Book Sixteen
When Telemachus arrives at Eumaeus’ home, he sees Odysseus (still disguised). Eumaeus explains the “stranger’s” story to Telemachus and asks Telemachus if Odysseus might stay at the palace. But Telemachus knows of the suitors’ schemes and doesn’t think it’s a safe idea for either of them to stay there. He sends Eumaeus to the palace to inform Penelope that her son has returned to Ithica safely. When Eumaeus has left to deliver the message to Penelope, Odysseus is left alone with Telemachus. Odysseus is called outside by Athena and while outside she transforms him to a younger, more heroic-looking form of himself. When he goes back inside the hut, Telemachus is shocked and asks who this person is. Telemachus asks Odysseus if he is a god or accompanied by a god to be able to disguise himself and change his appearance so quickly. Odysseus tells Telemachus the truth: that he is his father. At first, Telemachus doesn’t believe him, but is finally convinced that it is true, and they both hug. Then Odysseus begins to form an idea, a plot, of how they are going to get rid of the suitors. He plans to disguise himself again as a beggar in the city. Telemachus will hide all the weapons until the time is right, and then they can both use all the weapons to their advantage to kill the suitors. Eumaeus doesn’t get to Penelope in time to inform her of Telemachus’ return because a messenger from the ship informs the whole city first. The suitors are bummed because they had this plan to kill Telemachus upon his return, but didn’t foresee his sneaky entrance onto Ithica through the countryside. The suitors quickly begin devising a new plan to kill Telemachus. Amphinomus (one of the better suitors) says that everyone should wait for a sign from the gods before doing anything. Later on, Penelope yells at Antinous for plotting to kill her son. Another suitor, Eurymachus, calms her down by lying and saying that Telemachus will be safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment