Week #2 Group A
Ben Schwartz: Blog Post #2
This week when my group was going over The Odyssey we were discussing why Odysseus made the decision to hide his identity when he returned home. Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar when he returns to Ithaca after twenty years following the Trojan war and his long journey home. At first, it seems odd that Odysseus does this because he hasn't seen his family in such a long time. However, it becomes apparent that Odysseus disguises himself so that he can personally identify who his enemies and allies are in his house.
His motives for his disguise are initially revealed when Euryclea, the housekeeper, is washing his feet. She notices a scar that Odysseus received when he was younger and realizes that the beggar is really Odysseus. Odysseus quickly quiets her down with threats because he doesn't want to be revealed to Penelope, his wife. He states, "For this I tell you, and will make it true,/That of the women some I mean to slay./When by my hand the Gods the Woo'rs subdue,/ If you betray me, you shall fare as they" (Book XIX, lines 437-440). Odysseus states that he is going to the slay the bad women in the house along with the suitors who have wronged him by going after his wife. Odysseus goes undercover so that he can identify which women in the house have remained loyal to him after his twenty year absence.
We also talked about Books 22 and 23 where Odysseus carries out the slayings of the suitors with the help of Telemachus, Eumaeus, Philoetius, and Athena. Odysseus shows his trust in the two men and his son to help him purge his house of all the suitors. He tactically plans out the attack by locking up the armory to ensure that the suitors don't have any weapons to defend themselves. Even when the suitors receive weapons, Odysseus is able to soundly defeat them. This event confirmed the athleticism shown by Odysseus thus far. The suitors, lazy and unathletic from sitting around all day eating and drinking, were no match for the athletic Odysseus.
This week when my group was going over The Odyssey we were discussing why Odysseus made the decision to hide his identity when he returned home. Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar when he returns to Ithaca after twenty years following the Trojan war and his long journey home. At first, it seems odd that Odysseus does this because he hasn't seen his family in such a long time. However, it becomes apparent that Odysseus disguises himself so that he can personally identify who his enemies and allies are in his house.
His motives for his disguise are initially revealed when Euryclea, the housekeeper, is washing his feet. She notices a scar that Odysseus received when he was younger and realizes that the beggar is really Odysseus. Odysseus quickly quiets her down with threats because he doesn't want to be revealed to Penelope, his wife. He states, "For this I tell you, and will make it true,/That of the women some I mean to slay./When by my hand the Gods the Woo'rs subdue,/ If you betray me, you shall fare as they" (Book XIX, lines 437-440). Odysseus states that he is going to the slay the bad women in the house along with the suitors who have wronged him by going after his wife. Odysseus goes undercover so that he can identify which women in the house have remained loyal to him after his twenty year absence.
We also talked about Books 22 and 23 where Odysseus carries out the slayings of the suitors with the help of Telemachus, Eumaeus, Philoetius, and Athena. Odysseus shows his trust in the two men and his son to help him purge his house of all the suitors. He tactically plans out the attack by locking up the armory to ensure that the suitors don't have any weapons to defend themselves. Even when the suitors receive weapons, Odysseus is able to soundly defeat them. This event confirmed the athleticism shown by Odysseus thus far. The suitors, lazy and unathletic from sitting around all day eating and drinking, were no match for the athletic Odysseus.
Laziness and being unathletic are traits that are condemned in this part and often condemned in modern societies. In modern societies there is a push for people to advance themselves and advance society so being productive and strong is praised and valued because productivity benefits an advanced society. If everyone was lazy like these suitors then nothing would get done.
ReplyDeleteI also found it particularly interesting how Odysseus went undercover upon his arrival. I found this move to be a little bit overboard. I understand where Odysseus is coming from in that he wants to know who is allies are and who are not, but this to me seems like Odysseus is too concerned about how people view him. If I was returning back to my hometown after 20 years, I wouldn't waste any time doing something like this. I would go straight to my family and resume my normal life as soon as possible, but that's just me.
ReplyDeleteI found it intriguing how Odysseus hid his identity when he first returned home. I thought that it was necessary though because he did not know who he could trust or not when he got back, just like you mentioned. I also would add that Odysseus slays the suitors easily because he is the only person that is sophrosyne .
ReplyDeleteThis just keeps on proving how great of a warrior Odysseus is. He was an outstanding warrior during the Trojan War and then after twenty years he returns to his home and slaughters men like it is no big deal. Not only is Odysseus a great warrior, he is arguably on of the most athletic men in Greece.
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