why does odysseus hide his identity from penelope

She wants to make sure that the gods were not messing with her. Their faithful swineherd, Eumaeus was, however, the happiest of all, as he watched his two favorite masters hugging and crying out of happiness. He ties them up against the round house and with a rope hangs all of them. As a result, she does not make any progress; therefore, she will not have to marry a Suitor. What love does Odysseus and Penelope share in Homer's Odyssey? Why does Odysseus hide his identity from Eumaeus? When he identifies himself as Odysseus, his hosts, who have heard of his exploits at Troy, are stunned. Eumaeus believes all but the part about Odysseus still being alive. Why does Penelope feel the need to test Odysseus even though he has abandoned his disguise? When Odysseus protests about moving the bed, she realizes he is truly her husband. Are you a teacher? Sign up now, Latest answer posted January 01, 2020 at 4:31:02 PM, Latest answer posted December 23, 2011 at 2:35:52 AM, Latest answer posted June 23, 2013 at 8:46:13 PM, Latest answer posted November 13, 2012 at 4:28:54 AM, Latest answer posted July 29, 2019 at 11:28:25 AM. She goes to Pylos to bring Telemachus home. She wants to be sure to is really Odysseus. Finally alone with Penelope, Odysseus offers convincing evidence that he knew her husband. She tells the servants to bring out his bed, and then waits for his reaction. She recognizes the beggar as her long lost husband and chooses not to unveil his true identity. In other words, if Penelope knows that Odysseus is at Ithaca, this could blow his cover. Part of this is undoubtedly to keep his return a secret. To what men does Odysseus reveal his identity? ... Why does Odysseus hide his identity so long from the Phaeacians, who indeed would have been impressed from the start if they knew who he was? When at length Odysseus does return, she makes him prove his identity and finally accepts him. Philoeteus will close the door to the courtyard and block off the escape route. ... what characteristic do odysseus and penelope share? Argos is Odysseus' beloved hunting dog. He assures himself of their loyalty and then reveals his identity to them by means of the scar on his foot. What happens to the disloyal serving women? We’ll see many examples of reunion as Odysseus carefully begins to reveal his identity to various members of his household—his servants, his dog, his son, and finally, his wife Penelope—while also scheming against those who have usurped his place. Odysseus does not reveal his identity to Penelope to test her, as he explains to Telemachus. Odysseus instructs Telemachus to gather the weapons and hide them where they will not be readily available to the suitors the next day. Odysseus hides his identity because he wants to assess the situation at the royal palace before springing into action against Penelope's suitors. Odysseus wishes to test Penelope's faithfulness. Thus, a little later, Telemachus went to his mother in order to tell her … Odyssey had been away from his wife Penelope and his son for a long Odysseus then swears Eurycleia to secrecy. She remembers a contest which Odysseus used to set up, where he would send a narrow through the iron of twelve axes. However, Odysseus does not repay his faith entirely and it suggests his ‘voice rose’ which implies he is comfortable in his surroundings but is not a very kind guest and likes to be the centre of conversation with a once again arrogant side to his actions. He recognizes Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, when Odysseus and Eumaeus approach the house. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, What are 3 examples of times when Odysseus demonstrated epic hero/god like qualities in. Who tells Odysseus(the beggar) that if Odysseus were to return he would help to destroy the suitors? Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Favorite Answer Odysseus disguises himself from his wife because he does not know whether to trust her. says Telemachus in the first book. Suitors fill his palace, and though Penelope seems to care only for her husband, Odysseus has experienced enough treachery along his journey to know that she could be covering up deceit. At … ... sloth your master lets you go to seed....whose slave are you?". Penelope, in Greek mythology, a daughter of Icarius of Sparta and the nymph Periboea and wife of the hero Odysseus. The lies he tells are mainly used to hide his identity. Why does Odysseus not want his presence revealed? Oh no! Do you think Odysseus kills the suitors to fulfill his responsibilities? Father and son cried out of happiness for a long time. 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. Here ‘Aethon’ hints outright of his true … Contents hide. 2 Why is Penelope important in the Odyssey? Therefore she acts as if she does not know the beggar is Odysseus. Similarly, it is asked, why does Odysseus not reveal himself to Penelope? Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. She wants to help him plan his revenge on Penelope's suitors. It has been a long time (20 years) and it is possible that she has not been faithful. 