The Types of Love Experiences in Homer’s The Odyssey

The Paradox Called Love Love is a supernatural force that unites two beings, whether they are the two most unlikely candidates or childhood friends, and it inspires hope in all. Homer’s The Odyssey is the tale of the epic hero Odysseus on his quest back from the Trojan War, and all the hardships he faces as a result of his decisions. Throughout the course of the book, love plays a large role, and is his fuel to return to Ithaka, his home. There are three types of love are presented in the epic; lust, which is purely sexual and lacks a deeper meaning, family love, such as that displayed between Odysseus and his men, colleagues and Telemakhos, and lastly there is true love, which is shown between Odysseus and Penelope, true love holding the most value and power over all other forms of love. The first and most evident type of love is lustful love, which is very one sided, and shown on multiple occasions during the course of the book. After Odysseus has spent seven years with Kaly pso, Hermes comes to inform Kalypso that Zeus has ordered the return of Odysseus. Kalypso is very sad at his departure, leading her to ask why he would leave her for Penelope: â€Å"Can I be less desirable than she is? / Less interesting? Less beautiful? Can mortals / compare with goddesses in grace and form?† (V. 220-222). Kalypso’s love for Odysseus is genuine, but her feelings are not returned, as Odysseus has only become her partner in bed, and he is there only because he cannot escape. ThisShow MoreRelatedThe Divine Comedy And Dantes Inferno1079 Words   |  5 PagesIn the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus is viewed as a brave and virtuous hero by most people, especially the Greeks. However, the poet Dante Alighieri shares a much different view within his book The Divine Comedy: Inferno. Dante was born and raised in Italy and therefore had a natural hate for everything Greek related. 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