"The Odyssey": Chapter [21-24]- Triumph and Homecoming

Hello there. This will be a very special post. Last night I was going to read just one chapter from "The Odyssey", but I just got sucked into reading the final four chapters. Good thing too. They all seemed to tie together like they could have been a single chapter anyway. So this will be one big post for all four. Plus, I finally finished the first volume of the Great Books. AWESOME!!

Chapter 21:

Now Penelope has Odysseus' old bow brought out for the competition that will decide whom Penelope will marry. The competition has individuals stringing the bow and then shooting an arrow through a row of twelve axes lined up. It's harder than it sounds. Telemachos couldn't even string the bow but neither could any of the suitors. The suitors want to call it a night so that they can resume tomorrow after offering sacrifice to Apollo who is an archer himself.

Odysseus takes the swineherd and the oxherd outside to test their loyalty to Odysseus. They pass with flying colors. Odysseus then reveals himself to them. They cry and hug before heading back inside where Odysseus asks for a chance with the bow. They suitors angrily refuse. How embarrassed would you be if a bum did something that you couldn't. Telemachos usurps his authority and gives the bow to Odysseus. Odysseus easily strings the bow and effortlessly shoots an arrow through the twelve axes.

Chapter 22:

The next arrow Odysseus shoots goes through a suitor's throat. He then reveals himself as Odysseus. Suitors beg pleading that the dead suitor was the only bad one. Odysseus launches another arrow. Telemachos releases his spear.

Odysseus then instructs Telemachos to get some extra weapons and armor for the swineherd and oxherd. He forgets to secure the door when he leaves the weapons storage. This leaves a treacherous servant the opportunity to sneaks weapons for the suitors. The second time he gets caught and tied up by the swineherd and oxherd. Now a tiny war is taking place in the palace. Athena comes down in the form of Odysseus' old friend, Mentor, to lend some encouragement to Odysseus and his partners. The battle soon ends.

Odysseus spares two men. The minstrel and a herald. Then the old servant, Eurklyeia, is summoned by Odysseus. He asks her to bring before him the unfaithful servant women. He has them clean up the bodies and the palace. Then they are all taken outside where Telemachos, in anger of their deeds against him and his mother during Odysseus' absence, hung them all in a disgraceful death. Then the unfaithful servant, Melanthios, has his nose, ears, and private parts fed to dogs while his hands and feet are chopped off in anger.

Odysseus requests brimstone, fire, and sulfur to purify his palace. He also asks for the faithful servants brought before him as well as his wife.

Chapter 23:

Eurklyeia makes all haste to Penelope to tell her the grand news. Penelope believe that the gods have made Eurklyeia mad. But Penelope is soon brought down. She, at first, does not believe Odysseus to be in front of her. They both sit calmly across from each other. Then Odysseus speaks of their current troubles. They just killed a good number a young men from powerful families. They are not going to be well liked once word reaches the families. So Odysseus instructs the minstrel to play as if there were a wedding taking place in the palace to throw off suspicion. And that they should leave for his father's farm to lay low. Now back to Penelope and Odysseus.

Penelope, after all those years, is still wary about whether or not this man before her is truly Odysseus. She gives a final test. She requests that Eurklyeia bring down Odysseus' bed for him to sleep in for the night.

Odysseus is highly offended at this request. He knows well that it is no easy task to move his bed. He built it himself. He know it's weight and construction by heart. He recounts how he carved and prepared the bed himself.

This is enough to finally convince Penelope. She throw her arms around him in joy. They then go to bed together. He gives her a quick summary of his journey home from Troy. Now he must make for his father's farm with Telemachos. He gives Penelope instructions to not take any visitors the next day.

Chapter 24:

Now we find ourselves watching as Hermes leads the dead suitors to Hades. They meet Agamemnon, Achilles, Patroklos, and Ais on the way. Agamemnon asks how so many young men have come to death. They recount Penelope's deceit all the way to Odysseus' revenge.

