Scenes and Characters
Book 17 starts off with Telemachus, Odysseus (disguised as a beggar) and Eumaeus on the farm. Right now Telemachus knows that Odysseus has returned but Eumaeus does not. Telemachus decides to go ahead of Odysseus and return to his palace. The swineherd leads Odysseus a little later to the palace.
The next important scene occurred when Telemachus reached his father’s palace after his long journey away. The first person he ran into was Eurycleia, his old nurse. Then Penelope descended the stairs and greeted him with tears and kisses. Penelope said “You’re home, Telemachus! Sweet light of my eyes! I never thought I’d see you again.” I was amazed by how Penelope could have survived without her husband or son. Neither of whom she new was alive. Homer represents her here as the epitome of a Greek wife. She waited all these years for the return of her husband and when her son left she was still able to get through her sorrow.
Telemachus then told his mother about his voyage and of the news he heard of his father. He described how he sailed to King Nestor’s palace and then he rode by chariot to the palace of Menelaus. During this entire conversation Telemachus knew that his father was here on Ithaca, but it was not time to tell Penelope yet. Do you believe that Telemachus has learned the art of deception, like his father did, through his journey? I believe that before his voyage, Telemachus would not have been able to lie to his mother like this. He now is thinking ahead and realizes it would be better to tell her later.
The next important scene is when Odysseus and Eumaeus are at the fountain in the city and they run into Melanthius. He is a goatherder and servant of Odysseus. He is the first servant we meet who truly despises Odysseus’ household and is on the Suitors’ side. How does Melanthius help develop the story? He is not a dynamic character but he does represent the opposite of Eumaeus. We know that Melanthius despises Odysseus and loves the suitors, so he represents the traitorous servants. He helps develop the other side of the conflict.
The last important scene in book 17 is when Odysseus, disguised as a beggar goes up to Alcinious and begs for scraps of food. Alcinious attacks Odysseus with words at first, saying he is good for nothing. Eumaeus responds “Antinious, highborn as you are…that was a mean low speech!” This quote shows Alcinious’ arrogance and how he believed his power is his own birthright. We see this a lot among the suitors. In this scene Alcinious gets so frustrated with Odysseus’ insults that he throws a chair at him. What does this show about Odysseus and his ability to remain calm in the moment? This is a test of real character that Homer uses to help the reader understand Odysseus’ personality. He is able to stay clam while the Suitor’s are plaguing his own home. He is plotting their death in his mind, but he knows it is not time to retaliate yet.
Guiding Question 1: The title of this book is stranger at the gates. Do you feel that this is fitting for this chapter? Does Odysseus come home as just a stranger because of his physical appearance or has his journey home made him into a different person?
Illuminate the Text
Epic Machinery is used extensively throughout book 17. On lines 135-140 Homer uses an epic simile to give the audience an idea of how the Suitors have used Odysseus’ possessions and how they will pay the price with their lives. He compares them to a doe that nurses her fawns in a lion’s den and the lion returns and deals a mighty blow the fawns, whom are using the lion’s lair. By using this in Homer’s poem the reader can understand Odysseus’ situation.
Another example of Epic Machinerey occurs on line 163. Homer uses an epithet. Homer calls Theoclymenus the godlike seer. He uses this epithet to convince the reader the Theoclymenus can truly see the future. In this scene Theoclymenus sees Penelope’s future and he says to her that Odysseus is on native soil. Although the reader already knows Oddyseus is on the island, this makes the reader feel anxious because they want Penelope to know that everything is ok. The reader becomes more involved in the novel.
In another scene, Telemachus tells his mother of his journey to find word of his father. This is an example of Epic Machinery because it is a previous episode in the story being later retold. Homer uses it because it puts the reader in the moment instead of saying “and so Odysseus told Penelope about his voyage home and then they had a bath.”
Although there is only one translator note for my book, it is extremely important for the reader to understand. The translation occurs after Eumaeus is summoned by the queen. Penelope tells Eumaeus that she wants to have a word with the beggar (Odysseus). Penelope says that she is frustrated with how the Suitors “bleed her house white”. She wishes Odysseus would come back so he and his son could avenge the outrage of the Suitors. Telemachus then sneezes. This seemed extremely odd to place in a book. The translator said that a sneeze was regarded by ancient Greeks as an omen, since it is not produced at will, so it must be the work of a God. This means that the Gods were responding to Penelope’s decree and hence saying it will come true.
Literary Devices
Foreshadowing: Homer uses this device many times throughout the novel, especially in book 17. When Melanthius is chastising Odysseus, he says that if Odysseus goes to beg from the Suitors they will respond by throwing a chair at him. Of course, later on, this does occur. Like I stated before, when Telemachus sneezed, it sealed the fate of the suitors. We now knew the Suitors were going to meet their ends.
This book is filled with Irony. The whole premise is that Odysseus is disguised as a beggar so that he can test the suitors and how corrupt they truly are. The readers know that the king will take his revenge one day soon, but the Suitors do not realize that the beggar is actually Odysseus. They taunt the beggar, without knowing it means their doom.
Imagery is also extremely important in this book. Homer describes the enormity of Odysseus palace to help the reader gain an idea of who he really was. The feasts are describe in extreme detail along with the clothes the suitors where and even the chairs they sit on.
Guiding Question 2: Put yourself in Odysseus shoes. After being aware from your wife for more than twenty years could you have waited like Odysseus did, taking insults from all the suitors, and not have told your wife you had returned?
Themes:
Before Odysseus’ enters his own palace he tells Eumaeus to go ahead of him. He says “But there’s no way to hide the belly’s hungers what a curse, what mischief it brews in all our lives! Just for hunger we rig and ride our long benched ships on the barren salt sea, speeding death to enemies.” What significance does this quote have outside of the novel? I believe that he is not talking about physical hunger but about desire. The downfall of some men has been because of their desire to want more in life. Nothing is enough. We look at others and see what we don’t have and not what we do have. The major wars in history have been fought over this reason. The battle of Troy was fought over Helen. World War Two began because the Germans wanted to unify a race a country throughout Europe. They were hungry for more land. Indian tribes used to live off of each other by raiding. In The Odyssey raiding is considered a good thing. Men are praised for stealing riches from others.
I will compare this theme of hunger to one man we should all know: Macbeth. He was promoted after the battle but his new power was not enough. Instead, he had to kill anyone in line to the throne. He started a war because of his greed. It is just like how the Suitors have gone too far and will meet there death by Odysseus’ hand.
Guiding Question 3: If resources were unlimited would there be no more war?
