Modern Day Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey

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"What human beings have in common is revealed in myths” (Moyers, The Power of Myth). It is easy to dismiss writings from thousands of years ago as old or unimportant. One might wonder how Homer's epic poem, "The Odyssey" could be relevant today. However, there are modern-day Odysseuses everywhere in current novels, films, and television shows. A perfect example of a modern-day Odysseus is Desmond Hume from the ABC television show, "Lost." “Lost” is about a group of people who survived a plane crash onto a mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean. On the island, the survivors discover people and hatches. One of the people they discover is Desmond. Desmond and the epic hero Odysseus, while separated by thousands of years and miles of land, share …show more content…
Odysseus of Homer’s “The Odyssey” is loyal to his wife, Penelope, and his home. Odysseus left Calypso’s island because he longed for Penelope and Ithaca, his home and kingdom: “My quiet Penelope- how well I know- would seem a shade before your majesty, death and old age being unknown to you, while she must die. Yet it is true, each day I long for home, long for the sight of home…” (5.82-86). As great as Calypso was, Odysseus wanted to be home with his wife. He was wanted to help his dead friend and crew member, Elpenor. Odysseus was in Hades to hear a prophecy when he ran into Elpenor. Odysseus did not know he was dead. Elpenor explained how he drunkenly fell off of Circe, a beguiling goddess’s roof and wanted a proper burial. Odysseus assured, “Unhappy spirit, I promise you the barrow and the burial” (11.55-56). Odysseus promised Elpenor a proper burial because Odysseus was loyal to his crew. Odysseus was also loyal to his crew in Hades when he came across his mother, Anticlea. Odysseus explains, “Now came the soul of Anticlea, dead, my mother, daughter of Autolycus, dead now, though living still when I took ship for holy Troy. Seeing this ghost I grieved, but held her off, through pang on pang of tears, till I should know the presence of Tiresias” (11.60-65). Odysseus did not know that his mother was dead. He could have been selfish and spent time with her, He chose to not give in to his grief, however, because he needed to hear a prophecy and bring his men home. Odysseus put the needs of his crew before his selfish wants, promised to properly bury Elpenor, and left Calypso’s island to return to Ithaca. Therefore, he was loyal to his crew and
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