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| http://www.maicar.com/GML/Telemachus.html |
Book Sixteen is the beginning of the end. Telemachus enters the house of Eumaeus and is greeted with tears of joy from the swine-herder. The prince continues to explain his travels to the "beggar" and agrees to give him clothing, food, and a sword. Eumaeus recommends that Odysseus stay with Telemachus at the castle; however the prince does not believe that is a good idea because he knows how the suitors will treat the beggar. Telemachus then has Eumaeus go and tell Penelope that he has returned in order to relieve her of worry. Being left alone in Eumaeus' house Odyssey is told by Athena to reveal himself to his son. She takes away his disguise and makes him youthful again. At the sight of his son Odysseus, who usually reigned in his emotions, is so moved that he begins to cry. Telemachus is skeptical of this whole event and refuses to believe that his father stands in front of him. It is only after Odysseus explains Athena's hand in the transformation that the prince accepts his father. After the initial shock Telemachus ask
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his father about his travels. Odysseus does not go in depth but explains that the Phaeacians sailed him home. The plotting then begins. Telemachus does not understand how two men will be able to take on so many suitors. The king then tells his son that he must return to the castle and wait for Eumaeus to lead Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, to the castle. He then warns Telemachus to let the suitors abuse him as they may. The prince is allowed to prompt them to quit but only with friendly words. Odysseus wants his son to try and win them over. The kings last request is for Telemachus to move all of the weapons upstairs. If the suitors ask why the prince should respond, "I stowed them away, clear of the smoke...When you're in your cups a quarrel might break out, / you'd wound each other, shame your feasting here / and cast a pall on your courting" (320-326). The only weapons to be left behind were two swords, two spears, and tow oxhide bucklers, to be used by Odysseus and Telemachus. The ship that Telemachus returned on made port at the city and excited by their arrival men from the ship went straight to the castle to inform the queen of their return. Unlike Eumaeus instruction, the sailors were loud enough about their homecoming that the suitors overheard. A council was called for all of the suitors with Eurymachus presiding. The "leader" of the suitors, is surprised to see that the prince returned and plots to kill him while he travels on land to the castle. Another suitor, Amphinomus, contest the plot and sees problem with killing someone of royal blood. Thankfully Amphinomus is able to persuade the suitors to his favor and they returned to the castle. After overhearing of the suitors plot Penelope faces them in anger. She speaks of how much Odysseus helped their families and is distraught about how they are now treating his. The sly Eurymachus tries to calm Penelope with his words while all the while plotting a way to gain the crown. Eumaeus returns home to find Telemachus and the beggar making supper. Athena has changed Odysseus back in order to protect his identity. The swine-herder tells the two men of his travels and informs Telemachus of a ship that returned with men who had weapons. This being the ship that was sent out to ambush the prince. The book closes with Telemachus and Odysseus sharing a look because they know what is to happen.
Book Seventeen opens with Telemachus going back to the palace. Before his departure he tells Eumaeus to show the "beggar" the way to town because the prince has to many problems to face at the palace and would not be able to help this man. Once at the palace Telemachus is greeted by Eurycleia, his nurse, and Penelope. The small journey that Telemachus has traveled changed him into a more mature man with the help of Athena's power. The prince, on his way to Piraeus' home, is met by Theoclymenus and Piraeus at the meeting grounds. Telemachus warns Piraeus to leave Menelaus' gifts at his home because he does not want the suitors to plunder the offering. Once back in the walls of the kingdom Telemachus relays all the information he gained on his travels to Penelope. He holds back details of his meeting with Odysseus in order to protect his father. Theoclymenus then prophecies to the queen that Odysseus is on his native soil. During this meeting the suitors continue to pillage the wealth of the king. Eumaeus and Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, head for town as requested by Telemachus. On their journey they meet Melanthius, a servant of the castle and advocate of the suitors. Melanthius takes it upon himself to ridicule Eumaeus for being a swine-herder, but more importantly to verbally abuse Odysseus for being a beggar. Not only does he verbally abuse Odysseus he kicks the beggar in the hip but is not able to "knock the beggar off the path" (256). Odysseus is able to calm his outraged heart but Eumaeus is outraged about the incident and is forced to pray to the daughter of Zeus. The men reach the outskirts of the palace and are seen by Odysseus' dog Argo. Eumaeus does not recognize that Argo knows that his master is near.
