Odyssey Odysseus the Family Man Thesis

Even though Odysseus's family holds high opinions of his character as a family man, his actions with Calypso are the true measures of his character. In book five of the epic poem, Minerva, who goes to rescue Calypso, finds the father and husband "sitting upon the beach with his eyes ever filled with tears of sheer home sickness" (Book V). The poem goes on to explain that while Odysseus is forced to sleep in Calypso's cave each night, he does not do this of his own volition, and would much rather be home. Thus, while Calypso, a goddess, attempts to seduce Odysseus, he does not betray his home and his family, but rather remains homesick for them, while being tired of the goddess. Though Calypso is a goddess of extreme beauty, Odysseus is more enticed with his own wife and son. In fact, Odysseus loves his family enough to cry over their separation and undertake a perilous journey to be reunited with them. Thus, Odysseus's responses to Calypso suggest that he is a family man, not one to be swayed by empty beauty.Thus, Odysseus the hero can also be aptly described as Odysseus the family man. Both Penelope and Telemanchus's reactions to Odysseus's disappearance suggest this. The wife and son miss father Odysseus, even enough to engage Minerva in finding him again. Furthermore, Minerva's own reactions to Odysseus suggest that the wife and son's characterization of their husband and father is true. In addition, Odysseus exemplifies this description of his character through his actions with Calypso. Although Calypso is a beautiful goddess, he goes to her out of obligation, not out of pleasure, all the while crying over his homesickness. Thus, while Odysseus is often regarded as the wandering hero, he is just as much family man as hero.

Works Cited

Homer. The Odyssey. 10th ed. trans. Samuel Butler. Gutenberg, 1999. 24 October 2008. http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext99/dyssy10.txt......