Is Odysseus Really as Loyal as He Seems?

It appears as though our king Odysseus, “raider of cities”, has returned to Ithaca as a loyal, faithful man. However, does his encounters with other women on his journey reflect that? It seems to me that Odysseus knows how to get what he wants, especially when it comes to escaping the many women he comes across. But his unfaithful actions he committed with those women beg the question: Was Odysseus loyal to Penelope at that time? Also, did he feel guilty for his wife? Although we may never know this, I think it is reasonable to say that Odysseus’ faithfulness, especially when presented with beautiful women, is somewhat questionable.

While with Nausicaa, Odysseus tells her that he has “never laid eyes on anyone like [her], neither man or woman” (173) and that a “sense of wonder” (173) overcomes him when he looks at her. This just may be Odysseus’ method of flirting to get what he wants, but how do we know that his intentions were to get home, not to become part of her home? Odysseus proceeds to ask for help and salvation from her, when he asks for a “rag of cover” (174) to protect him. Although he seems to flirt with Nausicaa, Odysseus uses his clever mind to gain her trust get back to civilization.

Circe, whom Odysseus and his crew spent many nights with, seemed to persuade Odysseus more than any other woman. While on her island, Odysseus tried to gain her trust by sleeping with her, so that eventually she would release his crew. Odysseus makes Circe promise not to harm him, but does Odysseus seem to be wanting of this relationship with Circe? He says that he “mounted Circe’s gorgeous bed” (241), and he seems to say this with pride… Although he then uses Circe’s trust against her to get back his men, it is questionable whether or not Odysseus created his plan just so he could sleep with the beautiful nymph.

Similarly with Calypso, Odysseus’ flirting behavior, although it may be his only option, comes off as disloyal. However, Odysseus’ behavior at this point seemed to be forced on by Calypso, as she demanded him to sleep with her and wanted him as a husband. Odysseus was forced to “sleep with her in her arching cave - he had no choice” (157). As Calypso was the last woman Odysseus encountered on his journey, I think his desire to reach his home after twenty years may have prevented him from continuing his affair with her. Even after she offered him immortality, Odysseus kindly declined, and said that although Penelope “falls short of [her]. [Her] beauty and stature” (159), he still desires to get back home to his family and country. Although some believe that Odysseus cheated on Penelope with many other women out of pure desire, I would say that his actions simply reflect his immense desire to get home. Let’s think about it this way: If Odysseus didn’t flirt with women and gain their trust (which was ultimately used against them), would he have ever gotten home? It seems to me that Odysseus’ clever and cunning mind saved him, and therefore was able to return home even if it did mean that he was a little disloyal to his wife. I mean, all Odysseus wanted was to reunite with his loyal wife, and that’s exactly what he does in the end.

#OpEd #Odysseus