Books 21-24 of Odyssey, Slaying the Suitors

Main thing

Books 21-24 of the Odyssey describe how Odysseus slaughters Penelope's suitors.
In these books, Odysseus returns home disguised as a beggar and participates in a contest to string his own bow and shoot an arrow through 12 axe heads. He is the only one who can do it, proving his identity. He then kills all the suitors except the bard Phemius and the herald Medon with help from his son Telemachus, two loyal servants, and the goddess Athena. The battle is very violent and bloody. Odysseus also executes 12 disloyal maidservants who were romantically involved with the suitors. In the end, he is reunited with his wife Penelope. The scene highlights Odysseus's unique strength, the gruesomeness of his revenge, and the restoration of his household.

A major theme in this section is revenge. Odysseus enacts brutal vengeance against the suitors for disrespecting his household and threatening his marriage. The slaughter is portrayed as a justified punishment for their improper behavior, but its gruesomeness also raises questions about the nature of revenge. Odysseus's revenge is thorough and merciless, suggesting a dark, uncompromising side to his character.

Terms

• Penelope - Odysseus's wife. She has remained loyal to him during his 20-year absence, but is under pressure to remarry since Odysseus is presumed dead.​

• Suitors - men who have been seeking the hand of Odysseus's wife Penelope in marriage during his absence, while consuming his wealth and disrespecting his household. There are 108 of them. ​

• Axe heads - in the archery contest, the challenge is to shoot an arrow through 12 axe heads. Axe heads are the metal blades of axes.​

• Maidservants - female servants in Odysseus's household. 12 are disloyal and executed for being intimate with the suitors.​

An analogy

Odysseus's slaying of the suitors is like a hero in an action movie who returns home to find his house taken over by villains. He must fight them to reclaim his home and family.​

A main misconception

Many people think Odysseus spares some of the suitors, but he actually kills them all except two - Phemius the bard and Medon the herald, who are spared because they were forced to serve the suitors.​

The history

1. 8th century BCE: Homer composes the Odyssey, including the slaying of the suitors scene. ​

2. 5th-4th century BCE: The scene is frequently depicted on Greek vases and in Greek art.​

3. 15th-16th century CE: The Odyssey is rediscovered and translated in Western Europe during the Renaissance, becoming very influential. ​

"Of all creatures that breathe and move upon the earth, nothing is bred that is weaker than man." - Homer, ancient Greek poet who composed the Odyssey. He is famous for this epic poem and the Iliad, which are foundational works of ancient Greek literature.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. When facing a challenging task that seems impossible, remember how Odysseus was the only one strong and skilled enough to string his bow. Have confidence in your unique abilities.​

2. When dealing with a frustrating situation, think of how Odysseus waited patiently in disguise, enduring the suitors' insults until the perfect moment to strike. Bide your time and act when the time is right.​

3. When you have been away from home for a long time and face challenges in reintegrating with your family, consider Odysseus's struggles to reunite with Penelope. Be patient and communicate openly.​

Interesting facts

• The Odyssey never specifies the exact number of suitors, but based on details in the text, scholars estimate there are 108.​

• Odysseus's bow is described as so difficult to string that it requires the strength of Odysseus himself, establishing his heroic power.​

• The suitors are all young men from noble families of Ithaca and surrounding islands, not random strangers.​

• Penelope devised the archery contest, which is based on a real Greek custom of marrying the winner of an athletic competition.​

• The battle with the suitors is the most sustained scene of violence in the Odyssey, lasting about 600 lines of the epic.​