3) Athena says in ... Why does Odysseus disguise his identity from Penelope? Furthermore, by remaining hidden from Penelope, he can take care of his business with the suitors, and reveal himself when he is ready. His tears at Demodocus’s song attract Alcinous’s attention and ultimately force him to reveal his identity and relate the history of his anguish-filled journey. How does Odysseus finally convince Penelope to accept him? "After all, who knows who his father is?" Where does Homer show Penelope's loyalty to Odysseus, and how does this help Odysseus in The Odyssey? Odysseus orders her to be silent and not reveal his identity. She fears it is a trick or a device of the gods. Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. Why is Penelope so hesitant to greet her husband? The bed of course can't be moved because it was built into a trunk of a tree. She remembers a contest which Odysseus used to set up, where he would send a narrow through the iron of twelve axes. From Wikipedia…. Why does Athena now reveal herself to Odysseus? 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." He tells Penelope and the maids to go and hide in the closet and do not let anyone in, while he goes and talks to his father. "My son, if he really ever existed," says Laertes in the last. She recognizes a scar on his leg when she washes his feet. She decides whoever can string the great bow of Odysseus and repeat this feat shall be her husband. Mrs. Lawrence. His bed has been built from a rooted tree and cannot be moved. Melantho, the disrespectful servant girl who sleeps with Eurymachus, confronts the beggar/Odysseus once more. For Odysseus it is often a trap, because he must constantly take action. This point also fits well with the cunning of Odysseus. She recognizes the beggar as her long lost husband and chooses not to unveil his true identity. In Homer's Odyssey, did the wife of Odysseus, Penelope, cry a lot? Story of Odysseus and Penelope. She decides whoever can string the great bow of Odysseus and repeat this feat shall be her husband. Are there other reasons? Odysseus reveals his identity to Penelope, but she is skeptical. This shaped Odysseus’s identity because it taught him to be thankful of the gods. Why does Odysseus hide his identity from Eumaios in Homer's Odyssey? ... She explains that she will help Odysseus hide his treasure and conceal his identity, and warns him that he must suffer further even under his own roof. " Later Odysseus tells Telemachuse when to dissimulate - to hide and withhold what he knows and bear pain and outrage. Odyssey 5.413-4 N A WAY, the whole problem of the Odyssey is for Odysseus to establish his identity. First, we need to realize that Odysseus hides himself from many others and not just Penelope. Primarily because he wishes to test her loyalty, and find out what's really going on? Where does Odysseus seem very clever, ingenious, designing, or devising in the Odyssey by Homer. they will do anything to return to each other. Odysseus and his son, Telemachus, slay the suitors, and finally, the wandering warrior can be reunited with his wife. He promises to … Eurycleia tries to tell Penelope about the beggar's true identity, but Athena makes sure that Penelope cannot hear her. Odysseus is returned in secret to Ithaca in a magically fast Phaeacian ship. How does Odysseus reveal himself to Penelope? One of his servants, Eumaeus, helped to conceal his identity as Odysseus met his son, Telemachus, who was now a grown man. 1. Penelope weaves a funeral cloth for her father-in-law during the day but unravels what she did at night. Realizing that countless suitors stood in their way of restoring order to the land, he continued to hide his identity from Penelope as she vowed to marry the one man who could string the bow her husband had received from Iphitus and use it to fire an arrow through the handles of twelve … The test of the bow is Penelope's test for the suitors. Penelope tests Odysseus identity by suggesting that they move their bed to another room so that she can get used to Odysseus, whom has been away for so long. What is ironic about Penelope’s weaving? told him that the bed he had built had been moved. However, Odysseus does not reveal himself to his wife, Penelope. Additionally, though he makes no mention of it again after Book 8 , Homer has already hinted that Odysseus has aroused the affection of Princess Nausicaa—just a short while after escaping the demanding attentions of the divine Calypso. I'm trying to show how Penelope's loyalty helps bring Odysseus home. special ed. That’s when Poseidon cursed the ocean, so that Odysseus could not return home to Ithaca. Odysseus orders her to be silent and not reveal his identity. ... and reveals to him his true identity. What task does Athena first set out to do? She tests him by having Eurycleia provide a place to sleep by moving a bed into the hallway. Also, what happened to Penelope when Odysseus was gone? But every night she would undo it. Odysseus is not sure if the cowherd and swineherd will be loyal to him or to the Suitors. Why does Odysseus hide his identity from the swineherd and the cowherd? Penelope's Recognition of Odysseus as a Beggar Essay example However, Odysseus does not reveal himself to his wife, Penelope. It looks like your browser needs an update. A second way Odysseus’s identity is shaped is when he blinds Polyphemus and tells him that Odysseus