Did Odysseus Right To Kill The Suitors Essay

In Edith Hamilton’s Mythology this event is not mentioned at all. She only mentions the killing of Antinous, but does not even include his name, instead saying: “...he shot an arrow. It found it’s mark; one of the suitors fell dying to the floor” (Hamilton 317). Hamilton is painting the big picture - how Odysseus is killing the suitor and making the kingdom his - while Homer is writing in detail about the death of the important suitors. Melanthius may not be mentioned in Mythology, but his death is the end of the suitors.

If odysseus were to be using modern day standards he would be taking all of the people that committed a crime to prison. Odysseus would be more into the justice system then by killing all of the bad people like the souters he would have taken them to the court and let them go through the system. But back in his time he would have to kill all of them which he did. So he would believe in justice not

Explain your position by listing examples from the story, which support your belief of whether or not justice was served. The killing of 108 wooers and several hand maidens was the punishment that Odysseus dealt out when he returned and revealed his true identity. The wooers were all killed by Odysseus and Telemachus. The hand maidens that betrayed Penelope were all hanged.

Odysseus went in disguise back the the house to see what was going on . they abused him and he did not fight back . Yes, After Odysseus reveals his identity, he gets revenge on the wooers who has took over his home.

The natives there gave Odysseus and his men an intoxicating fruit of the lotus. After Odysseus and his men eat the fruit, they forget all of their thoughts about home and decide to eat more of the fruit. The only way that Odysseus can get him and his men back home is by dragging his men back to the ship and lock them up, Odysseus decides to go along with it. When Odysseus went back to Ithaca, He made the wise choice to go and see his wife Penelope. Odysseus was so brave to go see his wife because he didn’t know if she was going to recognize him at all or want to be with him for the rest of her life.

But, after angering Poseidon by blinding his one eyed cyclops son, Odysseus must go through brutal situations to get home thanks to the fuming god. The theme, the search for justice, is very prevalent in this text because of the fight between Odysseus and the suitors, the reunion of Odysseus and his wife Penelope and when Odysseus visits his father Laertes and Athena must restore peace because of the fight that breaks out there. To begin, the theme searching for justice is shown clearly when Odysseus returns home and kills the suitors. The text states, “Odysseus took aim and hit him with an arrow in the throat.

Odysseus kill all of the Suitors with the help of his son Telemachus. The Suitors treated Odysseus very poorly. The Suitors were trying to marry Penelope and kill their son Telemachus. Odysseus loves his wife and dislikes the fact that these men are trying to get with her and kill his son Telemachus. So, he seeks revenge.

The odyssey, an epic told by Homer in ancient greece, has many major themes following odysseus’s adventures. While Odysseus is sentenced to never return home after the Trojan War. He is overcoming challenges to return home to his wife penelope and his son Telemachus. Throughout the story major themes of loyalty, hospitality and vengeance are hidden within the plot. The story continues to show his heroic side with three major traits.

Their jealousy got in the way of what was truly right. When finally landing in Ithaca, he learns that loyalty is something that shouldn't be broken, especially when some of the suitors are from Ithaca, Odysseus' own homeland. This means that the suitors are disloyal to their King because they are courting his wife, stealing all his food, and slaughtering his animals for their feasts. Most importantly, they are plotting to kill Telemachus and Odysseus if he is ever to return to the island. He learns that the only way he can show that he is a firm leader is to reveal to all of Ithaca who he truly is.

The suitors,mostly their leader, were acting mean toward Odysseus because he was disguised as a beggar. They were mean to him because they failed the test to string and shoot the bow and he asked if he could do the test. He strung and shot the bow perfectly, so his wife thought of him as a suitor. When Penelope left, Odysseus still had the bow, so that was his plan to kill them.

Odysseus learns that while he was away from Ithaca, his home and property were abused by suitors who wanted to marry Penelope. Odysseus takes revenge on the suitors for their rude, wasteful behavior. He also punishes any staff who participated with the wooers. Odysseus is completely justified in his action to punish with death the suitors and staff for their actions. The suitors took from Odysseus’ property, plotted to murder Telemachus, and displayed arrogant, unhospitable behavior.

Upon Odysseus arrival to Ithaca, Athena hides his identity to help him defeat the suitors. She turns him into a very old beggar to conceal his identity from everyone, most importantly the suitors. Odysseus reveals himself to his son Telemachus, cowherd and the swine herd. The nurse Eurycleia recognizes him because of a scar he got years ago by a boar’s white tusk. Penelope doesn’t recognize Odysseus at first sight because of the disguise.

At the end of part 2 of the Odyssey, when Odysseus is finally home and confronts the suitors in his home, he decides to slaughter them all for invading his home and courting his wife: “Not for the whole treasures of your fathers, all you enjoy, lands, flocks, or any gold put up by others will I hold my hand. There will be killing till the price is paid” (22.62-64). This quote from Odysseus shows that he was furious at the suitors, and he would allow no other atonement for their crimes except death. While the suitors all did wrong things, their actions did not deserve the death penalty. This shows that Odysseus was not thinking straight and being fair, and this is not something a hero would do.

While finally making it home to Ithica, he got word that all was not well at his home and that Penelope was in trouble. People had invaded his home, and these suitors tried to take Penelope for themselves. When Odysseus got word of this he did not rush and try to kill them like he once would have, but instead, he thought and planned his moves. With the help of his son, and servants of his house, they were are able to rid the house of the suitors and have Penelope once again.

Life gives us many chances to learn lessons. Much like the main character in The Odyssey by Homer. I have learned to fight for what I want, listen to advice and that actions have consequences. Both Odysseus and I have learned these three life lessons. Odysseus and people around the world have to fight for what they want.