Like many heroes, Odysseus must make a “heroic quest”—in his case, the quest is to return home to his family and kingdom. In Rosemary Sutcliff’s novel (and the original Homeric epic) Odysseus’s homecoming is not a selfish impulse but rather a quest with societal and communal motivations. While Odysseus loves his home island of Ithaca very much and longs to be with his wife and son, his quest is also driven by his sense of honor and responsibility to his family, his people, and his kingdom. As a husband and a father, Odysseus has a duty to protect his wife and to preserve the property and rights that will pass on to his son after he dies. In Odysseus’s absence, the suitors harass his wife Penelope and squander away his son Telemachus’s inheritance. As the leader of the Ithacans who fought with him at Troy, Odysseus is responsible for bringing his people safely to their home. And as king of Ithaca, Odysseus is responsible for maintaining law and order in his realm.

In this way, Odysseus’s commitment to his homecoming defines his heroism.