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Marriage in The Odyssey

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Marriage only lasts if both partners faithfulness to each other seems to be true and honest. The characters in The Odyssey by Homer display the struggle of loyalty between the partners. The Odyssey describes many examples of infidelity in marriage and a couples disloyalty to each other. This epic poem lays out different types of challenges the characters face in their marriages. Most of the marriages in the epic poem are set up for failure, but some work out. Agamemnon and Clytemnestra marriage ends horribly because of their dishonesty with each other. The marriage of Aphrodite and Hephaestus does not work out either due to the unfaithful affair of Aphrodite. Penelope and Odysseus successful marriage works because of their commitment to each other. Homer presents the reader with a complex view of the importance of marriage, and how the gods contradict themselves and disregard their own values. The horrible marriage of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra does not end well because of their unfaithfulness. After Agamemnon killed their daughter, deceiving Clytemnestra in the process, he destroys the trust in their marriage. Clytemnestra's anger grows for 20 years and she and her lover, Aegisthus, punish Agamemnon by murdering him at a welcome home feast. Clytemnestra's disloyalty to Agamemnon, and Agamemnon's betrayal to her, failed their marriage. Agamemnon now resents all women for what his wife has done to him and tells this to Odysseus in Hades. So,/ theres nothing more deadly, bestial than a woman/ set on works like these- what a monstrous thing/ she plotted, slaughtered her own lawful husband! (Homer 11: 484-487). While fighting in Troy, for 10 years he expects to come home to his wife and son. Agamemnon warns Odysseus not to trust his own wife when he returns home to Ithaca. Never reveal the whole truth, whatever you may know;/ just tell her a part of it, be sure to hide the rest./ Not that you, Odysseus, will be murdered by your wife.(11:5

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