Father Comes Home from the Wars Themes

Defining Freedom

At the heart of Hero’s struggle is the question, “What does it mean to be free?” At the play’s beginning, Hero must choose between supporting the “wrong side” in the American Civil War (1861–65) as a Confederate valet or facing punishment for disobeying Boss-Master’s order: a beating or even death. As Homer points out, both choices exist within the constraints of a white man’s control. As long as he’s enslaved, Hero will never be free. Homer encourages Hero to embrace true freedom by creating a third option: running away. In Homer’s reasoning, even if Hero is caught, he will have experienced true freedom by chasing a future of his own making.

In Part 2, Hero once again faces a decision to follow Boss-Master or run away, this time with Smith. It may seem like Hero has agency in this decision; he doesn’t see it that way. To Hero, who views himself as valuable property, running away is akin to stealing from Boss-Master or forfeiting his value. He muses to Smith that it seems like the worth of a free man is “less than his worth when he’s a slave.” Moments before, Hero removes the rope from around Smith’s neck, a physical act that symbolizes the gift of freedom. In this moment, Smith can choose to go wherever he wants. Hero doesn’t have that luxury because he isn’t free. He can either follow the Colonel or follow Smith; either way, there’s still a rope tied around his neck.

In Part 3, that rope is removed: the Colonel dies, and for the first time Hero can create his own future. He chooses a new name, marries a new woman, and returns to a place he calls home. The choices Hero makes with his freedom aren’t part of the “glory” Smith described. In fact, his choices hurt people. But for the first time, Hero has a say in what matters—his future—which is the true definition of freedom.

The Value of Black Lives

One of the most difficult scenes for modern audiences to watch is the discussion between the Colonel and Smith about Hero’s monetary value. Through the Colonel’s assessments, Hero the man is broken down to the sum of his parts. The audience witnesses the arbitrary, cruel, and dehumanizing appraisal that ranges from counting Hero’s teeth to gauging his trustworthiness. At one point, the Colonel says of his longtime companion, “You should never take them at their word.” This conversation precedes Smith and Hero’s conversation about a free man’s value. If a patroller were to arbitrarily stop him and ask whom he belongs to, Hero can’t fathom a world in which the words “I own my ownself” would be enough to escape punishment.

During this conversation, Hero holds up his hands in a way reminiscent of “Hands up! Don’t shoot!” This reference to police violence reminds audiences that when explored through the contemporary lens of the Black Lives Matter movement, Hero’s questions about his life’s value are as relevant today as they were in the 19th century. Audiences may consider how modern media portrayals of Black victims of violence parallel the Colonel’s arbitrary valuation. As Smith says, “[M]aybe we will always be twisting and turning ourselves into something that is going to bring the best price.”

What It Means to Be Home

In both Homer’s Odyssey and Father Comes Home from the Wars, the protagonist leaves the comfort of home, fights in a war, and comes back a changed man. This raises the question, “What does it mean for a changed man to come home?” Both Odysseus and Hero leave comfort behind when they head to war. Most notably, Hero leaves behind a loving wife in Penny, a dear friend in the Old Man, and a good-luck charm in Odd-See. When he returns, everything has changed. He’s married to a new woman, which casts Penny into a platonic role. The Old Man is dead, and Odd-See, now Odyssey Dog, can speak and give unwanted advice. Hero’s values have changed, as symbolized by the ridiculous alabaster foot and silver-tipped spade he presents as gifts.

Despite Penny’s attempts to keep everything as Hero left it, it’s clear that Hero no longer belongs. He’s not the same man—he has a new name and new outlook. Unable to live with Ulysses, Penny decides to join Homer and run north. The physical building Hero and Penny considered home still stands, yet the idea of home changes. At the end of the play, the home Hero hoped for is destroyed, but he’s not broken. For the first time, he recognizes his physical body as his own: “These are my hands now.” With that freedom comes peace—peace enough to stay on the land of his enslavement and redefine his understanding of home.