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In Greek society, loyalty was the most necessary and prestigious value. It was embedded in everything the Greeks did. Showing loyalty to your family, community, and to the Gods was necessary as it conveyed you as a virtuous person. A major theme found in The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson is loyalty and devotion.
The theme is revealed through Penelope’s actions, Odysseus’s slaves, and Odysseus’s perseverance.
Penelope’s actions support the thought that the central idea in this text is loyalty and devotion. She is one of the most important female characters and has noticeable responsibility compared to other characters, being the Queen of Ithaca. Penelope is not just loyal to her husband, but also to her roles as queen and mother. She maintains the manor and provides a good upbringing to Telemachus amidst all her troubles.
Her loyalty can be conveyed throughout the ways she puts off having to marry the suitors. Despite Odysseus’s home being overrun by the suitors, Penelope is not only trustworthy to him, but she also contrived a plan to postpone the need to choose a suitor to marry.
She claims that she will choose a suitor when she finishes weaving a burial shroud, but secretly unweaves it at night.
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Her tactics also reveal her cunning and intelligent side. Another way she puts off marrying a suitor is by setting a test. In the test, she says that she will marry whoever can string Odysseus’s bow and shoot it through the axes.
Penelope knew that this was a test that only the real Odysseus could complete, thus displaying her cunningness.
The bow symbolizes Odysseus’s rightful place as the King of Ithaca. She is so loyal that she fears to betray him in any way. When Odysseus comes back, she keeps her distance, fearing she might accidentally betray her husband by greeting a fraud who claims that he is Odysseus. Her final test is to make sure that Odysseus is who he claims to be. She orders her maid, Eurycleia, to move her and Odysseus’ bed into another room. Penelope knows that if he is who he claims to be, her statement would anger him. True to his word, Odysseus gets furious and chides Penelope by saying, “Woman! Your words have cut my heart! Who moved my bed?... I made it, no one else.” (23.183-188) Finally realizing that her husband came back, Penelope is overjoyed. “She burst out crying and ran straight towards him and threw her arms around him, kissed his face,” (23.207-208) This realization shows that by Penelope staying loyal to Odysseus for the whole twenty years he was gone, they were able to end up together.
Although Eumaeus is not one of the main characters, he plays a significant role nearing the end of the book. The attention that he receives from Homer suggests the importance of his character. He is the ideal slave, displaying characteristics such as generosity, honor, and loyalty. Eumaeus is the epitome of loyalty, remaining true to his master even though he believes that Odysseus is dead. He thinks highly of his master in contrast to the suitors. There are many ways in which Eumaeus proves his loyalty. Firstly, almost the very first thing he says to Odysseus disguised as a beggar is how much he misses his master. “I am in mourning for an absent master, raising his pigs for other men to eat.” (14.39) This shows that although his master is away, or presumed dead, Eumaeus still keeps him in mind. He even admits that he could have gone off since his master wasn’t there, but chooses to stay and look after his master’s possessions. Secondly, rather than sleeping inside with Odysseus the beggar and the young men, Eumaeus chooses to go sleep next to the pigs, despite the cold weather. “But the swineherd did not like to sleep so distant from the pigs… he went off to sleep out where the pigs with silver tusks were sleeping; a hanging rock protected them from wind.” (14.523-533) Not only does this scene show how loyal Eumaeus is to his master, but it also shows his humbleness. He devotes his whole life to his job, which is taking care of Odysseus’s pigs. He even goes as far as building a cage around the pigs in his master’s absence. This displays his utmost loyalty to Odysseus. Even when his master isn’t there, he is still doing his job. By making Eumaeus’s background noble, Homer can emphasize his inherent goodness. Although Eumaeus was sold to Laertes as a slave, he has no resentment towards Odysseus’s family but rather feels indebted to them. Whereas Melantho, the slave girl who was brought up by Penelope, has no respect towards her and mocks the beggar, who is Odysseus in disguise. Finally, Eumaeus and the cowherd, Philoetius put their lives in danger during the elimination of the suitors. They both assist Odysseus by locking the doors and trapping the suitors in. They also help tie and lock Melanthius, the goat herder inside the weapon storeroom.
Eumaeus displays his loyalty not only to Odysseus but also to the gods. Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, is saved by Eumaeus when he chases the dogs away. Odysseus is then invited to join the swineherd to join him in his meal. When Odysseus thanks Eumaeus, the swineherd replies by saying, “One must honor guests and foreigners and strangers… What I have to give is small, but I will give it gladly.” (14.54-58) This shows that he acts upon good Xenia to please the gods. He may not have much, but he is willing to give anything to his guests because Xenia was an expectation and custom of the Greeks. Eumaeus’ devotion to his job, his respect for the gods, and his assistance to Odysseus indicate that he is a loyal, respectful man. In contrast, there are the goatherd Melanthius and the slave girl Melantho. Melanthius becomes friends with the suitors and insults Odysseus in disguise. Melantho goes even further by sleeping with the suitors, disrespecting Penelope, and insulting Odysseus. As you can see, the loyal slaves, Eumaeus and Philoetius are rewarded, whereas the disloyal slaves are punished. In this case, Melanthius is dismembered and Melantho is killed.
The final example of loyalty and devotion in The Odyssey is Odysseus’ actions throughout the story. Although some may argue that he isn’t loyal, Odysseus displays his loyalty to the gods, his family, and his men. For Odysseus, his only objective is to get back home to his family. However, he must face numerous obstacles and challenges along the way. With his love and loyalty to his family his desire and resolve to return home are kept alive.
When Odysseus makes his first appearance in the book, it is in Book 5, where he is weeping, trapped on the nymph Calypso’s island. He has everything he could ever want on her island but still remains depressed. His longing for his home and family is far greater than the gifts any god can give him. Though Odysseus sleeps with Circe and Calypso, he proves his loyalty in the end by leaving them both to return home to his wife, despite both women’s attempts to make him stay. Even when Calypso offers him immortality with her, he turns her down, though he knows Penelope “could never match your beauty… I have gone through so much, at sea and in the war. Let this come too.” (5.217-224) Odysseus remains steadfast to Penelope returns home. Furthermore, Odysseus displays loyalty to his men. Although his men do not fully respect him and sometimes doesn’t listen to his orders, they generally remain loyal to him. Odysseus would not have completed his trip alive without fidelity. For example, after sending his men to inspect the land of the lotus-eaters, and they eat the lotus, losing their desire to return to Ithaca with him, he physically forces them to return to his ship. He realizes that they want to return to their family and homes in their hearts and that it is only the lotus fruit that causes them to be unwilling to leave. This shows that he worries about his men's well-being and by doing that, displays his loyalty. There are many stories of mortals being disloyal to the gods and facing the repercussions in Ancient Greece. However, Odysseus remained loyal to the gods even while facing the long travails that the gods determined for him. He does not curse or blame them for all the negative events that occur on his journey back home. Moreover, Odysseus never ignored the orders of the gods. The ability to be so obedient demonstrated his loyalty to the gods who had control over his fate. Ultimately, it was his loyalty that allowed him to return home to Ithaca.
The theme of loyalty is prominent throughout The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson. Loyalty is so pervasive that it influences the entire epic poem. The fidelity of his family and his servants are tested when Odysseus embarks on a long and difficult journey home from battle in the Trojan War. Eumaeus, Odysseus, and Penelope's actions and attributes teach the reader valuable lessons that are still relevant today, more than a thousand years since this poem was written.
Loyalty and Devotion in The Odyssey. (2021, Apr 09). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/loyalty-and-devotion-in-the-odyssey-essay
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