How is loyalty shown in the Odyssey?The epic poem The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald is the story of a man who embarks on a an unexpectedly long and brutal journey home from the Trojan War with his crew of men. Along the way, the protagonist, Odysseus, is confronted with many conflicts and obstacles that he must use his strength, skill, or quick thinking to overcome, learning important life lessons along the way. By analyzing the theme of loyalty in the Odyssey, in this essay the reader can perceive the importance of loyalty and perseverance not only to Odysseus' success in finding and reclaiming his home, but also to succeeding in today's society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The theme and life lesson of loyalty is demonstrated throughout Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, as Odysseus faces many difficult challenges and temptations of abandoning his family, his wife, his home, and his beliefs. By remaining loyal, Odysseus is able to have a driving force behind his will to return to his home and family and ultimately succeed. For example, when Odysseus is trapped on the island of Ogygia, held hostage by the goddess Calypso, he is incredibly depressed and longs for his home and family, no matter what Calypso did for him: "By night he lay beside her, of necessity, in the hollow caves, against his will, by someone who wanted him, but every day he sat on the rocks, by the sea, breaking his heart in tears and moans and pain while crying tears he looked at the dry land. water” (Homer 5,152-158). He is desperate for his situation, he longs for his home and his family and is held against his will a beautiful woman chasing him; many people would call it a paradise, yet Odysseus is held against his will as he is determined to remain true to his family, himself and his morals. Loyalty is a life skill that is still applicable to today's society. It is the basis of every relationship, be it a friendship, a romantic relationship or a business relationship. To be successful in today's society, loyalty is absolutely critical due to the immense number of relationships you must form to be successful, regardless of your profession or lifestyle. The lesson of loyalty is continually demonstrated to the reader throughout the epic and is still very relevant and applicable to life today. In Homer's Odyssey, the theme of perseverance is unquestionable as Odysseus embarks on a brutal ten-year journey to find his home and family, facing countless challenges along the way. While giving up may have been the logical choice on many occasions throughout his journey, Odysseus is able to use his perseverance and drive to keep going over the long years. His perseverance and determination cause others to also admire him and be inspired by his determination and will to succeed: “You are a hard man, Odysseus. Your strength is greater, your limbs never wear out. You must be made all of iron, if you will not let your companions, worn out by fatigue and thirsty for sleep, set foot on this earth, where if we did, on the island surrounded by the sea we could once again prepare a delicious dinner; but you force us to wander just as we are passing through the flowing night, driven from the island onto the misty surface of the water” (Homer 12.279-285). Odysseus is seen as a leader not because of his rank or power, but because of.