Odysseus's Revenge

Lizeth Marin Honors Introduction to Literature Period 3 18 April 2008 Odysseus: Hero or Villain? Heading home, to Ithaca, Odysseus is faced upon many obstacles that he and his men try to overcome, but in the end substantiate that Odysseus is a villain. “The old soldier in despair: He has spent ten years (seven of them as Calypso’s not entirely unwillingly captive) trying to get home” (652, summary). Evidence proves that Odysseus is a villain, because he tries to convince that he was kept unwillingly by Calypso. However, it is true that Odysseus was kept as Calypso’s captive for a time. Yet he can still be judged as a villain, because he does not just stay as a prisoner, no, he assists Calypso by being with her for the pleasures that

Near the end of this chapter when he has finished off all of the suitors, (mostly with the aid of Athena), Odysseus feels he has prevailed as the winner, righted the wrong. At one point he exclaims "these men the doom of the gods has brought low, and their own indecent acts. They'd no regard for any man who chanced come their way. And so thanks to their reckless work, they met their shameful fate."(435-438). The irony of this quote is the fact that he is

Moreover, the disloyal servants too seemingly get what they deserve. Indeed Melanthius seems fit for the death penalty as he has been disloyal to Odysseus the most. In the fight between Odysseus and the suitors he sides with the suitors, supplying them with equipment for battle. As well as

I think that Odysseus' actions were justified because of the actions of the wooers. Without any conformation of him being dead, they first tried to woo his wife. That is very disrespectful and angered Odysseus greatly. Also, the suitors show no respect for his house and belongings. They overtake his house without even thinking about the man of the house, which is disrespectful.

Odysseus had many reason to make revenge on all the wooers who had tried to steal his thrown from him. Not only did they try to steal his throw, but also they disrespected his wife and son on multiple occasions. Although, that did not make any of his actions justified. In a few instances the punishment was too severe, and they did not deserve it.

Melanthius was trying to marry Penelope just like the suitors were trying. He also insulted Odysseus when Odysseus was disguised as a beggar. Melanthius then armed the suitors with weapons and armor which betraying his king. “Next they dragged Melanthius through the door and into the yard, cut off his nose and ears with cruel bronze, ripped away his genitals” (Homer 22. 378-432). Obviously what led up to Melanthius death was him betraying Odysseus. When Odysseus killed Melanthius he had so many reasons that when he killed Melanthius it was

Odysseus was justified in the killing of the suitors because they were devouring the resources of his household, attempted to wed his wife, and concocted a plan to kill his son. In addition, he thought he was justified in the killing of the maids because they had slept with his enemies, were rude to guests, and they were his property.

Odysseus only cares about himself and his personal benefits, like a villain. “With great power comes great responsibility” this quote is used by many heros and odysseus obviously shows no responsibilities, so his power is simply bad, or evil . When “trapped” on Calypso’s island he shows no attempt to escape and instead finds pleasure in being their. After 7 years on this island he finally decides to go home to has son which he has never seen and his dog who is nearly dead due to old age (not to mention he barely does anything with his dog and the first thing he says to his son is basically to ask him to risk his life for Odysseus's house). “ Don't waste your time on revenge. Those who hurt you will eventually get their own karma”. This quote shows that good people and heros should not seek revenge and should show mercy to their enemies however Odysseus obviously shows no interest in mercy… After killing many people and not letting a single person out which many heroes would have especially if the people did not directly mistreat him and believed he was dead which would be a logical thought he finally revealed himself to his wife. At first his wife did not recognize him which filled him with rage even though he should be happy that his loyal wife wants to make

