Odysseus Motivation

The Odyssey is a story of Odysseus’ long journey home after the defeat of Troy. He leaves his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, to go fight in the battle. The Trojan war lasted ten year and his journey to return home lasted even longer. Odysseus meets many characters that help him through his journey, as well as characters that bring him many challenges. Secondary characters in The Odyssey demonstrates values, challenges, and motivation.
The character, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is very strategic and teaches the values of intelligence and patience. For example, Odysseus returns home and Athena disguises him as a beggar, teaches Odysseus to be patient. “Saying no more she tipped her golden wand upon the man, making his cloak pure white
Penelope who hasn’t seen her husband in twenty years still is faithful in his return and manages to not remarry the suitors by never finishing her weaving as well as having the suitors string Odysseus bow. While Odysseus is stranded on Calypso starts to give up, with thinking that he will probably never see his family again. “But he saw nothing of Odysseus, who sat apart a thousand time before, and racked his own heart groaning, with his eyes wet, scanning the bare horizon of the sea…” (Homer, Book 5) Odysseus motivation in his journey goes up and down but he somehow manages to think about his wife waiting for his return. Another example of motivation would be when Telemachus goes to find Odysseus at Spatra even though everyone thinks that he died “at home indeed, your mother, is a poor lady still in the women's hall, her nights and days are wearied without grieving” (Homer, Book 16). Telemachus is motivated to find his father and return home and bring happiness to his mother and the people of Ithaca. Motivation is often forgotten in The Odyssey, but Odysseus’ family reminds both the reader and Odysseus what motivation is