Odyssey Thematic Writing

Throughout the Odyssey, a common theme of valuing loyalty is shown.
In Book 22, the theme of loyalty is shown by Odysseus killing all of the suitors. When he was gone, they believed he was dead, so they became disloyal to their leader and started acting like they were leaders themselves. When Odysseus returned, he was not pleased. "You dogs! you never imagined I'd return from Troy-- so cocksure that you bled my house to death, ravished my serving-women--wooed my wife behind my back while I was still alive!" (pg. 440, 35-39). The suitors were disloyal to their superior, and they paid the full price. Through the adventures of Odysseus and his people while he was away, The Odyssey shows us that loyalty is something to be valued.

Book 12 also illustrates the theme of loyalty through the crew of Odysseus. Odysseus commands his crew to not eat the cattle, because they belong to Helios, and they would be killed if they did. They decided to be disloyal to Odysseus' commands and ate the cattle, but were promptly killed by Helios. "Unless they pay me back in blood for the butchery of my herds, down I go to the House of Death and blaze among the dead!" (pg. 283, 411-412). When the crew disobeyed Odysseus' orders, they proved themselves to be disloyal and paid the price of their lives. With this Book, it is clear to us that being disloyal can have very serious consequences.

Book 19 is a tale of disloyalty that reveals the harsh consequences if you don't obey your superiors. Odysseus returns to his palace disguised as a beggar to test the loyalty of the suitors and his wife. All of the suitors are revealed to be disloyal to Odysseus, but Penelope appears to still be very loyal to him. “I yearn for Odysseus, always, my heart pines away” (pg. 394, 151). Odysseus, enraged by the suitors, slaughters all of them for their disloyalty, while leaving Penelope alive for her loyalty. The outcome of this Book, finishing with all suitors dead and Penelope alive, helps illustrate how loyalty plays a large part in The Odyssey.