Throughout the story of the Odyssey there are many themes that represent the main parts of the story. The main theme that struck me is love which includes loyalty. “Love is a deeply tender and passionate affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend; or a sexual passion or desire” (dictionary.com). “Loyalty is defined in Webster's dictionary as faithfulness or devotion to a person, cause, or duty” (Webster's dictionary). Through these definitions, it can be expressed that loyalty and love are the main themes in Homer's epic, "The Odyssey". Love and loyalty show the relationships between two people. The few relationships that represent love and loyalty are between husband and wife Odysseus and Penelope and also between father and son Odysseus and Telemachus. These relationships show more than just love and loyalty though, their relationships also show compassion, sympathy and the need to be in each other's lives. Victoria agreed with the theme of the Odyssey which had to do with loving each other and also being loyal. “The Odyssey takes itself less seriously than other epics; it's a lot funnier, but it also has a lot more heart. It is a moral poem; teaches us about civilization and human nature, how to live together in respect and harmony, how important the virtues of love, home and family are and, ultimately, how happiness is a greater goal than any amount of fame and fortune; lessons that have not lost their relevance” (BookDrum, victoriahooper). This quote shows that the Odyssey is more than just a journey and Odysseus goes on an adventure and tries to return home; it is about during this adventure what his beloved... middle of paper... sniveling coward who would faint at the sight of blood, or worse yet, a traitor who would warn the suitors of Odysseus' plans. Apparently, Odysseus believes that since Telemachus was his son, this was reason enough to trust him. (jackhdavid)” This quote shows how, even though Telemachus didn't know his father, right when he found out who he was, he automatically loved him as if he had known him for years and had been by his side to do everything he needed to make Ithaca better for his family and his people. This father-son relationship is unlike any other, they actually spend more time apart than together, and it is through distance that they develop respect and love for each other. In the Odyssey, the distance between father and son is also important. , and is the means by which the two men establish and define their relationship with each other.