Character Analysis
Odysseus The hero of the Odyssey. Odysseus fought among the other Greek saints in Troy
and is now fighting to return to his kingdom in Ithaca. Odysseus is the husband of
Queen Penelope and the father of Prince Telemachus. Although he is a solid and
courageous warrior, he is generally prestigious for his cunning. He is most loved by
the goddess Athena, who frequently sends him divine advice, but a tough enemy of
Poseidon, who disappoints his excursion every step of the way.
Telemachus Son of Odysseus. Newborn when Odysseus left for Troy, Telemachus is around
twenty years old at the beginning of story. It is a distinctive deterrent for claimants in
urgent search for their mother, but despite her bravery and her big heart, she initially
lacks balance and certainty to hold them back. His development, especially when he
left for Pylos and Sparta in books 3 and 4, gives a secondary intrigue to the epic.
Athena helps her frequently.
Penelope Wife iof iOdysseus iand imother iof iTelemachus. iPenelope ispends iher idays iat ithe iroyal
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residence iin imourning ifor ithe ihusband iwho ileft iTroy itwenty iyears iearlier iand ihas
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remained iforever. iHomer idescribes iher ihere iand ithere ias iwhimsical iand inervous, ibut
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also iintelligent iand iconsistent isuiting iher ihusband.
Athena i- i i
Daughter iof iZeus iand igoddess iof isly iand iintentional ifights iand ifeminine iexpressions.
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Athena ihelps iOdysseus iand iTelemachus iwith idivine ipowers ithroughout ithe iepic iand
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supports ithem iin ithe icommittees iof idivine ibeings ion iMount iOlympus. iShe iappears
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regularly iin icamouflage ias ia imentor, ia iformer icompanion iof iOdysseus.
Poseidon i– i
Divine iforce iof ithe iocean. iSince ithe isuitors iare ithe ihuman irivals iof iOdysseus,
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Poseidon iis ihis iperfect iadversary. iHe idespises iOdysseus ifor ihaving iblinded ihis ison,
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the iCyclops iPolyphemus, iand icontinually ihinders ihis iexcursion ihome. iUnexpectedly,
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Poseidon iis ithe ibenefactor iof ithe inautical iphases, iwhich iultimately ihelp ibring
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Odysseus iback ito iIthaca.
Zeus i- i i
Sovereign iof idivine iGods iand imen, iwho iintervenes iin ithe idiscussions iof idivine igods
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on iMount iOlympus. iZeus iis idescribed ifrom itime ito itime ias imeasuring ithe ifate iof
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humans ion ihis iscales. iOccasionally iassist iOdysseus ior igrant iAthena ito ido ithe isame.
Antinous i- i i
The imost ipompous iof iPenelope's isuitors. iAntinous ileads ithe ibattle ito iexecute
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Telemachus. iUnlike idifferent icontenders, iit iis inever idescribed iin ia ithoughtful iway iand
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is ithe ifirst iwho iwas ikilled iwhen iOdysseus ireturns.
Eurymachus i- i i
A imanipulative, ideceitful isuitor. iEurymachus's icharm iand ideception iallow iit ito iapply ia
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certain iimpact ito ithe ivarious icontenders.
Amphinomus i- i i
Among ithe imany icontenders, ithe ibetter ithan iaverage iprincipal, iman iseeks ithe
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marriage iof iPenelope. iAmphinomus ioccasionally isupports iOdysseus iand
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Telemachus, ihowever, ihe iis ikilled ilike ithe irest iof ithe isuitors iin ithe ilast ibattle.
Eumaeus i- i i
The itrusted ishepherd iwho, ialong iwith icow ibreeder iPhiloetius, ihelps iOdysseus iregain
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his iroyal iposition iafter ihis iarrival iin iIthaca. iAlthough ihe ihas ino iidea ithat ithe itramp iwho
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appears iin ihis ihovel iis iOdysseus, iEumaeus igives ithe iman ifood iand ishelter.
Eurycleia i- i i
The iold iand iloyal iemployees iwho itook icare iof iOdysseus iand iTelemachus iwhen ithey
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were ibabies. iEurycleia iis ieducated ion ithe iinterests iof ithe icastle iand ibefriends iits
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lords. iShe imaintains ito ihides ithe ipersonality iof iOdysseus iafter inoticing ia iscar ion ihis
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leg.
Melanthius i- i i
Melantho's ibrother. iMelanthius iis ia ideceptive iand iskilful ishepherd iwho isupports ithe
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suitors, iin iparticular iEurymachus, iand iabuses ithe ipoor iman iwho iappears iin ithe icastle
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of iOdysseus, inot iunderstanding ithat ithe iman iis iOdysseus ihimself.
Melantho i- i i
Sister iof iMelanthius iand iservant iin ithe iroyal iresidence iof iOdysseus. iLike ihis ibrother,
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Melantho imistreats ithe ihomeless iin ithe icastle, iunaware ithat ithe iman iis iOdysseus.
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She iis iinvolved iin iextramarital iaffairs iwith iEurymachus.
Calypso i- i i
The iwonderful ifairy iwho ibegins ito ilove iOdysseus iwhen ihe iarrives iat ihis ihome ion ithe
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island iof iOgygia. iCalypso ikept ihim iin idetention ifor ia ilong itime iuntil iHermes, ithe
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messenger igod, iconvinced iher ito irelease ihim.
Polyphemus i- i i
One iof ithe iCyclops i(mercilessly itowards imammoths) iwhose iisland iOdysseus iarrives
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shortly iafter ileaving iTroy. iPolyphemus istops iOdysseus iand ihis igroup iand itries ito ieat
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them, ibut iOdysseus iblinds ihim ithrough ia icunning iploy iand idiscovers ihow ito iescape.
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In idoing iso, iOdysseus iirritates iPolyphemus' ifather, iPoseidon.
Circe i- i i
The icharming iwitch igoddess iwho iturns ithe iOdysseus igroup iinto iswines iwhen ishe
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arrives ion iher iisland. iWith ithe ihelp iof iHermès, iOdysseus iopposes ithe iforces iof iCirce
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and ithen ibecomes ihis ilove, iliving iin iextravagance iby ihis iside ifor ia iyear.
Laertes i- i i
Odysseus's ifather, iwho ilives ion ia iranch iin iIthaca. iIn idespair iand iphysical idecline, ilater
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recovers ihis isoul iwhen iOdysseus ireturns iand iinevitably iassassinates ithe ifather iof
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Antinous.
Tiresias i- i i
A iTheban iprophet ioccupying ithe iunderworld. iTiresias imeets iOdysseus iwhen
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Odysseus igoes ion ian iexcursion ito ithe iunderworld iin iBook i11. iHe itells iOdysseus ithe
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best iway ito ireturn ito iIthaca iand iallows iOdysseus ito ispeak ito idifferent ispirits iof iHades.
Nestor i- i i
Sovereign iof iPylos iand iformer iwarrior iof ithe iTrojan iWar. iLike iOdysseus, iNestor iis
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known ias ia isharp ispeaker. iTelemachus ivisits ihim iin iBook i3 ito iget iinformation iabout
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his ifather, ibut iNestor iknows iwhereabouts iof iOdysseus.