Anthony Serventi

Miss Skirtich
English 10 World Literature
4/16/18

Ithaca's King Returns

He finally returns! After 20 long years of Odysseus staying with different people along

the way, making quick, intelligent decisions, and his loyalty to his family he is determined to

return home. The historic Greek author Homer, author of the Odyssey, finally lets the mighty

Odysseus return to his native land and take back his place as King. Odysseus displays the Greek

values of intelligence, hospitality, and loyalty in the Odyssey.

Odysseus displays the Greek value of intelligence in the Odyssey. One example of

Odysseus showing his intelligence is when he meets Polyphemus, the cyclops and tricks him to

escape, "Noman is my name. They call me Noman. My mother, my father, and all my friends

too" (Homer 72). Odysseus tells the cyclops this, so he can escape without his identity being

revealed to him. When the cyclops ask Polyphemus who blinded him, Odysseus says Noman did

this and, when he screams in pain the other cyclops think he is crazy. Another example of

Odysseus displaying intelligence is when he and his men come across the Sirens, "And tie the

ends of the rope to the mast. If I command you and plead with you to release me, just tie me up

tighter" (Homer 119). The Sirens have beautiful voices that make men fall in love. To prevent

the Sirens from getting his crew and him attracted he put beeswax in the crew's ears and made

them tie him to the mast. Without his intelligent and quick-wit decisions, he would have never

came close to getting to his home land Ithaca.

Additionally, Odysseus displays the Greek value of hospitality in the Odyssey. A prime

example of hospitality is shown by Nausicca when she spots Odysseus and sees he needs help,

"But now, since you have come to our country, you shall not lack clothing, nor anything needed
by a sore-tired suppliant who presents himself" (Homer 49). An important value shared by all of

Greek society is hospitality, no matter who needs it. Nausicca, daughter of Alcinous, the king of

the Phaecians, displays this by taking in Odysseus and giving him necessities to continue his

journey home. Another hospitable moment in Odysseus' journey home is when Polyphemus

takes Odysseus in and provides him with a feast, "Be a pal and give me another drink. And tell

me your name so I can give you a gift you'll like" (Homer 71). Polyphemus follows the

hospitality virtue and brings Odysseus and his crew in and gives them a feast. What the cyclops

does not realize Odysseus planned to get him drunk and stab his eye to escape. Odysseus maybe

would have not been able to get home if everyone along the way take him and his crew in and

gave him the necessary resources needed to get home.

Furthermore, Odysseus displays the Greek value of loyalty in the Odyssey. A great

example of loyalty being shown is when Odysseus goes back to Circe's island to retrieve the

body of Elpenor and give him the proper burial he asked for, "I sent some men to the house of

Circe to bring back the body of Elpenor... we held a funeral, shedding tears" (Homer 115).

Elpenor, the youngest on the crew, got drunk on Circe's roof, fell off and snapped his neck.

When Odysseus sees Elpenor in the underworld, Odysseus is asked for a proper burial and he

promises he will. Odysseus shows his loyalty going back to Circe's island to give the young crew

member the heartfelt funeral he deserved. Another example of loyalty on Odysseus' journey was

when he was stuck on Calypso's island, "You poor man. You can stop grieving now and pinning

away. I'm sending you home" (Homer 34). Odysseus stayed with Calypso for seven years before

continuing his journey home. Throughout his whole time on Ogygia, he never forgot about his

wife or home in Ithaca. He remained loyal to his family and was finally permitted to go home.

Many examples of loyalty shown on his journey home.

 Odysseus displays the Greek values of intelligence, hospitality, and loyalty in the

Odyssey. Homer highlights the many different ways Odysseus shows Greek values. These

qualities are huge in the Greek culture, and Odysseus shows many readers of the virtues adored

by their society in his journey home.