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Having been neglected for so many years Argo is weak and tick infested. Odysseus then enters the castle and the "...dark shadow of death closed down on Argos' eyes" (359). This simple instance shows the influence Odysseus had on his people. Not only do his loyal subjects pray to the god for his return, but it is only after Argo sees his master one last time does he let death take its hold. Once in the palace Odysseus goes around begging the suitors for food. Melanthius recognizes the beggar from town and blames Eumaeus for bring the "filthy" man to the palace. Antinous, one of the suitors, lashes out against Eumaeus, asking why he would bring another vagabond to town. This spat continues adding Telemachus into the mix. Odysseus finally approaches Antinous and begs for food. The king uses this event to demonstrate how wealth can disappear in an instant. After insulting Antinous about his behavior towards bums Odysseus is hit in the back by a stool thrown from Antinous hand. Being a calm man, Odysseus takes this abuse unstaggered. The other suitors are outraged at Antinous' action. They warn him about this behavior but he pays "...no heed" (539). Through this whole scenario Telemachus is able to abide by his fathers request and watches while his blood boils. Queen Penelope hears about the incident and feels remorse for the lowly beggar. She asks Eumaeus to have him visit her so she can ask the beggar if he has any news about Odysseus. The beggar delays this visit until the night so as to not disturb the suitors with tales of the man they aim to replace. The book ends with Eumaeus heading back to the farm while Telemachus watches over the suitors.
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Enter Arnaeus, as know as Irus, another vagrant that begs in the castle. Book Eighteen begins with the introduction of Irus. At the sight of another beggar in the house Irus throws insults at the man in order to pressure him out of the beggar's territory. The suitors catch wind of this feud and use this rivalry as entertainment. After situating his rags for a fight the suitors become leery of Odysseus the beggar. Irus sees his mistake and tries to back out of the fight but the suitors throw insults at the vagrant and he continues on. Once the fight is settled and Odysseus wins the suitors give him a goat sausage as a victory prize. Odysseus then continues a conversation with Amphinomus, who kindly gave him more bread. Knowing his calm gentle nature Odysseus tries to convince the suitor to leave the castle because the time was near for the rightful king to return. Amphinomus' fate was sealed and he defiantly stayed. The epic now features Penelope. She is drawn to speak to her suitors. Through the help of Athena she become more beautiful and radiant then anything the suitors had ever imagined. Throughout this process the queen continually degrades anyone who gives her compliment. Her personality has become negative ever since "...that day the Achaeans / sailed away to Troy" (282-283). Penelope pointedly tells the suitors that Odysseus made her promise to wed once Telemachus began to grow a facial hair. She then prompts them to bring her gifts in the right fashion of a chivalrous suitor and not eat her wealth. At this point in the epic the reader can see the disappointment in Penelope's life. She continually talks of the upcoming marriage as if it is a death wish. As the night wears on Melantho is introduced. She is a servant of the castle and was raised by Penelope as her own daughter. Even though the queen took pity on the child she grew up with a blackened heart towards the queen. Melantho is known for being Eurymachus', one of the suitors, lover. This servant throws insults at Odysseus and receives insults/threats in return. The suitors then take it upon themselves to ridicule Odysseus and instead of taking their insult Odysseus responds with witty banter. Eurymachus does not take these words easily and tries to throw a stool as Odysseus. He miss and in turn hits another servant. The suitors then go into an uproar and are only talked down by Prince Telemachus. Book Eighteen ends with the men retreating to their own homes for a night of sleep.
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