How Is Odysseus Justified In His Revenge Against The Suitors
In the epic poem “The Odyssey” by Homer, Odysseus journeys back to his home, Ithaca, and carries out his punishment against the suitors that lie in his residence. He brutally kills them through violent and explicit methods. Odysseus is completely justified in his revenge against the suitors. Throughout the poem, Homer develops the concepts/ themes of honor and hospitality and how it plays a major role in Greek society. The suitors violate these concepts multiple times throughout the poem, giving Odysseus a justified reason to take their lives. His revenge on the suitors was not excessive because at the end he took the lives of the people that dishonored his family and home. Odysseus’s hatred towards the suitors are triggered by multiple
actions they take. In the 20 years of his absence, the suitors make themselves the uninvited guests of the palace. For several years, they asked for Penelope’s hand in marriage. However they waited for her answer as they turned into an ignorant mob that consumed and feasted on Odysseus's estate. They slaughtered the sheep and cattle that belonged to the place to supply for their parties and feasts. They lived their lives at the palace and abused hospitality. The suitors had hoped to force Penelope into making a decision by consuming Telemachus out of house and home. These were acts of immoral intentions. They planned as far as to the murder of Telemachus, hoping it would open the door to Penelope finally making a decision. They are disrespectful, selfish and dishonorable. These are all reasons that enrage Odysseus, who has been away from his home and family for 20 long years. Throughout the poem, it is clear to see Odysseus values honor and the suitor's actions go against him and his beliefs. When he arrives to Ithaca, he disguises himself as a beggar and witnesses their mistreatment and selfishness first hand. The suitors have tried to take away his wife, son and home, all which have extreme value to him. Odysseus carries out his revenge by having Telemachus lock the armory away and leaving the suitors defenseless.Then he kills them, in ways that would inflict the most pain. A potential argument might be that Odysseus should have refrained from such violent actions because he is a leader/king who should act “more regal” and him engaging in revenge and such excessive actions makes him sink to the level of the suitors. However this is inaccurate because it should be noted that Odysseus didn’t kill them immediately when he arrived to Ithaca. He disguises himself as a beggar and approaches them at the palace.. He takes their abuse and sees their lack of hospitality towards him. The suitors gain pleasure and amusement when Odysseus accidentally kills another beggar. Odysseus watches these immoral suitors, and he realizes that they are not honorable people. The suitors enrage and disgust him and Odysseus’s brutal massacre is understandable.
His excessive revenge of the suitors were justified because he had to take action in the name of honor and his family. If one were to put themselves into Odysseus’s position, it is clear to see how he loves and misses his family dearly after 20 years. His revenge is fueled by the love for his wife and son and most importantly the hate against the suitors. His hatred of the suitors comes from them abusing hospitality and being honorable people. Their actions justify his excessive revenge.
actions they take. In the 20 years of his absence, the suitors make themselves the uninvited guests of the palace. For several years, they asked for Penelope’s hand in marriage. However they waited for her answer as they turned into an ignorant mob that consumed and feasted on Odysseus's estate. They slaughtered the sheep and cattle that belonged to the place to supply for their parties and feasts. They lived their lives at the palace and abused hospitality. The suitors had hoped to force Penelope into making a decision by consuming Telemachus out of house and home. These were acts of immoral intentions. They planned as far as to the murder of Telemachus, hoping it would open the door to Penelope finally making a decision. They are disrespectful, selfish and dishonorable. These are all reasons that enrage Odysseus, who has been away from his home and family for 20 long years. Throughout the poem, it is clear to see Odysseus values honor and the suitor's actions go against him and his beliefs. When he arrives to Ithaca, he disguises himself as a beggar and witnesses their mistreatment and selfishness first hand. The suitors have tried to take away his wife, son and home, all which have extreme value to him. Odysseus carries out his revenge by having Telemachus lock the armory away and leaving the suitors defenseless.Then he kills them, in ways that would inflict the most pain. A potential argument might be that Odysseus should have refrained from such violent actions because he is a leader/king who should act “more regal” and him engaging in revenge and such excessive actions makes him sink to the level of the suitors. However this is inaccurate because it should be noted that Odysseus didn’t kill them immediately when he arrived to Ithaca. He disguises himself as a beggar and approaches them at the palace.. He takes their abuse and sees their lack of hospitality towards him. The suitors gain pleasure and amusement when Odysseus accidentally kills another beggar. Odysseus watches these immoral suitors, and he realizes that they are not honorable people. The suitors enrage and disgust him and Odysseus’s brutal massacre is understandable.
His excessive revenge of the suitors were justified because he had to take action in the name of honor and his family. If one were to put themselves into Odysseus’s position, it is clear to see how he loves and misses his family dearly after 20 years. His revenge is fueled by the love for his wife and son and most importantly the hate against the suitors. His hatred of the suitors comes from them abusing hospitality and being honorable people. Their actions justify his excessive revenge.