The Value of Home

In the Odyssey, home is not a physical place like Ithaca, but is a deeper concept rooted in meaningful connections with people, values, and one’s identity.  For Odysseus, specifically, the idea of his home, the island of Ithaca is tied with remaining loyal to his family – his wife Penelope, and son, Telemachus. As he continues his journey, it becomes clearer that returning to his physical home is not the goal or way to feel like one belongs, bur is rather maintaining principles of loyalty and perseverance despite hardships. As Odysseus faces challenges on the sea, from fighting Polyphemus, to resisting the enchantments of Calypso, he constantly reminds himself what he is enduring these for. A picture of the island of Ithaca does not come to his mind, but rather the faces of his loved ones who bring his life meaning. Calypso in particular, sought to captivate Odysseus to fulfill her own loneliness and replace his wife, Penelope. However, even with the hospitality and an eternal, satisfied life which she offered him, Odysseus was unshakable in his loyalty to his beloved wife. The glamour of the promised life with Calypso did not compare to the familiar and irreplaceable people who Odysseus had yet to meet again in his home in Ithaca. In this way, his journey was essential for him to really understand what his “home” was, and to emphasize devotion and love for one’s family and close friends to the broader Greek audience. Enduring 20 years of separation from his family, filled with recurring difficulties and setbacks may not necessarily be labeled “good” for Odysseus, but was valuable in the end, as his values of loyalty and devotion became very strong. When he finally reached Ithaca once more, Odysseus lived in true fulfillment and joy with his wife and son, because of his long journey at sea, which so greatly tested his sense of loyalty and family. The Odyssey truly shows how home is not limited to a single location, but lives in the people who we love and the principles we uphold. While circumstances change, molding one’s identity, the core values of loyalty and love that define “home” remain constant.