Book 17: The Beggar at the Manor

Odysseus

Eumaios brought me down to my palace to beg today. Telémakhos left in the early morning so Penélopê might see him and no longer be afraid for his safety anymore. We left later and encountered Melanthios, the goatherd on our way. He abused Eumaios for being with me and even kicked me, called me a stinking beggar, and accused me of never working. After he kicked me, I had a very hard time containing myself. I could kill him in two seconds! But knowing that may give away the plan, I continued on seemingly uncaring. Thoughts of revenge were my one comfort. When we finally got to the manor, I saw the puppy that I had trained, Argos, was old and mistreated. I wept at the sight of him, and perhaps because the sight of him foretold what had happened to the rest of my home. When we got inside, I begged for bread from each of the suitors and most, though surprised I was there, gave it to me. One, Antinoos, had a huge problem with me being there. He spoke poorly of me and I tried to get him to understand all I had been through but he merely interrupted and insulted me again. When I tried to teach him some respect (he really needs to get some) he called me impertinent and threw his stool at me! There could have been a huge fight but it was broken up before it got too serious. I agreed to meet with Penélopê and tell her what news I had of Odysseus.

There's me, represented in a very crocodilesque way, eating Antinoos, and the fuzzy, pink bunny in the background leaning on me? Yeah, that's Telemakhos.

What I really just cannot comprehend is how the suitors treat me like I have so much less right to their stolen food (and by suitors, I generally mean Antinoos…) It’s my food (which they technically don’t know, but they should know it’s not their food, however, sometimes I think this simple fact is a bit too much for them to get.) They’re no more than beggars in someone else’s house, too. Just because they are supposedly of higher birth than my beggar alter-ego, they feel that they have the right to be the “head beggars” or whatever, and chase me away from all the food! Not cool guys, but I guess you’ll get your punishment soon.
Just pretending that I know this… I found it very informative that Penelope said “…if he comes again, no falcon ever struck more suddenly than he will, with his son, to avenge this outrage.” This leads me to believe that Penelope had a lot to do with Telemakhos’ regression. Maybe it wasn’t just my fault after all! She makes Telemakhos so much less important than me it’s almost like ‘oh we don’t need you to do anything Telemakhos, Odysseus will save us!’ What’s up with that? How’s he going to grow up and be a man if you never give him any responsibilities or expect him to solve problems on his own? Wow, I’m such a hypocrite…

*Disclaimer: This may be a slightly imaginative interpretation of Odysseus' actual thoughts*