The Odyssey: Homer’s Take on Family Values

The Odyssey is one of two major classical works by Homer. This extensive epic poem chronicles more than Odysseus’ journey home after the end of the Trojan War. Through is many lines, the Odssey is a tale about a family’s struggle with and against supernatural and natural obstacles. And, central to the motivations in Homer’s work is the theme of healty family and familial relationships.

The Background

A young Telemachus, a baby when his father left to fight in the Trojan War, has waited for his father’s return. While he has grown, suitors have come to call upon his lovely mother, Penelope. However, Penelope longs for her husband and does not wish to presume Odysseus dead. While Penelope waits, Telemachus is frustrated by the unruly suitors, who seek to change his family; however, Telemachus and Penelop never give up hope that their King Odysseus will come back to them. Odysseus, however, has been a prisoner of the Gods and upon intercession from Athena, Odysseus’ protector, Odysseus begins a perilous journey home. While the epic hero is facing sirens, Cyclops and other supernatural obstacles, his son has set out to find him.

Family Values

The motives of Odysseus and the desires of Telemachus interplay well in Homer’s epic. Each has their own quest. Odysseus seeks to reunify with his family and Tlemachus seeks to restore his family. The destinction is more than semantics. Odysseus seeks to return to a home based on his life experience and Telemachus seeks to establish from a lack of exposure or experience.

Telemachus’ quest starts with the search for man he does not know, and the young prince is hopeful that once his brave father is found the chaos that is his home life will be calmed. His simple solution to the wasteful and unruly suitors is the return of his father. As Telemachus travels from city to city, he establishes friendships and observes happy and unhealthy family relationships. From the King Menelaus to Agamemnon, Telemachus witnesses the turmoil that infidelity, murder, and separation causes the family. He also discovers that through healthy interactions the beauty of a father-child relationship. Telemachus’ goal is to prevent the same turmoil, personified in the unruly suitors, to undermine his potential happiness and destroy his family.

While Telemachus is developing his sense of ideal family relationships, Odysseus has some struggles of his own. Imprisoned by enchantment, the hero shakes the bondage of Calypso, a goddess who tempts Odysseus with immortality. Odysseus is freed by his desire for what the goddess cannot give him- his family. His choice for family sets him on his trek back to Ithaca and his home. He must endure more temptations, revenge seeking gods and other perils in order to make his way safely home. His continuing inspiration are his memories and his love for his family.

The lesson for Telemachus is slightly different from the lesson for Odysseus. For the son, a healthy family life means happiness, love and long life. For the father, family offers something greater than immortality. Family offers a sense of identity and peace.

A happy family can find prosperity and joy in its togetherness, but a divided family merely finds despair, longing and mistrust. Homer’s ultimate lesson is that a family can and should survive despite obstacles, natural or supernatural.