What do we learn about Odysseus in the first four books of The Odyssey
Odysseus is the main character of The Odyssey, a tale which chronicles his homecoming and his journeys since his departure from Troy. Homer begins this epic song with an invocation to the muses referring to Odysseus long journey home and introducing the main themes of the text. In the first four books of the Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as a somewhat mysterious, yet very loyal and courageous character. Although he is not directly involved in these books, he is the whole reason behind them, which gives the audience some idea of how much the other characters involved value him. The fact that the book purports to tell the story of Odysseus, but aside from the introduction and the conversation between the Gods, actually begins by discussing his son Telemachus and what was happening at home with his wife, provides a solid foundation for the story to be based on. Homer may have purposely begun the story this way to portray how Odysseus yearned to return home and how much he valued the factors involved in this ambition. All of the Gods pitied Odysseus apart from Poseidon, Zeus brother and God of the sea. Primarily, Poseidon was upset with Odysseus for not offering sufficient sacrifices to him but became even more unhappy after Odysseus blinded his son, the cyclops Polyphemus. The introduction of book one begins by providing some background evidence and explains how Odysseus had fought in the Trojan War, but whilst all the other soldiers who had survived had returned home, he hadn’t. ... After his soldiers were killed, Odysseus was left shipwrecked at the hands of Poseidon on the island of Ogygia. ... Calypso captured Odysseus and fell in love with him and although he stayed on the island for seven years, he rejected her offer to be her husband and accept immortality.