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Books V-VIII

We all breakdown at some point in our lives. No matter how strong we may seem on

the outside, all of us our weak on the inside. Some of us choose to hide it from others so that

we won't be ashamed on what they might think of us. Some of us choose to open this side of

ourselves to others to show that we are sensitive. Odysseus, just like anyone of us, follows

one of the choices, to keep his emotions within him.

From the beginning, Odysseus has always been portrayed as a strong leader. He is

fearless, witty, and patient. Whatever problem comes his way, he strives to find a solution to it

no matter what. Because of these descriptions, Odysseus seems like the perfect role-model

for man to follow. However, Odysseus, despite being god-like, is a man like us nonetheless.

He too falls prey to his emotions, but he simply chooses not to show it to any of his men

because he feels that he needs to be the strong one. Odysseus sees the need for him to take

up the sword and lead his men to victory, and because of this, he has to show no

weaknesses. His men believe in his capabilities as a their master, and so Odysseus takes on

the burden of being a fasade. He needs to be the man his men see him as. He needs to be

the husband his wife, Penelope sees him as. Most of all, he needs to be the ruler that a

kingdom sees him as.

Odysseus chooses not to show his true feelings to others, but when he is alone and at

his most vulnerable, he fasade begins to crumble. In the passage, Hermes, sees the

Odysseus, a powerful man, weeping. This simply act of weeping shows that Odysseus is not

perfect. He may seem to be the brave and strong one, but he is actually the most broken man

among his men. All the hardships they've experienced throughout the years build up within

Odysseus for he is their leader. He feels responsible for the mistakes they've made even
though they were not his. The ideology that a leader is in charge of every aspect of the

journey is firmly planted in Odysseus's mind. Thus, allowing him to be overwhelmed by all he

has experienced both internal and external.

Every man feels responsible for what he has done and what he has not done. Every

man feels the need to hide their emotions to become the man others see him as. Odysseus is

just like any other man. The only difference is that he hasn't given up.

Books IX-XII

The main goal for most people is to live a long and happy life. It may seem simple at

first glance, but it is actually something that will be built up out of all the choices you will

make. A life like this would come with costs. There will always be a catch no matter how

sweet the deal may seem.

Odysseus, throughout his journey, has done things he is not proud of. The main reason

why he did these things what based on necessity. He needed to commit certains acts that will

help keep he and is men alive for another day. Because of these, Odysseus has become

someone who is willing to pay anything for a long and happy life. He is willing to lie to his wife

just to keep his ideal future intact.

The excerpt shows that Penelope is so trusting of Odysseus that she does not harbor

any bad thoughts about him. She does not regret anything he has done, nor does she wish

for him to be better. She loves him just the way he is. However, she hasn't seen the true

personality of Odysseus. All she sees is a white night coming to her rescue. She fails to see

what he has become, and what he may become.


Odysseus, knowing full well that telling Penelope about his journey comes with a risk.

The risk of losing the life that he wants, a perfect one. If he does tell Penelope all the

unfaithful things he has committed, he feels that Penelope will no longer love him. Because of

this fear of losing the one he loves most, he resorts to lying and withholding any information

that may lead to the destruction of his wonderland.

From this we can see what love Penelope holds in her heart for Odysseus, and what

“love” he has in his heart for her. The journey home for Odysseus has changed him into a

new man. Someone who is willing to do anything for love, but his love that he thinks he has

for Penelope is flawed. Somehow he sees her as an object that he needs to hold on to. She is

no longer a wife to him, rather a mistress because what he feels for her may no longer be the

genuine thing he did before.

So many things can affect relationships between a man and a woman. Odysseus like

any other husband in the real world experiences events that will alter his personality forever,

but his wife, Penelope, will still see him as her knight in shining armor. Love truly is blind.

Books V-VIII: 491 words

Books IX-XII: 436 words

Vincent Floro High 3B/IB-B

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