Study Guide: Similarities Between Odysseus and Ithaka

Odysseus and his hometown, Ithaka have many similarities. First, Odysseus is a hospitable man. It is part of a tradition in his time and it has caused his hometown of Ithaka to be overrun by Suitors. They are eating his food, using his house, and trying to get his wife. As a hospitable man, Odysseys runs into many people who are hospitable to him throughout this epic. The Phaeacians are helpful to him by offering to take him home, and the Lotus-eaters are also to a degree. On the other hand, Odysseus' hospitality gets him in trouble. For instance, with Odysseus' tradition of hospitality, he mistakes the Cyclops people as being hospitable.

Another way Odysseus reminds me of his hometown is his loyalty. In Ithaka, Penelope is very loyal to her husband. She will not marry the suitors and even tries to trick them into thinking she is going to by knitting the sheath and then taking it out every night so that it would not get done. Another person in Odysseus' hometown that is loyal to him his nurse, Eurycleia, who remains loyal to him the whole time he is gone. Also, Telemakhus is very loyal to his father, trying to find out where he is, believing he is still alive. Odysseus also shows his loyalty throughout The Odyssey. He is very loyal to his men, even when they get into trouble. In the end, his servants, Melanthius and Melantho become friendly with the suitors and insults Odysseus when they think he is a beggar. At the end, The servants who betray their master are treated harshly, while the loyal servants are rewarded.

Another similarity between Odysseus and his hometown of Ithaka is perseverance. We already knew Odysseus was a survivor from The Trojan war, but the way he preservers throughout The Odyssey is amazing. He endures spending seven years with Kalypso, the Kyklops, being shipwrecked on Phaeacia, the lotus-eaters, Kirke, and the Sirens - all while knowing where he wants to be - Ithaka. Of course, all of this time in Ithaka, Penelope is persevering herself. She is keeping off the suitors, waiting for her husband, Odysseus. It is almost as if Ithaka itself is preservering while awaiting the return of its king.

Disguise is anther way Odysseus is similar to Ithaka. When Odysseus finally gets home, he has to disguise himself as a beggar. During this time, it is almost as if Ithaka id being disguised also. It is disguised as the suitors home for partying. It is disguised as everybody being happy and go lucky. Only a few people know the truth and are awaiting the return of their king.

Odysseus also shows his intelligence in The Odyssey. We see him lie, cheat and steal to get him to his goal - being in Ithaka. He shows his curiosity when he goes to see the Kyklops. Yet he shows his intelligence when he refuses to eat the Lotus. It is interesting that Odysseus has to show his intelligence in his hometown to return it to "his" hometown. He has to lie to his own family. He is smart enough to know what to do and when to do it. He even shows his curiosity by talking to his wife and lying to her, knowing it will make her cry. It made me think that he wanted to see her emotions and that she still loved him.
In conclusion, I believe that Odysseus and his hometown compare in many ways, even if I am comparing a man and a city. They are both pretty complicated, with many layers. They both grow throughout the epic. In the end, they are both victorious. Both Odysseus and Ithaka have had to endure many things, but even with all of these things, they both come together in the end in victory.