Relationships between fathers and sons

During this time, his family was desperately waiting for him while the community was convinced that Odysseus had been killed in the war. The author depicts the closeness between Odysseus and his son Telemachus. It stated that Odysseus had succeeded in nurturing his son to be a responsible person in society. Due to the strong between these two, Telemachus believes that his father is still alive and that he will eventually come home one day (Stanford, 1964). Telemachus demonstrates his heroics by fighting suitors who were immensely interested in his mother, Penelope. Similar affections were demonstrated by Odysseus towards his son Telemachus. The father adored his son like he was the best thing to ever happen to him. Odysseus was such a loving father such that he did not to unreasonably stay away from his son.

Through this strong connection, it can be stated that Odysseus wanted his son to follow in the footsteps of bravery and responsibility (Stanford, 1964). Odysseus wanted his son to a warrior and a defender of his own family. While the father is always viewed as the ultimate protector, his son can actually step up for him when he is threatened. However, it is worth considering that such incidences can only occur where the father had previously indicated to his son the significances of forming a formidable union. For instance, the poem highlights the circumstances which led to the death of Agamemnon. He was actually killed by Aigisthos who was believed to be his wife’s lover. Following these occurrences, Orestes decides to defend the honors of his father revenging on Aigisthos.

The old Laertes got used to his son such that he never felt to be safe when his son was away from him. As Odysseus continued to stay away from home, his father’s worried multiplied to an extent that he started losing control of his health. The negative thoughts of prematurely losing him were deeply haunting him. That is why Odysseus' mother would sometimes mention to Laertes that he had communicated with Odysseus in the wonderland and that his son was alive and full of health. Another important point to consider is that fathers will always take the responsibility of comforting their sons even in the old age (Birditt et al, 2008). In such cases, there is likely to be disintegration and even physical confrontations from the family.

Grudges can also erupt such that no one would be wishing for another person to succeed in his endeavors. Such families do not prosper and even the most favored son finally ends up getting lost because of the grudges he showcases against his parents. A case from the poem is demonstrated between Polyphemus and his father Poseidon. There seems to be a strange relationship between these two characters such that it becomes hard for them to prosper in any pursuit (Thornton, 2015). Accordingly, every family member should show love to the father for all his sacrifices and commitments to provide all the basic needs. Likewise, a father should teach his sons to love and respect other people irrespective of their social class or economic status.

It is worth observing that the desired love and respect can be only achieved if there is a strong bond between a father and his son. In the poem, the concept of love and respect is portrayed between many families but there is one unique scenario which seems to surpass others. This is about the relationship between Laodamas and his father Alcinous (Steiner, 2010). On the other hand, if a father is cruel and dictatorial, he is likely to raise who is dull and irresponsible. A son who is not well coached by his father might go to the extent of engaging in outlawed activities. From the narrations mentioned in Odyssey, there is a clear distinction between families which embraced love and where there were persistent disagreements between father and sons.

For instance, it is demonstrated that Odysseus and Telemachus are bonded in spirits even though the father had stayed away for a long period of time (Thornton, 2015). Odysseus believes that he will finally reach home and find his family under the protection of his son. In the poem, it is depicted that Telemachus and his father Odysseus are pursuing similar interests (Steiner, 2010). The father is fighting for his community and is getting ready to assume the position of Laertes who is becoming old and weary. As such, Telemachus is also focusing on the footsteps of his father so that he can build his confidence and acquire the necessary skills to lead his people. Therefore, the implication of similar interests can be seen as a pivotal point in the development and prosperity of families.