examples of odysseus struggles in the odyssey portrayed in real life

Have you ever known or read about someone who was gone from home for a long time, but eventually managed to find his/her way home?

Have you ever known or read about someone who fought for a particular cause and lost all his friends and possessions in the process -- but eventually achieved what he/she wanted?

These are a couple of the traits exhibited by Odysseus. There are others which you should be able to figure out once you've read The Odyssey.