The three main themes in Homer’s The Odyssey are hospitality, perseverance and vengeance. These are the core ideas throughout the story because they serve the bases for the personalities of our characters, Odysseus embodying all three throughout the story. Hospitality is shown through the story as a scale for the reader to judge the civility of the character based on the degree of hospitality offered. Odysseus’ perseverance throughout the story is obvious, especially when he is lost at sea during his journey.
However, vengeance is perhaps the most potent of themes presented.It is in his own home that Odysseus exacts vengeance. After years of being lost and fighting to get back he faces yet another challenge, that being the suitor vying for his wife. When he is in disguise Odysseus demonstrates tolerance and patience as he is insulted by the other suitors. Antonius is one of the most ruthless and mean of the suitors often mocking Odysseus. He pays the ultimate price when Odysseus gets his revenge, shooting an arrow through his throat. This revenge being the most climactic point in the story.
This may be the most entertaining example of revenge in the epic, but the biggest and by far most important example is the vengeance that Poseidon exacts on Odysseus. Odysseus’s whole quest begins ill-fated “Poseidon is stiff with angry because Odysseus blinded his son the Cyclopes”(75). Because of this Poseidon makes every attempt to keep Odysseus away from ending his journey and getting home. Odysseus would have never been stranded for if Poseidon hadn’t wanted revenge on him. Vengeance is the theme that makes The Odyssey so interesting, it pays a key role in beginning and ending the story.
However, vengeance is perhaps the most potent of themes presented.It is in his own home that Odysseus exacts vengeance. After years of being lost and fighting to get back he faces yet another challenge, that being the suitor vying for his wife. When he is in disguise Odysseus demonstrates tolerance and patience as he is insulted by the other suitors. Antonius is one of the most ruthless and mean of the suitors often mocking Odysseus. He pays the ultimate price when Odysseus gets his revenge, shooting an arrow through his throat. This revenge being the most climactic point in the story.
This may be the most entertaining example of revenge in the epic, but the biggest and by far most important example is the vengeance that Poseidon exacts on Odysseus. Odysseus’s whole quest begins ill-fated “Poseidon is stiff with angry because Odysseus blinded his son the Cyclopes”(75). Because of this Poseidon makes every attempt to keep Odysseus away from ending his journey and getting home. Odysseus would have never been stranded for if Poseidon hadn’t wanted revenge on him. Vengeance is the theme that makes The Odyssey so interesting, it pays a key role in beginning and ending the story.