What Is The Theme Of Loyalty In The Odyssey

Themes in The Odyssey “‘The Odyssey’ explores several virtues and moral values that eventually lead to Odysseus's successful return,” (Tucker). In The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus’ return was made possible by some of the themes shown in part one, like loyalty and hospitality. The themes had also taught Odysseus a lesson, for example hubris. Odysseus had displayed the three major themes in the epic poem, hospitality, hubris, and loyalty through his character and interactions with others to signify the values and beliefs of the ancient Greek people. Without being loyal or receiving loyalty, Odysseus probably would have never made it back home to Ithaca. Odysseus had demonstrated the theme and important Greek value of loyalty throughout The
Homer had included hospitality in The Odyssey, to display the importance of welcoming guests in the ancient Greek times. For example, “…for kindness we showed him there, and showed his wife and child, he gave me seven shining golden talents perfectly formed, a solid silver wine bowl, and then this liquor – twelve two-handled jars of brandy, pure and fiery,” (140-145). When Odysseus had visited Maron, Odysseus’ interaction with Maron had displayed hospitality, showing that in the ancient times, people had greeted their guests with valuable gifts. In this quote, it is shown that Odysseus had expected hospitality; “It was our luck to come here; here we stand, beholden for your help, or any gifts you give--as custom is to honor strangers,” (211-213). Odysseus had anticipated to receive hospitality from Polyphemus, which shows the Greek value of hospitality, which Polyphemus did not practice since he was a Cyclops and they did not share the same values as the Greeks did. Odysseus himself had shown hospitality earlier in the chapter when he and his men had “lit a fire, burnt an offering,” (174). They had sacrificed some of their earnings from Maron to the gods and according to the article, “The Value of Hospitality”, “The fear of the gods’ wrath is seen in many of Odysseus’ travels. Many of the hosts ask Odysseus to pray for their happiness to the gods in return for their hospitality. This
Homer had included hubris to show the consequences of being arrogant and to always be humble. For example, “Cyclops, if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell them Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye; Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca, (456-460). By Odysseus talking down to the Cyclops, Polyphemus, he displayed his excessive pride and had caused Poseidon, Polyphemus’ father to become mad, thus creating a rough journey home. This may suggest that ancient Greeks had the flaw of great pride in what they were capable of, to the point where they came off arrogant. Even Polyphemus had a personality containing hubris by saying to Odysseus, “We Cyclopes care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss; we have more force by far,” (219-221). According to “Hubris in the Odyssey”, ‘Hubris is often found in heroes but in some cases it can be found in minor characters.” In this case, Polyphemus is the minor character and believed the Cyclopes were above all of the gods, which showed excessive pride. This had led to Polyphemus’ downfall, since he had thought he was smarter than Odysseus, when in fact, he was not. Lastly, “Friends have we never been in danger before this? More fearsome, is it now, than when the Cyclops penned us in his cave? What power he had! Did I not keep my nerve, and use my wits to find a way out for us,”