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THE ODYSSEY Books XVII - XVIII

THE ODYSSEY Books XVII - XVIII. [The facts] [The violence]. Books XV – XVI Summary. Athena finds Telemakhos in Lakedaimon and urges him to return home She also warns him of the looming ambush An eagle flies off with a goose in its clutches

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THE ODYSSEY Books XVII - XVIII

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  1. THE ODYSSEY Books XVII - XVIII [The facts] [The violence]

  2. Books XV – XVI Summary • Athena finds Telemakhos in Lakedaimon and urges him to return home • She also warns him of the looming ambush • An eagle flies off with a goose in its clutches • Odysseus asks about his parents, Eumaios then relates his life story • Telemakhos lands, having safely avoided the ambush • Telemakhos goes off on his own to meet Eumaios

  3. Books XVII – XVIII Summary • Telemakhos goes back to the palace • Odysseus heads into town and gets abused by Melanthios • Odysseus meets the suitors • Odysseus fights Iros • Odysseus wups him good • Odysseus sees firsthand the loose morals of the handmaidens • Odysseus taunts Eurymakhos

  4. The Players • Eumaios – the swineherd (good) • Melanthios – the goatherd (bad) • Argos – the dog (good) • Eurymakhos – a suitor (bad) • Antinoos – head suitor (bad) • Melantho – a slut (bad) • Iros – a beggar (bad) • Laertes – Odysseus’ father (sad)

  5. What does Odysseus see at his palace? • No xenia • His abuse by Melanthios • Antinoos doesn’t give him bread and hits him with a stool • The staged bum-fight • The slutty handmaidens

  6. Melantho taunts Odysseus • Odysseus tells the maids to go to Penelope and perform their household duties • Melantho replies: “ . . . Look out or someone better may get up and give you a good knocking about the ears to send you out all bloody.”

  7. Odysseus warns Eurymakhos • Eurymakhos mocks Odysseus and offers him a job as his servant • Odysseus replies: “Just let Odysseus return, those doors wide as they are, you’d find too narrow to suit you on your sudden journey out.” • Eurymakhos’s reply: “Bundle of rags and lice!”

  8. How Not to Be Seen • Odysseus manages to not be seen • Athena’s disguise serves him well • Who knows? • How does Odysseus almost give himself away? • His Arnold-like physique • “You slut.” • His taunting of Eurymakhos

  9. The father and the son • Underscores the importance of blood relations • Telemakhos goes along with Odysseus • Youthful fear • Proves to be true son to his father

  10. The father and the son • The symbolic depiction of Odysseus as a bird of prey fits with his persona: while not a cold-blooded killer, Odysseus acts swiftly and with keen foresight. • Telemakhos has completed his mini-odyssey, growing up from a powerless boy at the beginning of the poem to an independent young man ready to fight alongside his father

  11. Pericles and Alcibiades “If son of mine you are and blood of mine….”

  12. Pericles and Alcibiades “Even when danger comes I think you’ll find courage in me….” “Microsoft is to those that hate it, much like Alcibiades was to the Athenians: ‘They love, and hate, and cannot do without him’” - Aristophanes

  13. The Violence • The Suitors want to kill Telemakhos • Telemakhos wants to kill the suitors • Odysseus wants to kill everybody • Why? - might makes right - who’s gonna stop me? - it’s my job to protect my home - destiny

  14. What eventually happens? • Odysseus (with Telemakhos) does in fact kill everyone • The suitors: violence has been foreshadowed in bloody omens

  15. What eventually happens? • Odysseus (with Telemakhos) does in fact kill everyone • Melanthios: “chopped with swords to cut his nose and ears off, pulled off his genitals to feed the dogs and raging hacked his hands and feet away.”

  16. What eventually happens? • Odysseus (with Telemakhos) does in fact kill everyone • The handmaidens: “in turn each woman thrust her head into a noose and swung…their feet danced for a little, but not long.” (after they have to clean up the slaughter in the Great Hall)

  17. Is this excessive? • At what point do the victors have to say “Enough”? • The Melian Dialogue • Thebes and Corinth on what to do with Athens • Sparta’s judgement on the punishment for Athens • The same theme is expressed in Greek Tragedy -- when the gods declare “Enough!” Court system is used to decide punishments.

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