The Ancient World (HUM 124 - UNC Asheville)/Texts/Odyssey/Book 23

Summary of Book 23
At the beginning of Book 23 Eurycleia goes to Penelope and tells her that the old beggar has really been her husband Odysseus this entire time and that he has killed all of the suitors. Penelope does not believe Eurycleia, even after she tells Penelope how she found Odysseus surrounded by dead bodies piled on top of one another. Penelope decides to go downstairs to see the dead suitors and the man who killed them, whether it be her husband or not. When she arrives downstairs and sits across from the strange man her son, Telemachus scolds her and calls her cruel and heartless. Nonetheless Odysseus trusts his wife and knows she will figure out it is him soon enough. However, they have to figure out what to do about all of the suitors that Odysseus and Telemachus murder, because it is a huge crime to kill only one man, let alone all of Ithaca's finest men. Odysseus decides they should all change clothes and have cheerful music played to make every passerby think that Penelope has finally chosen a suitor and there will be a wedding. Then, after Eurynome washes Odysseus Athena pours beauty on his head and shoulders making him look like an immortal. Penelope still does not believe it is him so she tells Eurycliea to make the bed for Odysseus outside the room he built himself. At hearing this Odysseus begins to tell the tale of how he built the room around a tree and that no one other than himself or the gods could pry the bed from the trunk of the tree. Penelope bursts into tears, she finally realizes that this man was truly her husband Odysseus after hearing him tell a story only the two of them know. After both Odysseus and Penelope were done crying Odysseus tells his wife that their troubles were not over yet. He goes on to explain all of what the spirit Tiresias foretold when Odysseus was in the house of Hades. Later that evening Odysseus and Penelope laid in bed together and decided to share stories with one another. Penelope told Odysseus about how she suffered while watching the many suitors destroy the house, kill the animals, and drink an abundance of wine. Odysseus told Penelope about all of things he had to endure on his journey home to Ithaca, from slaughtering the Cicones, the fields of Lotus-Eaters, what the Cyclops did, Aeolus, Laestrygonia, the cleverness of Circe, the journey to Hades, Charybdis and Scylla, the Sun God's cattle, arriving on Ogygia and turning down Calypso's hand in marriage to reaching Phaeacia and being treated like a god and finally returning home to Ithaca. After Athena thought Odysseus had enjoyed his wife and sleep she brought forth the new day and made the sun rise. Book 23 ends with Odysseus, his son, Telemachus, and the herdsmen preparing to fight off the people of Ithaca.

Characters

 * Penelope. Wife of Odysseus, does not believe her husband has finally returned after 20 years at sea.
 * Odysseus. Husband of Penelope, has finally returned after 20 years at sea disguised as an old beggar, killed all of Penelope's suitors.
 * Eurycleia. An old slave woman, tries to tell Penelope her husband has returned but Penelope doesn't believe her.
 * Telemachus. Odysseus and Penelope's only son, helped Odysseus kill all of Penelope's suitors.
 * Eurynome. A slave woman, washes Odysseus.
 * Athena. Goddess of Wisdom, Daughter of Zeus, often in disguise, helps Odysseus on his journey.
 * The Suitors (deceased). To hide the fact Odysseus committed a crime in killing Penelope's suitors and that he's back in Ithaca, he has the slaves play music to make everyone think Penelope has finally married one of the suitors.

Hierarchy
As discussed in our small discussion, Odysseus states, "If someone murders even just one man, even one who had few friends in his community, the killer is forced to run away and leave his homeland and family." This particular quote establishes a hierarchal social class within the community, inferring that those who are not popular are less valued or important, and therefore their death would not be as serious as someone of a higher power. This social rank can also be seen on page 495 " ; "If any other slave comes in here to wake me and tell me all this nonsense, I will send her back down at once, and I will not be gentle, Your old age will protect you from worse scolding." says Penelope in response to Eurycleia as the old slave informs her of her husbands return. This particular quote implies that powerful/popular women have a higher status than slaves. It is also interesting to point out that Penelope says "I will send her back down at once, and I will not be gentle.."; this implies that all slaves in their household are women, which one can infer means that powerless women in terms of popularity and value are one of the lowest in the social rank. It is important to note though, that Penelope spares Eurycleia and justifies it due to her old age. This tells the reader that the elderly are respected, regardless of their social rank.

Another good example portraying this ancient worldview can be seen on page 497 ", Telemachus exclaims: "Mother! Cruel, heartless Mother! Why are you doing this, rejecting father? Why do you not go over, sit beside him, and talk to him? No woman in the world would be so obstinate! To keep your distance from him when he has come back after twenty long years of suffering. Your heart is always harder than rock!". In this quote, Telemachus, Odysseus and Penelope's son, is annoyed with his mothers response to the arrival of her husband. He says "no woman in the world would be so obstinate" which implies that women are typically expected to immediately act submissive to their husband, introducing the idea that women are below men within the hierarchal social status portrayed throughout this book.

Further elaboration on the topic of social class can be illustrated by a quote on page 498: "While I am dirty, dressed in rags, she will not treat me with kindness or acknowledge me.." says Odysseus to Telemachus. This quote exemplifies the idea that people of power, authority or popularity see no value in people who are poor. Because they are not rich, and therefore not popular, they are treated badly by the higher classes. It is also interesting to analyze the distinct difference between the way that Telemachus treats and talks to each of his parents. He seems to see his father as more of an authoritative figure and someone who could do no wrong, whereas he talks to his mother as he pleases. This could be due to the fact that Telemachus believes no one but a God can be compared to his father, whom is blessed by the Gods, or that it is common for children to obey their father or father-figure more than their mother or mother-figure.

Overall, what these many quotes say about hierarchy as part of the ancient worldview is that social class was very important to the people in ancient Greece and it was a system the people used to determine how they viewed, judged, and looked at others. Popular/rich men were ranked the highest among the mortals, with the popular/ rich women following behind them. This exemplifies the inherent sexism in their culture, allowing for men to be treated as more powerful and valued as women. This idea can be applied to how children within this culture respect their parents. Often times, it can be assumed that a child would be more likely to obey their father over their mother. Following this idea, slaves would be the lowest class, with women being the majority, if not all of the slave population. Within Odysseus' household, the slaves were all women, but this is not to say that male slaves didn't exist within this culture. Besides the point, women slaves would still be treated less than any man slave, considering the inherent sexism. one specific exception to this rank that was exhibited within book 23 was that the elderly will be respected, no matter their gender or social class.