasons I believe he truly was a hero during the Greek dark ages.

Although Telemachus had to worry about loosing his own life during this time, the fate of his mother laid heavy on his heart. During this age it seems that the women’s role in the community was not descion makers. So Telemachus had the complex task of watching over his mother whom has hundreds of suitors calling on her. But his mother did not make this task as difficult as it could have been. Penelope, although very beautiful and distraught over the apparent loss of her husband, was a civilized and respectable woman. She would not give in to the suitors desires; she was indeed the model wife {in my opinion} during this time of trial. She done whatever she thought she could get away with to hold out getting married and keep hope for her great husbands’ possible return.

Over the years people have read this book and found an action packed adventure that captivates a persons outgoing spirit. During his journey you catch yourself getting caught up in the story of Odysseus’s return to Ithaca and all the trials he faces, sometimes wishing that maybe you could help him. But I believe that is just the quality of the writing of the book. While on the other hand I believe it sparks a persons interest because there is a lot of symbolism in the story. I believe everyone that I know has had to travel over what we consider