Epic Hero Traits in the Odyssey

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Loyalty is present throughout the entire epic because the whole journey is about returning to his kingdom and family. At countless times throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus helps his comrades deal with sticky situations. An example of his devotion can be found in Book X, where Odysseus frees his comrades, who have been turned into pigs by a drug made by Circe, an evil witch who resides on Aeaea. "If you, you really want me to eat and drink, set them free, all my beloved comrades ー let me feast my eyes" (426-428). Besides his comrades, Odysseus is also loyal to Penelope. Despite numerous affairs during Odysseus's 20-year journey home, he remains loyal to Penelope. When he returns to Ithaca, he explains to Telemachus that he and Penelope have secrets that they need to exchange in private. In Book XXIII, he says, "Peace: let your mother test me at her leisure. Before long she will see and know me best. These tatters, dirt ー all that I’m caked with now ー make her look hard at me and doubt me still" (1331-1334). Odysseus shows his fidelity through a willingness to be tested by Penelope for him to be truly reunited with the Queen of Ithaca.

Exemplifying heroic traits of courage, loyalty, and intelligence, Odysseus was able to return home from the Trojan War after an extremely long journey. Scholars and literary critics continuously point out the numerous affairs Odysseus had with other women in both the Iliad and the Odyssey, but none have come up with a clear explanation to why Homer allowed these affairs to happen, even while Odysseus was struggling to return home to his wife. Perhaps Odysseus, despite being intelligent, was weak when it came to physical lust, and he was possibly easily seduced, a sort of "Achilles's heel." The inclusion of this trait by Homer could be more intentional than we presume. It could be that sexual expression may not equal disloyalty in ancient Greek society as a whole, and perhaps historians have overlooked this.