Having been away from home for twenty years, Odyssey doesn’t immediately reveal his identity to Penelope because he needs to ensure that he can trust her and that she remains loyal to him .
Why doesn’t Odysseus explicitly reveal himself to Penelope before proceeding with his plans?
In Book IXX, the nurse accidentally discovers Odysseus’ identity and turns to tell Penelope who he is, but is unsuccessful “ because Athena had bemused the queen, so that she took no notice , paid no heed.” Athena thus agrees with Odysseus’ plan.
Why doesn’t Odysseus reveal himself to Penelope?
Having been away from home for twenty years, Odyssey doesn’t immediately reveal his identity to Penelope because he needs to ensure that he can trust her and that she remains loyal to him .
How does Odysseus reveal himself to Penelope?
Meanwhile, Odysseus follows Eumaeus and Philoetius outside. He assures himself of their loyalty and then reveals his identity to them by means of the scar on his foot . He promises to treat them as Telemachus’s brothers if they fight by his side against the suitors.
Why does Odysseus keep his identity a secret from his wife?
Telemachus warns Odysseus that there are to many suitors for them to fight. ... Why does Odysseus keep his identity a secret from his wife? Because he wants to make sure that she still loves him . When does Odysseus reveal to the suitors his identity?
Do you think it is wrong for Odysseus to deceive Penelope?
Is it wrong for Odysseus to deceive Penelope? No, for protection of his family .
What worries do Odysseus and Penelope still have to face?
Penelope and Odysseus both have trouble sleeping that night. Odysseus worries that he and Telemachus will never be able to conquer so many suitors , but Athena reassures him that through the gods all things are possible. ... The suitors enter, once again plotting Telemachus’s murder.
Does Penelope recognize Odysseus in Book 19?
In Book 19, Penelope does not recognize Odysseus for who he is because he is disguised as a beggar. He expresses that he knows Odysseus and Penelope tests the validity of the alleged Odysseus sighting the “beggar” had by asking about Odysseus’ appearance.
How did Penelope delay marriage for 3 years?
For three years, Penelope has put off choosing a husband among the suitors by saying that she must first finish weaving a shroud for Laertes. Each day she weaves and each night she unravels her day’s work. Thus she delays for three years until a treacherous maid spills the beans .
Is Telemachus immature?
Throughout The Odyssey, Telemachus matures very much so, but in the first four books, there is a definite transition from an immature scared little boy , to the man that revenges the abuse he received at the end of the story.
Does Penelope cheat on Odysseus?
Pausanias records the story that Penelope had in fact been unfaithful to Odysseus , who banished her to Mantineia upon his return. ... Other sources report that Penelope had sex with all 108 suitors in Odysseus’ absence, and gave birth to Pan as a result.
Why does Penelope talk to the beggar?
Penelope is a fair and kind person and she is horrified at how the beggar was treated. She invites the beggar in because he wants to give him food and ask him about Odysseus . ... Penelope reveals to the beggar that she does not like the suitors invading the castle and she is loyal to Odysseus and will wait for him.
How did Penelope trick the suitors?
Many suitors had come to woo “the widow”. ... She put them off with a ruse, persuading them to wait until she had finished a funeral shroud for Laertes , Odysseus’s father, which she wove by day and secretly unravelled by night. In this way she managed to deceive them for three years.
What test does Penelope give the suitors?
The test was that Penelope says that she will marry whichever suitor can string the bow and then shoot an arrow through 12 axe handles . None of the suitors can even string the bow so none of them even gets a shot at the axe handles. So this is a way of showing that Odysseus is much stronger than any of the suitors.
Which God is most helpful to Odysseus?
From the very beginning of the Odyssey, Athena is helping Odysseus. Her first act that the readers see is persuading Zeus to send Hermes to Ogygia, Calypso’s island, to inform her that it was Zeus’s will that Odysseus continued his journey home.
What does it take to convince Telemachus on his father’s identity?
What it takes is for Odysseus to tell Telemachus that it is not strange that he should be there — he tells his son that Athena was the one who disguised him and changed him back . That convinces Telemachus, though I’m not sure why it would... in heaven to make any man look either rich or poor.”
