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Summary Family in the Odyssey
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The FamilyFamilies are at the heart of the Odyssey, from the gods on Olympus, to the households Odysseus meets on
his journey, from the fantastical Phaeacians to Odysseus’ own family in Ithaca.
Family relationships influence the actions of the gods: Aeneas asks her father to release Odysseus
only when her uncle is out of the way, and Poseidon punishes Odysseus because of a prayer from
his son
Mother-Child
o Penelope-Telemachus
Close, but Penelope listens to her son because he is her social superior now that he
is grown up – a patriarchy
o Penelope-Melantho
She has brought her up like a daughter, but Melantho has betrayed her, and this
makes her betrayal all the more treacherous
o Arete-Nausicaa
She cares very much for her daughter and is very attentive towards her
Her children and her husband hold very much respect for her, and it is implied that it
is she who makes most of the decisions in the kingdom
o Scylla’s Mother–Scylla
Scylla’s mother is said to be the only one who can calm her daughter, showing the
effects of mothers on their children (and also showing that even the monsters aren’t
excused from the bounds of family)
o Anticleia-Odysseus
Odysseus weeps when he sees her in the Underworld and tries to hug her, showing
the extent of the love and feeling between them
Anticleia has died because she misses her son so much, showing the strength of
feeling between them
o Eurycleia-Odysseus
Eurycleia treats Odysseus like her son – she was the one who put him on his
grandfather’s knee and told him to name the child, she brought Odysseus up, and
she glories in his return
She tells him to change his clothes after the massacre because they’re covered in
blood, showing maternal care.
o Eurycleia-Telemachus
She also treats Telemachus like a son, and tucks him into bed in Book I after his
confrontation with the Suitors; she also jibes him for not locking up everything that
he owns and taking more care of his possessions
Father-Child: cross-generational aspect of heroism and obligations
o Odysseus-Telemachus
Telemachus barely knows his father at the beginning of the Epic, yet thinks very
highly of him, despairing when he thinks that he might have died
Stephen Tracy: ‘Father and son have come a long way towards knowing one
another in this one day.’
They have a very emotional reunion in Book XVII – with tears
The son revenges the father, eventually – and with his father’s help
He is still learning from his father – he tells his mother not to be so rude in a rather
petulant manner when she doesn’t immediately acknowledge Odysseus, and they
have to get him out of the way
Jasper Griffin: ‘Odysseus comes from a close and affectionate human family,
and his attitude to Penelope and Telemachus is that of the good husband and
gather. Such a man does not throw away his life for glory.’
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