Answer:
The quality that the lines present is the sadness of Odysseus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Odysseus is the king of Itaca and is married to Penelope with whom he had a son. He is very satisfied with the family life he has and wants to take care of his family, however, he needs to leave, when his son is still a baby, to fight together Greek nobles in the Trojan war. Odysseus wishes to return home and reunite with his family, and when the Trojan War ends, he begins the journey home, but this journey lasts 17 years and he engages in several adventures before he is able to return. Although the adventures distract him and he presents moments of happiness, lines 39-48 of "The Odyssey" show how sad he is to be away from his family and misses his wife and son a lot, which he never even saw grow up. This characteristic is important because it humanizes the character and shows him as a hero who has weaknesses like a normal human being.