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Examples Of Loyalty In The Odyssey

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Loyalty Is the Best Policy
Imagine a world which had been ruled by a trustworthy leader for decades. The land and people are all at peace, but as soon as the leader turns their back to protect them, many of the once trustworthy and loyal citizens are now betraying this leader. Among all the traitors, some loyalty is still scattered about the land. It's hidden in small and unsuspected ways. This land is called Ithaca, Odysseus' home in the epic poem, "The Odyssey" by Homer. Odysseus, the main character, left his homeland to go to battle in the Trojan War. After the war ended, he managed to travel home after a decade of being blown off course. When he arrived back, he was able to piece together who had remained loyal to him and who had not. …show more content…

As Odysseus (disguised as an old beggar) is being lead back to his house by the swineherd, Argos immediately knows this stranger to be his Odysseus, and was the first to discover his true identity. Argos had been living for Odysseus, and was so overwhelmed with joy as he laid eyes upon him. Homer describes the scene of the reunion like so, “...but death and darkness in that instant closed the eyes of Argos, who had seen his master, Odysseus after twenty years.” (Homer 17. 420-423). This shows how Argos is an obedient dog because after all these years, Argos has still recognized him as his owner, and wanted nothing more but to be able to obey him and be under his command. Argos is an example of loyalty because he was made to be Odysseus’ dog, and didn’t adapt to another owner or abandon his home. He had stayed and waited faithfully for his master’s return. He was so overjoyed that the person he had been living for had returned, that he died out of happiness. Loyalty is defined as obedience through Argos because of his patience, cooperation and faithfulness to Odysseus. Similar to Argos’s acceptance of his commands and duties, Odysseus can be seen as loyal when he makes a promise to give his dead companion, Elpenor, a proper

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