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. ^_^
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