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  • Essay / The lessons of loyalty in The Odyssey, a poem by Homer

    How is loyalty demonstrated in the Odyssey?The epic poem The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald is the story of a man as he embarks on an unexpected adventure. long and brutal journey home from the Trojan War with his crew of men. Along the way, the protagonist, Odysseus, faces many conflicts and obstacles that he must use his strength, skill, or quick thinking to overcome, learning important life lessons along the way. By analyzing the theme of loyalty in The Odyssey, in this essay the reader can see the importance of loyalty and perseverance not only to Odysseus' success in finding and regaining his home, but also to succeed in today's society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay The theme and life lesson of loyalty is demonstrated throughout the epic poem Homer's Odyssey, as Odysseus faces many difficult challenges and temptations to give up. his family, his wife, his home and his beliefs. By remaining faithful, Odysseus is able to have a driving force behind his desire to return to his home and family and ultimately succeed. For example, when Odysseus is trapped on the island of Ogygia, held hostage by the goddess Calypso, he is incredibly depressed, longing to return to his home and family no matter what Calypso did for him: "At night , he lay next to her, of course. necessity, in the hollow caves, against his will, by someone who wanted him, but every day he sat on the rocks by the sea, breaking his heart in tears and lamentations and sorrow while crying, he looked at the barren woman. water” (Homer 5.152-158). Odysseus is desperate for his situation, he longs for his home and family, and he is being held against his will. He is kept on a beautiful island with endless food from Calypso and a beautiful woman chasing him; many people would call it a paradise, but Odysseus is held against his will because he is determined to remain true to his family as well as to himself and his morals. Loyalty is a life skill that is still applicable to today's society. It is the basis of any relationship, whether friendly, romantic or commercial. To succeed in today's society, loyalty is absolutely paramount due to the immense number of relationships you must form to succeed, no matter your profession or lifestyle. The life lesson of loyalty is continually demonstrated to the reader throughout the epic poem and it is still very important and applicable to life today. In Homer's The Odyssey, the theme of perseverance is undeniable as Odysseus embarks on a brutal ten-year journey to find his home and family, facing countless challenges along the way. Although giving up may have been the logical choice many times during his journey, Odysseus is able to use his perseverance and drive to continue throughout these long years. His perseverance and determination also cause others to admire him and be inspired by his determination and drive to succeed: “You are a tough man, Odysseus. Your strength is greater, your limbs never wear out. You must be all iron, when you will not let your companions, exhausted with work and eager to sleep, set foot on this land, where, if we did, on the island of Seagirt, we could prepare again a gourmet dinner; but you force us to stumble, even as we pass through the night, driven from the island over the misty face of the water".