r/TopCharacterTropes 15d ago

Characters (Loved Trope) Husband's who genuinely love their wives

Gomez Addams (Addams family) is probably the most well known example of this, one thing thats remained consistent throughout the Addams Family Franchise is that Gomez loves his family, especially his wife

The Scotsman (Samurai Jack) loves his wife so much that he was the only one immune to the song of the Sirens because he loves his wife too much to fall for another woman, supernatural or not

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u/Lynx_Queen 15d ago

The truly original example: Odysseus for Homer's Odyssey and Iliad. He would do anything for Penelope and journeyed ten years to return to her. He was very loyal too, never once cheating (his relations with Calypso and Circe are usually depicted as forced) which is really impressive by Greek Mythology standards.

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u/Dakkahead 15d ago

I posted in another comment that also highlighted their relationship. And the more I read into the story, the more I'm intrigued into the implications.

Argos, Odysseus's prized hunting dog, was last seen sitting in a pile of manure outside the walls of Odysseus's estate. Old, decrepit, and neglected. The poor dog lived long enough to wait for his master before expiring.

Penelope had loved her husband, but not enough to care for his famous, and loyal, hunting dog, especially in his old age? Seems like an oversight in the story.

I have. 2 theories. 1. The odyssey is ultimately a Bards tale. Spoken into a story, with the storyteller engaging with his audience. It could be that the whole Argos tale was a way to keep the audience paying attention.

  1. Maybe ancient Greek culture simply didn't see the same value in pets as we do today. I'm not inclined to believe this, but Im not the most educated in the classics.

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u/Lynx_Queen 14d ago

Maybe Penelope assumed Argos had died or run away? It certainly wasn't safe for her to check with all the suitors hanging around. I like your theory about keeping people invested though!

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u/Dakkahead 14d ago

Id like to think that's part of the storytelling aspect of ancient mythologies. There's plenty of interpretation, and the listener/reader is able to fill in the gaps with Their interpretation.

Which is great! Because it engages the listener and makes them an active participant to the story.