Revenge In Homer's Odyssey
Throughout the plot of Odyssey, the main protagonist, Odysseus, is in a desperate struggle to return to his home after his services in the Trojan War. Throughout his journey home, which takes 10 years, he faces the threats of many monsters who try to end his journey. However, the greatest struggle for Odysseus is reclaiming his homeland, Ithaca, from more than one hundred violent suitors who want to marry his wife, Penelope, in Odysseus’ absence. Odysseus takes action on these aggressive suitors by killing each and every single one of them with no remorse. Now, the primary question that arises here is whether or not Odysseus acted on these suitors for the purpose to avenge their actions, or simply reap revenge upon them. Odysseus’ actions
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Avenge, by writingexplained.org, is defined as “to inflict a punishment or penalty for an injury or a wrong.” Revenge by the same source is defined as “the act of taking vengeance for injuries or wrongs; retaliation.” Now, Odysseus’ actions can be evaluated to see which one of these definitions are the better fit. Odysseus, first off, is attempting to bring havoc to the suitors because of their actions to his home, spending his money to throw parties, and their actions on Penelope, trying to marry her. If Odysseus was attempting to seek to avenge the suitors’ actions, his actions should be out of justice, not pure anger. However, in this situation the suitors are pleading for their lives and offering restitutions to Odysseus so that he may forgive them, Odysseus enters a blind rage and, instead of forgiving the suitors, kills them all. This is obviously not just, as in any society, including Greek, peace is always a goal, and Odysseus was offered peace and he denied it. Thus, also harming Odysseus’ reputation as an epic hero as well, who is supposed to show virtue, not blind rage. Revenge is defined as acts of anger and the desire to bring harm, and this is what Odysseus gave in to, so this definition must be preferred. Overall, Odysseus’ actions in the Odyssey to kill the suitors of his household, when determining from the
Avenge, by writingexplained.org, is defined as “to inflict a punishment or penalty for an injury or a wrong.” Revenge by the same source is defined as “the act of taking vengeance for injuries or wrongs; retaliation.” Now, Odysseus’ actions can be evaluated to see which one of these definitions are the better fit. Odysseus, first off, is attempting to bring havoc to the suitors because of their actions to his home, spending his money to throw parties, and their actions on Penelope, trying to marry her. If Odysseus was attempting to seek to avenge the suitors’ actions, his actions should be out of justice, not pure anger. However, in this situation the suitors are pleading for their lives and offering restitutions to Odysseus so that he may forgive them, Odysseus enters a blind rage and, instead of forgiving the suitors, kills them all. This is obviously not just, as in any society, including Greek, peace is always a goal, and Odysseus was offered peace and he denied it. Thus, also harming Odysseus’ reputation as an epic hero as well, who is supposed to show virtue, not blind rage. Revenge is defined as acts of anger and the desire to bring harm, and this is what Odysseus gave in to, so this definition must be preferred. Overall, Odysseus’ actions in the Odyssey to kill the suitors of his household, when determining from the