The Odyssey Project
Books 17-18
Major Theme
I think that the major thee of these books is be kind to your guest or treat your guests with respect to matter what. In the Odyssey the suitors didn't follow this, they treated Odysseus horribly went he was disguised as a beggar, as an example: "He spoke, and as he passed recklessly kicked Odysseus on the hip." Also another (real) beggar was at the house of Odysseus and he treated Odysseus very poorly, "'Get up, old man, and leave the door-way, or you will soon be dragged off by the leg. Do you not see how everybody gives the wink and bids me drag you forth?'" Another one of the suitors that treated Odysseus horribly was Arneaus was yelled at the swineherd for even bringing Odysseus. "'Infamous swinegerd, why bring this man to town? Have we not here already plenty of vegabonds and nasty beggars to make mischief at our feast? Do you not mind that men devour the living of our lord by gathering here?'" Antinous
Characters
Odysseus: Father of Telemachus and husband of Penelope. He disguises himself as a beggar when he finally arrives in Ithaca. He's dressed as a beggar mainly to test people to see what they would say about him without knowing they were really talking to Odysseus. He goes to his Swineherd and only tells Telemachus who he really is.
Suitors: A large group of men that have been hanging around Odysseus' house for years eating his food and drinking his wine, trying to get Penelope to pick one of them to marry since they believe Odysseus to be dead.
Telemachus: Son of Penelope and Odysseus. He returns from his journey to find news about his father and finds out that a beggar is actually his father Odysseus and they plot how to kill the suitors.
Swineherd: He's in charge of the pigs that are used for meals and sacrifices and lives on a farm in Ithaca. He's the first person that Odysseus goes to and tests when he returns disguised as a beggar.