In Book 16, Odysseus reveals himself to his son and asks Telemachus to give him information on the number of suitors so they can accurately devise a foolproof plan to get revenge on them. After Telemachus elaborates on the number of suitors pillaging Odysseus's household, Odysseus informs his son that Athena and Zeus will help them slaughter the suitors and get revenge. Odysseus then tells his son to join the suitors as he enters the palace disguised as a beggar. When Odysseus nods his head, Telemachus will take all of the suitors' weapons lying around the palace and place them in a storage room. Odysseus then instructs Telemachus to leave behind two spears and two ox-hide shields for them to use when they attack the unsuspecting, defenseless suitors. In Book 21, Odysseus has Eumaeus and Philoitius bar the doors to the great hall and reveals his identity after shooting an arrow perfectly through twelve axe handles during a competition. Odysseus and his son then proceed to brutally slaughter Penelope's suitors.
When Odysseus returns to his palace on the island of Ithaca, he's disguised as a beggar. He doesn't want to reveal his identity to the suitors just yet; he wants to gain some idea of their strength before he springs into action. This is all part of the plan he devised with his son Telemachus. Once at the palace, Odysseus will wait until the time is right before giving Telemachus a signal. At that signal, Telemachus is to gather up all the available weapons and put them in a storeroom, but leaving enough weapons for himself and his father. When Odysseus reveals his identity by shooting an arrow through twelve ax heads, then it's time for the plan to be put into effect, and he and Telemachus set about brutally slaughtering Penelope's suitors.
No comments:
Post a Comment