Odyssey

Time and time again we see loyalty within the strongest sense, complete fidelity in time of uncertainty. You should never give up on someone or something that's important to you.

Odysseus began his epic journey, unsure of the longer term. His goal was to defeat Troy, and then return back to his love, Penelope. After 10 years, he succeeded and began coming home and things got in his way. His situation looked bad, but he didn't give up. He spent seven helpless years with Calypso, but he never gave up hope or forgot about his goal. Throughout his long journey, he watched as his crew kept getting killed off, and he never gave abreast of leading his crew home. I'm sure he felt like abandoning at some times, but he knew all his work would be for nothing if he didn't go all the way. He never gave abreast of his family or home for twenty years until he was finally reunited. He kept trying regardless of what quite a trouble he got himself into from gods to evil creatures. Even when he was the sole one left to urge home all by himself with no ship, he pushed on with the assistance of Athena.

Penelope gives up 20 years of her life to wait for the man she loves. And everyone else already believed he was dead. But she felt in her bones that Odysseus would one day return. It wasn't a guarantee. She could never really know for certain. But Penelope had decided long before she would be there for him, regardless of how long, regardless of the consequence. And so she waited.

By overcoming different yet equally demanding trials and hardships, both of them were clever at coming up with ideas to get them through the challenges they faced. While Odysseus conquered monsters and other extreme dangers, Penelope faced the challenge of raising her son while holding the estate together and staying loyal to her husband. Her loyalty was shown through the heroes' journey she goes on while awaiting the return of Odysseus. Finally, their loyalty for each other paid off and they reunite.

There love for each other is the one thing that keeps him going when all other matters seem darkest.