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The Punishment Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

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The Oddysey, a famous epic tale, written by Homer, is the story of Odysseus. Odysseus left home to fight in the Trojan War, which lasted ten years. However, it took him an additional ten years to return home. He faced many obstacles and was nearly killed a few times, but he finally made it home to his beloved Penelope. He was aware that there were hundreds of men living in his palace, and feasting on his livestock. They were all attempting to take his bride, Penelope, for their own. It was a dangerous situation for Odysseus, and so he was disguised as a beggar so that he could enter his own home without being threatened or killed. Penelope thinks the beggar may be Odysseus, so she devises a contest for all the suitors to determine who she will choose. Whoever can string Odysseus’ bow will be her husband. Of course only Odysseus was able to do it, and so his …show more content…

The punishment, he decides, is death. This punishment may seem harsh, but it was necessary to ensure the safety of Odysseus and Penelope. There probably were other options that could have been considered. However, if Odysseus had tried any other form of punishment, it most likely would have backfired.

Maybe Odysseus could have banished them all from the palace. He did attempt, while still in the disguise of the beggar, to convince them to leave things up to the Gods, but they did not listen. They continued to eat and drink in the palace, and give gifts to Penelope. If they had chosen to leave, there would be no assurance that they would not form an army and come back to kill him.

These men who were courting Penelope were once loyal to Odysseus, and now they are trying to take his wife, along with everything Odysseus has. Even if Odysseus was presumed dead, this would seem disrespectful, and disloyal. I think the only way to ensure the end of this behavior is to kill the

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