Odyssey  Loyalties Revisions

          Loyalty is the strongest driving force in our world. Whether it is to a person, idea, religion,culture, or activity, everybody is committed to something and makes decisions or sacrifices based upon these loyalties. In the epic, “The Odyssey”, Odysseus is guided by his loyalties. In my own life, I am also guided by my commitments that I have made to certain ideals. Odysseus and I are both loyal to our families, a higher sense of purpose, and ultimately, we are loyal to ourselves.

         In this epic, Odysseus instantly tries to return home to his family during the Trojan war. He is faced with many obstacles, but instead of forfeiting, he perseveres in order to achieve his goal of seeing his family again. His biggest goal is to make it home in order to see them, and he does everything in his power to do just that. Similar to Odysseus, I have a strong loyalty to my family. They are the most important part of my life and I would go through any obstacle to maintain the relationship that we have. In my life, I make decisions based on if it will help strengthen bond between my family or not.Odysseus also strives to do this throughout this journey when he encounters obstacles that require him to make similar decisions.

          Throughout the epic, Odysseus also expresses loyalty towards a higher meaning. He attributes this higher power to the Gods of his time because they were very prominent figures of the society. Odysseus continually tries to appease the Gods and prove his commitment to their wishes. He see this as answering a higher calling and doing what is morally right in the eyes of his Gods. While I do not partake in a religion, I do have a loyalty to a higher calling in life. This sense of purpose that I feel comes from within, as I do not practice the same religious beliefs as Odysseus. In my life, I strive to leave a positive impact and make others smile; that what I believe my path is. Odysseus and I both see a path set by another force in our lives and remain loyal to this ideal by following the path we see is best.

          Despite all the other loyalties in our lives, both Odysseus and I are always loyal to ourselves as well. Behind every decision we make, we evaluate how it will benefit or harm us.  By remaining loyal and committed to our own goals and happiness, Odysseus and I are able to navigate our life's journeys. While most of Odysseus's self-loyalty corresponds with his need to simply survive in the changing environments, my decisions in life can be compared to his. I must also make decisions based on if it will better my situations in life or not. Ultimately, by being committed to our own well being, we both are able to pursue our other interests and loyalties.

          Although Odysseus and I lead very different lives and have been through drastically different situations, we still share many of the same loyalties. These commitments help us make decisions in our lives and lead us down the most rewarding path. By focusing on our loyalties to our families, a higher purpose, and our selves, we are able to lead fulfilled lives.