Odysseus Struggles

In the novel The Odyssey, by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald the hero Odysseus goes through struggles, in which he nearly gives up on his fight and somehow resurrects himself. The amount of challenges that Odysseus’ had to face on his journey home were grander than most men would ever face. One example of Odysseus’s feelings of great defeat, happens on Odysseus’ way home and his crew lets the winds out of the bag which were supposed to be kept in the bag as a guide home. These winds created a hurricane, which Odysseus’ ship was thrown into it. “Roused up, despairing in that gloom, I thought: Should I go overside for a quick finish or clench my teeth and stay among the living?” (Fitzgerald, 156). For a moment, Odysseus wanted to give
up because now the crew did not have the way home and they were blown back to Aiolos where the Warden of Winds would not help them again. It may be inferred that Odysseus regained that there would be hope on the next island. Odysseus faced defeat on another part of his journey home. After leaving the horrible island Aiolos and after the death of Elpenor, Odysseus was faced again with feeling hopeless, that there would be a way for him to get home. Odysseus mother’s ghost visited him and reminded him of why he needed to get home. “Say, now, is it from Troy, still wandering, after year, that you come here with ship and company? Have you not gone at all to Ithaka? Have you not seen your lady in your hall?” (Fitzgerald, 190). Odysseus realized from answering her that home was still in his heart and he called to his crew to move forward. In conclusion, Odysseus goes through many struggles, but through perseverance, Odysseus makes it home safely to his family.