4. Irus soon regrets challenging the old man and tries to escape, but by now the suitors have taken notice and are egging on the fight for the sake of their own entertainment. But Amphinomus doesn’t depart, despite being “fraught with grave forebodings,” for Athena has bound him to death at the hands of Telemachus (18.176). Immediately after praying, Odysseus takes an amazing shot at the suitor Antinoos, and it was a shot that no other man could have made.4 Although Zeus, Athena, and Apollo are the only ones who directly help Odysseus kill the suitors, the other gods do not have a problem with the killing of the suitors. Which suppliants are not spared? By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. When Odysseus answers insult with insult, Antinous gives him a blow with a stool that disgusts even the other suitors. The other suitors scold Antinous for hitting the beggar in case he is a god in disguise, but he shrugs it off. In her room, Penelope hears the blow and wishes ill will upon Antinous. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Odyssey! On the way they meet Melanthius, a base subordinate of the suitors, who heaps scorn on Eumaeus and kicks his beggar companion. Penelope’s confrontation with Antinoos was feirce, because she was scolding him the whole time. “…Odysseus-the beggar in disguise-asks to enter the contest. Line numbers refer to the Greek text.) Our mother earth breeds nothing feebler than a man. Melanthius’s disrespectful treatment of Odysseus stands in stark contrast to Eumaeus’s unflinching loyalty to his master. Theoclymenus then speaks up and swears that Odysseus is in Ithaca at this very moment. Additionally, as a beggar, Odysseus asks to attempt to shoot the arrow through 12 axes, and no one suspects he can do it. Then Odysseus, as he, as he works his way into this group has a chance to tell his story. Like many Homeric characters, neither the swineherd Melanthius nor the maidservant Melantho is very developed. He tells Piraeus not to bring his gifts from Menelaus to the palace; he fears that the suitors will steal them if they kill him. Antinous insults the beggar who Odysseus is disguised as and throws a stool at him. Athena disguises Odysseus as a wandering beggar in order to learn how things stand in his household. Penelope. Some suitors, like Antinuous, abused Odysseus verbally. We've seen him do this in the context of Eumaeus. Odysseus is disguised as a beggar by the goddess Athena, who helps him plot his revenge against the suitors who are courting his wife. He thinks that he will make quick work of the old man, but Athena gives Odysseus extra strength and stature. Penelope, Odysseus' wife, is cunning and loyal. / that was a mean low speech!’” [17.417–419]). On the way they meet Melanthius, a base subordinate of the suitors, who heaps scorn on Eumaeus and kicks his beggar companion. Why doesn’t lightning travel in a straight line? With this, he had to cast away again his pride (Homer and Johnston 148). They welcome him as competition. Some of the suitors It ends quickly as Odysseus floors Irus and stops just short of killing him. When Odysseus responds with insults of his own, Eurymachus throws a stool at him but misses, hitting a servant instead. The suitors shower her with presents, and, as they celebrate, Odysseus instructs the maidservants to go to Penelope. When Athena removes Odysseus’s disguise, Telemachus thinks Odysseus is a god. treated him decently as a beggar, giving him some bread and some Odysseus goes on, talks about being a Cretan sailor. They let him in on their plans. Odysseus disguised as a beggar, killed the suitors because they had abused the laws of hospitality. This would prevent Odysseus from restoring his kingdom. 1. Not so, with the suitors. The goddess gives her extra stature and beauty to inflame their hearts. While it would be a mistake to think that the Greeks considered mistreatment of the poor an automatic sign of evil or moral deficiency, we definitely get the sense that Antinous is abusing his rank when he beats the seemingly helpless beggar. They insult and beat him. Odysseus, fully aware of the bloodshed to come and overcome by pity for Amphinomus, pulls the man aside. Why did Odysseus disguise as a beggar? In the palace hall he meets Theoclymenus and Piraeus. What are the major problems or issues to the sustainability practices implemented? Second, they were disloyal to Odysseus as ruler of Ithaca in their attempts to displace him by taking his wife. The suitors give him food with great reluctance, and Antinous goes out of his way to insult him. How does Odysseus react when he awakens on land? Athena explains to him: The suitors give him food with great reluctance, and Antinous goes out of his way to insult him. Despite their simplicity, they function as foils—characters whose traits or attitudes contrast with and thereby accentuate those of other characters. answer choices . Antinous remarks that … Amphinomus provides another case study in the absolute power of the gods. On their way, they run into the goatherd Melanthius, who insults them and even gives Odysseus a kick. How do the other suitors greet the disguised Odysseus?