Literature and History Term Paper

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Universal Themes in Homer's The Odyssey

Homer's The Odyssey is an ancient work that has managed to survive up to the present time. Virginia Woolf argues that the themes and situations presented in The Odyssey are universal themes that all humans can relate to, despite the passing of time. A consideration of the themes and situations presented in The Odyssey will show that this is true. While The Odyssey is set in a different time and culture, the basic situations and struggles are ones that apply equally to all people. These themes and events include the struggle of being adolescent, the changing relationship between a mother and son, the process of a boy becoming a man and the changing relationship between family members as time passes. Each of these are universal themes and this is what makes The Odyssey as applicable to modern life as it was to ancient life.

The struggle of being adolescent is represented in the opening of The Odyssey. At the beginning of the work, Telemachus wants to be a man. His mother is being pursued by the suitors and he wants to protect her, yet he is not quite able to. Rather than fighting for his mother's rights, he calls an assembly and asks that the suitors be expelled. Even in doing this he admits his own weakness, "but, had I the power, my will should serve me to exempt this hour from out my life-time.

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For, past patience, base deeds are done here, that exceed defence of any honor. Falling is my house, which you should shame to see so ruinous" (II, 100-105). In this speech, two things are seen. Firstly, that Telemachus wants to protect his mother's honor, and secondly, that he does not have the power to do that. At the end of his speech he loses his composure, "This said, his sceptre 'gainst the ground he threw, and tears still'd from him; which mov'd all the crew, the court struck silent, not a man did dare to give a word that might offend his ear" (II, 131-135). This further illustrates that while he wants to act like a man, he is not yet able to do so. His act of losing his temper is a childish one and shows his immaturity. Telemachus represents the adolescent who is at the point between being a child and being an adult. Telemachus wants to be a man, but is not quite ready to be one. This period of uncertainty and struggle where the individual wants to be more than they are is a part of the adolescent struggle that….....

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