Eurymachus promised Odysseus that if he does not kill them they will give back to him have they have taken while he was gone plus more. Eurymachus told Odysseus “So spare us, who are your own people. And afterward we will make amends to you by a public levy for all the food and drink that has been consumed in your house. We will each bring a contribution to the value of twenty oxen, and repay you in bronze and gold, till your heart softens. Meanwhile, no one could blame you for your anger.”(Odyssey, Book 22, line 54-59). The Suitors are willing to pay Odysseus for everything they have done plus more, but he does not accept their payment whatsoever. Odysseus said “Eurymachus, not if you made over all your patrimony to me, everything you possess, and anything else that may come your way, would I keep my hands from killing until you Suitors had paid for all your transgressions. The choice now lies before you, either to face me and fight, or else to run and see if you can escape death and doom, though I do not think any of you will get away alive.”(Odyssey, Book 22, line 60-67). Odysseus’ mind is made up. He does not care what the suitors have to say he is going to kill them even though the suitors are willing to ask for forgiveness, but that’s not enough for Odysseus and he proceeds to kill all of them. Eurymachus see that and speaks up “My friends, this man will not refrain

Odysseus’ journey home was a long difficult venture which resulted in the loss of some of his crew, due to various monsters. Once Odysseus finally returned to his kingdom, he was disguised as a beggar and said that he was a friend of Odysseus. After a few days of witnessing his house be trashed by suitors, he revealed himself to his son, Telemachus, who the suitors planned to kill. Odysseus and Telemachus came up with a plan to kill all of the suitors while at the feast they were planning to hold. Penelope was also planning on holding a competition to figure out which one of the suitors she should marry.

When Odysseus returned home to his wife and son, he took a very brutal approach to rid his home of the suitors who had invaded his household.  This revenge was also taken out upon the servants and maids who had been unfaithful to Penelope and had slept with the suitors.  Some may say this punishment was too harsh, and made Odysseus less than an honorable man.  However, Odysseus’s actions were justifiable.

In each story that has been created, there has always been the main protagonist of the story, in this case, the hero. The hero of the story would be placed through trials and tribulations towards the victory that they desire. In the Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus returns home after battling in the Trojan War for ten years, losing all of his men in brutal ways, and coming home to see 108 men; the suitors, in his house, eating his food, sleeping in his house, and harassing his family: Penelope and Telemachus. After winning the challenge for Penelope’s hand in marriage and winning the kingdom, Odysseus and his allies murder all of the suitors but two of them. Before engaging the suitors, one of his nurses, the one that helped raised him as a child, informs Odysseus that twelve of the fifty other woman in the castle betrayed him by developing relationships with the suitors. Knowing this information; after murdering the suitors, Odysseus forces the twelve woman to clean up the blood and corpses of their lovers. After cleaning up the remains of the men, the woman are hung for committing relations with the men. Odysseus was treated horribly by a Melanthius, the man who taunted

Not only the suitor treat her as an object but her son as well. He feels she does not know what she doing or lack of knowledge about how to run the kingdom. Odysseus still treat her as a innocent child and know she could not harm the maids.

In Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is away from his home, Ithaca, for twenty years. Despite the low odds of Odysseus ever returning home after such a time, those in Ithaca were expected to remain loyal to Odysseus as they awaited his return. While this was a daunting task, those who accomplished it were heavily rewarded, while those who didn’t were met with death. Upon his return, Odysseus promised Eumaeus, the loyal swineherd, that he would find him a wife, grant him property next to his own, and that he would become one of the “comrades to Telemachus, brothers from then on” (21.243). His own wife Penelope remained loyal for all of the twenty years of Odysseus’ absence, never once giving in to the many suitors who invited themselves into her home and spent years vying for her hand. While she probably would have been killed by Odysseus if she had been unfaithful to him, perhaps her greatest reward was just being able to be with her husband again and being able to live. The suitors, however, were not so lucky. Odysseus, along with the help of the goddess Athena, carefully plotted and executed the death of every suitor that entered his home and gone after his wife. With the help of his son, the swineherd, and the goddess, Odysseus took down every suitor, until “the suitors lay in heaps, corpse covering corpse” (22.414). The resulting death of every disloyal character in the epic

One of the most obvious themes in this chapter is how much the justice system failed the maids, who were, in essence, innocent. Having been raped by the suitors, the fact that they were put to death for not asking Odysseus ' permission to sleep with them is ludicrous, as the very definition of rape relies on a lack of permission. The choice of setting and style for this chapter is ironic, as, set in a