Odysseus Role in the Odyssey

In Homer’s, “The Odyssey”, Odysseus struggles to return home not only to rejoin his wife Penelope and son Telemakhos but also to fulfill his duty as ruler and legend. As Odysseus struggles homeward, the idea of his true self and what defines him shifts. His longing for family and sovereignty serves, at times, as a raging fire that propels him home. At other times it seems to be lost in the shadows of his adventures. At the end, when all conflicts are resolved and Odysseus is reunited with his wife and son, He becomes the Odysseus that is truly himself. We learn that a united family can overcome any obstacles and that true devotion and dedication will triumph in the end. Odysseus’ true self is defined by four terms. The first is “husband”. Penelope has not only been loyal to Odysseus as her husband, but also as the authority figure. She has demonstrated her loyalty by being true to him for twenty years in his absence and has not remarried. This presents Odysseus with the responsibility to come back and carry out his duties as a husband. The second term is “father”. Odysseus’ has been away from Ithaca for 20 years which means he has not been a father figure to Telemakhos. Part of defining his true self is to teach his son to be as great a ruler as Odysseus himself. Telemakhos has not had a father figure yet and needs guidance to become worthy of being Odysseus’ legacy. The third term is “king”. Ithaca is Odysseus’ home. His family has ruled it for many years and it is his duty to return and serve as ruler. He must establish his legacy and educate his successor to make sure that when he indeed leaves the throne, he will have a strong heir to entrust with his patrimony. The final term that defines Odysseus’ true self is “legend”. Odysseus returns home after completing a heroic journey with stories that lead him to become a legend. His adventures serve as examples even in modern culture. A hero who ventures from his home into a journey of supernatural adventures