Iliad and The Odyssey

One of the most obvious themes in these stories, in my opinion, have to do with growth and strength. Odysseus has been gone for years and his family that is left where he used to rule in is ruins with the pain of his absence and the suitors destroying his land and pursuing his mother. When his son is given the news that he must not give up hope and search for his father it starts his journey to becoming a man. He starts this when he holds an assembly and addresses the suitors for disrespecting his family and his land for so long; telling them that they need to leave by the next day. He is met with even more disrespect and insults to his character. He does meet this with some insult as well, which shows some of the flaw in his growth throughout his journey. He learns that remorse will not allow you to grow and being a man you have to take power that is yours or somebody else will. These are not easy lessons for him and through these, he learns he must not give up.