Have you ever been away from home for a long period of time? The main character Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey has been away from his kingdom fighting at Troy and sailing from island to island for twenty years. While at sea, Odysseus faces both alienating and enriching experiences as he is surrounded by monsters who want to eat him and his men and women who want him to love them. Odysseus survives the troubling situations and finally realizes how much he misses the love of his wife, who is caring, loving, and patient. She has given birth to his son whom he has not yet met, which makes him eager to return to his kingdom. Sometimes staying away from what you think are the little things can give you a better perspective of your surroundings. Many of the struggles Odysseus faces enrich him in ways he does not realize until he returns home. When Odysseus learns of the battles they will face in book 12, he prepares his men with the tools necessary to deal with the situations. They come across a monster known as Scylla. The Scylla is a six-headed monster that devours six men from every passing ship. Odysseus does not tell his men that six of them will be eaten, showing readers his intelligence and wit. “Attention, guys! We must obey orders as I give them. Take the oar shafts in your hands and lie down on the benches; strike these breaking seas." (12.150-153). Odysseus shows great leadership and learns to keep his shipmates calm. In order for the men to face this battle and stay alive, none can tire. A storm and a funnel is forming around them. Although Odysseus loses six men, he still has a strong crew to survive the next ordeal. Odysseus and his men discover the island where… middle of paper… he was not there for parenting his son, his son accepts him as if he has known him all his life. They stand side by side when Odysseus returns home and together they defeat all the suitors who have tried to take over his kingdom, his wife and his fortune. As he sails across different seas, he does not have the love and support of his family. Now Ulysses sees the bigger picture: his family, his kingdom and his home are many things leader. During the entire journey Odysseus misses his wife Penelope and realizes how much she means to him. After being reunited with her, he can finally continue his life as a father, husband and ruler. Odysseus learns to love his family and his kingdom again. Many of the trials that Ulysses faces enrich him as a person. Some situations alienated him and gave him a new perspective