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Example research essay topic: Nine Years Return Home - 980 words

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The major theme introduced in The Odyssey by Homer is Odysseus struggle to return home to Ithaca. Odysseus fights all the time to return to Ithaca because of several reasons. Ithaca is his homeland; his roots are there and all valuable things that he has are associated with Ithaca. Odysseus has son Telemachus back at home, who grew up into a man without ever knowing his father. Odysseus also wants to return and continue ruling his people as king, because Odysseus cared about his nation. Nevertheless, Odysseus strongest desire is to return to his wife, Penelope, who has remained in Ithaca awaiting the return of her husband for many years.

Odysseus desire to return to Penelope was the strongest and this desire basically is the essence of his journey. Penelope was very loyal to Odysseus; however, she was not the only woman who wanted to be with him. On his journey Odysseus meets other female characters, including the goddesses Circe and Calypso, and the beautiful princess Nausicaa. All of these women are willing to wed Odysseus and all of them have chances to do so because of their qualities that were appealing to Odysseus. Odysseus needs to choose a wife because his journey would not be complete. Therefore the story would not end until this goal has been reached.

When we look at the characterization of the women Odysseus encounters on his journey we can see that they serve as possible wives for Odysseus; in other words, Odysseus choice of one of them would be a possible ending to the poem. In the end Odysseus chooses Penelope because of love and of the strength of their marriage. (Scott) All the women that Odysseus met during his journey were temptations, but Odysseus desire to return home to his wife was very strong. Circe is the first woman Odysseus met and she could serve as a possible wife. Circe is a nymph who casts spells on her visitors. She turned them into wild animals that guard her palace.

When Odysseus and his men landed on Circe's island, his crew was turned into pigs. Odysseus broke the spell with some help from Hermes. He became Circe's lover and remained on her island for a year. At that moment Odysseus forgot his journey to home and all that he had left behind in Ithaca. Circe became Odysseus partner. She is a goddess and it makes her worthy of him and Odysseus understands this.

Circe can also offer Odysseus immortality. If Odysseus had chosen this option, which frankly speaking would not be a bad solution, his journey would be over. Nevertheless, when his crew reminds him of their journey home to Ithaca, Odysseus is very anxious to leave. Odysseus starts to understand that he cannot be satisfied with this option, because this is not the way he wants his journey to end. (Scott) As Odysseus journey continues, the hero meets the goddess Calypso. Odysseus arrives on Calypsos island after a shipwreck alone. He also becomes Calypsos lover and stays on her island with Calypso for the whole nine years.

One year spent with Circe did not make Odysseus to think of Ithaca and of what he left there. However, his nine years with Calypso were spent thinking about his return. Calypso appears to be the most tempting offer for Odysseus aside from Penelope. Calypso even questions Odysseus as to why he did not choose her. She says, Much as you long to see your wife, the one you pine for all your dayan yet I just might claim to be nothing less than she, neither in face nor figure. Hardly right, is it, for mortal woman to rival immortal goddess?

How, in build? In beauty? (Homer, 5. 234 - 5. 236). Odysseus knows precisely this is true, but he replies, Look at my wise Penelope. She falls far short of you Nevertheless I long-I pine, all my days-to travel home and see the dawn of my return (Homer, 5. 237 - 5. 243). Odysseus love for Penelope and his desire to return home is so strong that he would rather prefer to suffer through more hardships to return to Ithaca. After leaving Calypsos island, Odysseus meets Nausicaa, who was a Phaeacian princess.

Despite her young age, Nausicaa was very wise and attractive. She assisted Odysseus and brought him to see her father, who was the king and who would provide the means for Odysseus return to Ithaca. Although Odysseus almost does not see Nausicaa during his visit and they are never sexually involved, King Alcinous offers Odysseus the chance to marry his daughter. Nevertheless, Nausicaa's youth was not tempting to Odysseus neither an opportunity to become a ruler.

Penelope and his return home were truly first in his mind. Finally at the end of the great poem by Homer, Odysseus reaches Ithaca thanks to the assistance provided by Phaeacians. Penelope in the poem represents the completion of Odysseus journey. Odysseus chooses Penelope as his wife out of all the beautiful women that tempt him during his long journey. Odysseus actions during the journey reveal his love and loyalty to Penelope as well as his self-determination.

Home was an object that attracted Odysseus and that made Odysseus to wholly depend on it. That is why Odysseus used all his qualities to get home and finally he feels very happy after reaching Ithaca, settling everything down with his wife and meeting his son. Calypso, Circe and Nausicaa are women who do not only serve as obstacles, they rather serve as temptations. Due to the fact that Odysseus can resist these temptations it will be possible to discover how incredibly strong his marriage and love with Penelope is and that he also has strong ties with Ithaca. These are two main reasons why he chooses to live out the rest of his life with Penelope back at home.


Free research essays on topics related to: return home, penelope, nine years, odysseus, ithaca

Research essay sample on Nine Years Return Home

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