The Odyssey Journal 7
In class: April 18, 2019
I missed class due to receiving news about a death in my family. I will be gone from 4/17–4/24 for the funeral in Oakland, California.
Outside of Class: April 20, 2019
Book 22: As quickly as he shoots the first shot, Odysseus puts an arrow through the throat of Antinous and reveals himself as the long lost King, driving fear into the hearts of the remaining suitors. The doors are locked, keeping them from escaping and despite the pleas of the suitors to let them live, Odysseus declares that they will all die and the battle ensues. Telemachus retrieves swords and shields from the storeroom and arms Eumaeus and the herdsman, but forgets to lock the room as he exits. One of the suitors is able to enter the room and retrieve arms for the others, though on the second trip to the storeroom he is captured and locked inside. Next, Athena arrives as Mentor and encourages Odysseus, trying to measure how strong he truly is. However, soon Athena joins in as Mentor and the battle is quickly finished. Odysseus kills everyone who was with the suitors with the exception of the minstrel and the herald who he deems as innocent victims. Odysseus then calls Eurycleia out to help remove the dead suitors. At first she is excited at their deaths, but Odysseus quiets her for rejoicing over the dead. They gather the servants who were disloyal and have them clean and dispose of the bodies before they are themselves taken outside and killed. Telemachus decides they will be hanged, a much more disgraceful way to die. Finally, after everyone is dead, Odysseus orders a fumigation of the house to cleanse it.
Book 23: Having slept through the entire battle, Penelope finally awakened. She does not believe Eurycleia at first and does not accept the truth until she goes downstairs and sees Odysseus with her own eyes. The family reunites and Telemachus chastises her for not showing more open excitement. However, Odysseus is more worried about having just killed every young nobleman in the country, something their parents will not appreciate. He decides to take his family to their farm and hide for a bit until things settle.
Wary that she is being tricked, Penelope is not quite willing to believe that her husband has returned. She requests that the bridal bed be moved, to which Odysseus explodes, explaining that such a thing cannot be done. It was carved from the solid trunk of a single olive tree, around which the house was built. She knows from these details that it must truly be her husband and finally she rejoices. They spend time getting caught up and Odysseus recounts his journeys thus far. The next day, he leaves to see Laertes and warns his wife to remain in her room and not take any visitors. Athena assists once again by hiding Odysseus and Telemachus in darkness.
Book 24: The scene changes to the souls of the suitors’ in Hades, led by Hermes. Here, Agamemnon and Achilles argue over whose death was better, describing Achilles’ funeral in detail. They meet the suitors as they arrive and inquire as to how they all died. They blame Penelope for her treachery, which Agamemnon compares to the actual treachery of Clytmenestra, knowing that Penelope is a better person.
On Laertes’ farm, Odysseus arrives and meets with his father alone. He finds his father much older than when he left, having grieved for the death of his wife and loss of his son. Odysseus delays revealing himself to his father, but after Laertes begins to weep in memory of his lost son, Odysseus reveals himself and shows the scar on his foot to prove his claim along with certain memories of childhood. He describes the previous night’s battle with the suitors and their messy end.
After their discussion, they have lunch. During their meal, the Goddess Rumor spreads the news of the massacre in the palace. The suitors’ parents gather and decide how they will respond. Halitherses, an elder of the group describes the just punishment they received, while Eupithes, Antinous’s father wants revenge against Odysseus. Eventually, they track down Odysseus on Laertes’ farm. Athena appears once more as Mentor and stops the procession, with only one more man dying, Antinous’s father. Under the careful manipulation of Athena, the Ithacans are able to forget the massacre and Odysseus is able to reclaim his throne and peace is restored.
For Class: April 23, 2019. Questions to prepare and write about (Books 22–24)
To what extent does the poet present Penelope as Odysseus’ equal?
Penelope is just as polytropos as her husband, Odysseus, which makes them equal. She had many of her own trials to overcome which, like her husband, she used her intelligence and trickery to devise a strategic plan to hold the suitors off. Penelope was a hero when no one was looking, the quiet unappreciated hero who kept order in Ithaca for years while Odysseus was at war. I believe they were equal because they shared homophrosunē with one another, which ultimately allowed them to rejoin again at the end of epic.
To what extent may Book 24 be seen as a fitting ending not only to the Odyssey but also the Iliad?
I think Book 24 was seen as a fitting ending to the Odyssey and the Iliad because it brings both epics full circle. For the Odyssey, we see Odysseus’s journey conclude in Ithaca with his family, Penelope, Telemachus, and Laertes. For the Iliad, we visit Hades one last time where we see a glimpse of Agamemnon and Achilles arguing over who had the more glorious death. We see their pride and ego clashing with one another, something that was very familiar to us in the Iliad. This is ironic because in Book 1 of the Iliad, we see a quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles, which ultimately draws out the entire Trojan War and sets the stage for the Iliad.
For Class: April 25, 2019. Questions to prepare and write about
Is Odysseus a good leader? What evidence is there for and against him?
Odysseus is a good leader because he is clever, brave, and he cared about the men whom he led. Though only Odysseus makes it home in the end, he is able to give hope to his crew that they will all return to Ithaca. Persistence marked Odysseus’ journey along with his clear-headed determination that he would reach home, regardless of how many Cyclops, sorcerers or sirens were between him and his destination. Through each of the scenarios that befell him, Odysseus repeatedly displayed fine leadership skills. He had the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He was committed to his journey home and his men, making him a good leader.
Is Ithaca a better place to live now that he has returned?
I think Ithaca is a better place now that Odysseus has returned home. He is able to restore the peace and reclaim his throne once he kills the Suitors.
