The Odyssey

Name

Instructor 's Name

Course

Date

The Odyssey

In Book 19 of The Odyssey , Penelope said : In this house , I have twenty geese come from the water and eat my wheat .Then from the mountains a huge hook-beaked eagle came and killed them - snapping all their necks (Homer . These words accurately describe the sequence of events which occur in the latter part of Homer 's masterpiece The Odyssey . It is also a statement that describes the epic journey as a whole

The quote is significant for two reasons

. First , the quote is an expression of the sign of things to come in the story . Since Odysseus absence , suitors have tried to ask Penelope 's hand in marriage (Homer These arrogant suitors have overstayed their welcome , disrespected Penelope and her son Telemachus , and have abused their resources . In a conversation between Penelope and the stranger who really was Odysseus she told him about the dream . The dream was an indication of things to come : the geese represented the suitors , and Odysseus was the eagle Just as was revealed in the dream , Odysseus killed all the arrogant suitors (Homer

Second , the quote is significant because it is a testament of the strength of Odysseus throughout his long journey . Throughout the story Odysseus has experienced many trials and difficulties . However , he overcame all the ordeals . He has always emerged victorious in his battles . Just like the eagle in Penelope 's dream , he has successfully dealt with his enemies . The situation with the suitors was no exception . Hence , the relevance of the quote can also be applied in the rest of the story

In my opinion , the demise of the suitors , as well as the means by which they were killed , is justified . The punishment inflicted upon the suitors both felt appropriate and expected . The arrogant suitors have pushed the limits of hospitality in the home of Odysseus . They have stayed longer than needed , and they acted like it was their own home They were greedy , demanding treatment best served to a king . If there was something that surprised me about the text , it would be Odysseus decision to spare the minstrel and herald (Homer . Odysseus was full of fury over his revenge against the suitors that I did not expect him to show enough compassion to spare two lives . Fury has the tendency to cloud one 's judgment , yet Odysseus still remained rational in the midst of the killing spree

If there is a theme in the resolution of the story of The Odyssey it would be loyalty . Odysseus has been gone for twenty years , and such long absence may cause his own people to forget him (Homer . Despite the absence , some members of his household remained faithful and loyal to Odysseus this loyalty paid off as they were spared in the cruel killing

There is also a symbolic value at the end of the text . A key factor in the reunion of Penelope and Odysseus was the bed (Homer . Just like the...