The epic The Odyssey, written by Homer, is what philosophers call “canonical” or “classic” pieces of literature due to its prevalent lessons and moral displayed between the two main characters, Telemachus and his father, Odysseus. After Odysseus disappears during war, Telemachus has his house infested with suitors after his mother, Penelope. However, in the hopes of restoring his home, he quests to find his long lost father, despite all opposing circumstances. Conversely, Odysseus had not only lost the war, but was forced to vacate an island with a goddess, of which refused to release him. However, due to the heavy influence of Athena, Odysseus is set free to travel home, but with many obstacles in his way.
This epic showcases many relevant and necessary ideas of how morals heavily influence our daily lives, but also displays the necessity and courage it takes to be a leader. The Odyssey has stood the test of time, and yet still teaches the adolescents of today’s world. I believe this epic teaches the concept of what real leadership looks like, as Odysseus and Telemachus were both faced with many difficult situations, with many lives at stake, including their own. However, I felt as if it also displayed the humanity in all leaders, as both these men made careless and arrogant errors, causing loss and defeat in the book. It teaches readers that everyone is human, and there is no such thing as a perfect, all-time winning leader.
I enjoyed the constant twist in action, setting, and backstory with each and every character, as each individual has his or her own storyline behind them. It was intriguing to listen in to what each character had to say and their past. Additionally, I enjoyed the constant anticipation of each major plot point, as everytime I suspected a cliche win, or predicted something, it either was way off or never ended up happening. It was quite suspenseful, as this was a book that was not afraid of displaying constant loss and grief.
Although there is a lot to enjoy about this book, there are only a few things that I found to be perplexing. There were lots of unnecessary comments and characters throughout the book, and keeping track of their relevance and appearances was rather difficult, not to mention their similar Greek/Roman names. The random interferences of the Greek gods I also found to be annoying, despite their extreme influence and relevance in the book. Ultimately, I found the gods to be the main antagonists, however, many would disagree for various reasons.
I would strongly recommend any young adolescent to read this epic, as it teaches many important lessons of leadership and humanity. With social media and the reliance on others becoming much too common, this epic displays raw, untainted ideas of leadership, and paints a perfect picture for readers to connect humanity and power, which are very related yet often isolated from each other when power is obtained. Juveniles would greatly benefit from reading this canonical piece, as leadership seems to be a legendary trait, which negatively impacts our future.