Now we come to Laetres', Odysseus' father, farm. Odysseus has the others go ahead inside so that he can spend some time with his father alone. Odysseus introduces himself as a stranger that entertained Odysseus some time back. After Laetres, with eyes full of tears, asks to hear about his son Odysseus can't take it and reveals himself before embracing his beloved father.

Now they all catch up over a meal. But back in town Rumor is spreading the news of the suitors' deaths. There is uproar over this. Antinoös' father is particularly irate over his son's death. He lead a small army of men to Laetres' farm to kill Odysseus. Once they get there, Odysseus and his companions are ready to fight. Even old Laetres is ready for battle. He actually throws the spear that kills Antinoös' father.

Now Athena persuades all the rest of the men to forget and forgive Odysseus. Odysseus is then reestablished as king. And they all live happily ever after. (I think)

Wow. That was fun. Better than the old "Wishbone" adaptation that I saw about 12 years ago. Who else used to watch "Wishbone"? It was a killer show for youngsters. I hope you have enjoyed this journey so far. We are 1/60th finished now. Yay!!! I'll write review for the Odyssey soon. Bye. ^_^

"The Odyssey": Chapter 20- An Unpleasant Meal

Both Odysseus and his beloved queen have a troublesome night. Odysseus is unsure of victory against such a great number of suitors while Penelope wants to die rather than entertain a lesser man than her believed-to-be-lost husband.

Athena encourages Odysseus who, upon hearing his wife's distress, asks Zeus for a portent concerning the suitors. Zeus is quick to act with the sign of doom.

Dawn spreads herself again across the land of Ithaka. Odysseus and Telemachos meet with the swineherd and some others. Now to dinner. Athena makes sure that the suitors are especially rude so Odysseus won't loose any anger against them. A very rude suitor throws an ox hoof at Odysseus, who effortlessly dodges. This stirs Telemachos to much anger. He rebukes the suitor with harsh words and threats.

Then Telemachos is spoken against by a suitor speaking of Telemachos' treachery at preventing his mother from marrying a new man. Telemachos is insulted at this remark and quickly defends his intentions for his mother. But this only serves to create laughter among the suitors.

Then, unbeknown to the suitors, the walls bleed and darkness fills the room. The prophet, Theoklymenos, who Telemachos granted passage from Nestor's land, interpreted this as a sign of doom for the wretched suitors. But his words bolster the suitors laughter. He then storms out of the palace leaving the suitors to their fate.

Telemachos is then insulted for his choice of guests. He pays no attention. His mind is all on his father. The time is coming closer "for [the suitors] had first begun the wrongdoing."

Stayed to for another awesome post for "My Odyssey Through the Great Books." Bye. ^_^

"The Odyssey": Chapter 19- Nighttime Chat with the Queen

Hello. I've been absent for some time. Sorry about that. I've had some major distractions this past week. But that's all over now. Back to the story.

Now Odysseus and Telemachos store away the weapons so that the suitors can't use them when the time comes to fight. Now after they're done the suitors all go home and Odysseus goes to talk with Penelope.

She asks the normal questions. Then she asks the stranger to describe her husband because he claims to have seen him. It's safe to say the Odysseus does a pretty good job of describing himself. So well, in fact, that Penelope starts crying from the memory.

After much talking Penelope offers the stranger a bed, but he refuses. She gets him to agree to have his feet washed. The servant who washes his feet is Odysseus' old nanny. As she starts washing, she notices an old scar that Odysseus got during a boar hunt. Joy lights up her face as she see her lost master come home. He quickly quiets her and tells her to keep it secret.

Then Penelope asks the stranger to help her interpret a dream. There are twenty geese eating wheat. Then a eagle swoops down and kills them all. The eagle then takes perch a tells Penelope that it's Odysseus. This is what he'll do to the suitors once he returns.

Not too many ways to interpret that one. I think she was mainly confused as to whether or not this dream was true. Some come true while others don't. In her grief she still refuses to believe that Odysseus will come back.

She then decides to hold a contest the next day. Whoever wins shall receive her hand in marriage. Now they all sleep.

I really like this chapter as well. It feels good to get back to it. Let's hope that there aren't anymore big setbacks in the future. Bye.