was the one who blinded him. Penelope, in Greek mythology, a daughter of Icarius of Sparta and the nymph Periboea and wife of the hero Odysseus. He is old, and now dies, happy that he has seen his master one last time. Second, Odysseus also wants to see if Penelope has been faithful to him. Log in here. He reveals his identity to Eumaeus, his faithful swine herd, and Philoeteus, his faithful cowherd. Odysseus and … Already a member? For example, Odysseus learned that Penelope stated that she would choose a suitor only after she finished making a burial cloak for her father-in-law. Only Odysseus should know this. katya said, December 14, 2011 @ 8:55 pm. It is curious that Telemachus does not question Odysseus’ decision to hide himself from Penelope or from Laertes, the two most assuredly loyal (so far as Telemachus is concerned) to Odysseus. The man has changed over twenty years. He lied to many people including Polyphemus, Arete, Telemachus (his son), Penelope (his wife). Athena's mist is another kind of protective disguise, and ensures that sleeping Odysseus stays out of … Richmond, VA: View profile; Send e-mail; This activity was created by a Quia Web subscriber. Odysseus's identity is discovered by the housekeeper, Eurycleia, when she recognizes an old scar as she is washing his feet. His household servants have been disloyal and aided the suitors in their quest for Penelope's hand in a gross violation of their duty to their absent master. What contest does Penelope devise to test the suitors? Odysseus was brave, bold, a liar, full of love and hate and ready to face all challenges which make him very very human. Learn more about Quia: She sends him disguised as a beggar to his loyal swine herd. There are two answer for this question. Who does Odysseus encounter in the Land Of The Dead in Homer's. He does not want it known that he has arrived home, and he wants to test Eumaeus' loyalty to his master. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Telemachus takes them outside, after they have cleared and cleaned the house of their dead lovers. To ensure the best experience, please update your browser. He proves himself … they are both clever and loyal. Odysseus … In fact, her name in Greek, "Penelope" means spindle loosener. What is the Test of the Bow? Why does Odysseus hide his identity from Penelope? The Character of Penelope As a feminist, I struggle with my own judgment of Penelope. 1 Does Odysseus kill Penelope? The Name of Odysseus "There is no way to stand firm on both feet and escape trouble." It’s the reunion that makes my poor little heart stutter and my eyes mist up. Athena thus agrees with Odysseus' plan. She has devised tricks to delay her suitors, one of which is to pretend to be weaving a burial shroud for Odysseus's elderly father, Laertes, and claiming that she will choose a suitor when she has finished. Odysseus was a king, a soldier, a genius, and easily the most beloved character in all of Greek history. The story Penelope tells is of the suitors taking advantage of her hospitality and how she fought against this with her weaving of the death shroud. The young man was happier than he had ever been, while Odysseus was trembling when he hugged his son again eighteen years later. What contest does Penelope devise to test the suitors? Eumaeus will give the bow to Odysseus, and then tell the maids to stay in their quarters. This idea that Penelope fears that Odysseus does not wish to return home seems to be her principle reason for caution when dealing with the beggar. We need to keep in mind that if Odysseus is going to overcome the suitors, who are more powerful than he is on account of their numbers, he needs the advantage of a surprise attack. teacher. What are the challenges that Odysseus had to face on his journey home? First, we need to realize that Odysseus hides himself from many others and not just Penelope. Godwin High School. to test her faithfulness: How did Penelope test Odysseus? View Why does Odysseus insist that everyone keep his identity secret.docx from ENGL 2410 at Chattanooga State Community College. How does Eurycleia discover the identity of Odysseus? Is the purpose of this question to … Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. They promise to give him safe passage to Ithaca, but first they beg to hear the story of his adventures. Penelope is shrewd, and she challenges Odysseus to prove his identity. When at length Odysseus does return, she makes him prove his identity and finally accepts him. She has outwitted the suitors. Part of this is undoubtedly to keep his return a secret. However, as he spends time with her, he realizes that she has been a model of faithfulness. Penelope does this because she realized that her husband would be in danger, in his current surroundings, if she was to reveal who he really was. She tests him by telling her maid to make his bed in the hall and only … For Penelope, sleep is a blessing, because she is powerless to take any action. After twenty years of absence, Odysseus returns from his long wanderings. When Antinoos blames her and says that she has led the suitors on, I find myself wondering if there's some truth in what he says, and if the suitors are not entirely to blame.

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