While I was reading books 21 and 22- the climactic scene where Odysseus and Telemachus slaughter the suitors- I noticed a large inconsistency and wondered about it's significance. While Odysseus was in the midst of cutting down his foes, there was a suitor, the Seer, that begged for mercy. Earlier in the chapter, he had been described as being the only suitor who disapproved of his colleagues' behavior and sulked in the corner most of the time rather than partying. Odysseus refused to spare him and killed him on the spot.
Once most of the killing was done, there were two men, including the bard, who begged for mercy as well. Telemachus then steps in and backs then up, telling Odysseus he should spare them which he agrees to do. Why would kill one man but spare the other two when, as far as we know, they are equally as innocent? Maybe the Seer just asked him at the wrong time, while he was on a killing roll. It's like asking your parents for something when they're in a bad bood. You have to wait for the right moment. I don't really understand Odysseus sometimes.
I wondered about that as well...since Telemachus was there the whole time while Odysseus was returning, Telemachus probably has formed opinions about the suitors and knows who's really guilty and who's not. Meanwhile, Odysseus doesn't really know anything about those in the palace, and finds those who aren't proven innocent to be guilty, as he's the judge, jury, and executioner (literally).
ReplyDeleteEven though Telemachus vouches for these men, I still find it surprising that they live while the disloyal servant women are all killed...at least in my opinion, those two men were probably worse than the servant women, as they were actively in the company of the suitors.
I guess Telemachus and Odysseus have their reasons, even if we don't know them ourselves...needless to say however, those two men didn't just get away scotch-free. Seeing about a hundred men be killed brutally, along with being nearly slaughtered as well, is definitely not something that you're going to forget anytime soon. I wouldn't be surprised to see those two be scarred for life.
On a final note, that bard now has a pretty exciting story he can tell!
I thought Odysseus was just really angry and was in a killing rampage so he went and killed the Seer. Or maybe he just really doesn't like Seers because of their ability to tell prophecies or something.
ReplyDeleteI think the mercilessness and nonsensicality of the slaughter scene is just on a base level so revolting, and that's why I've never been able to wrap my head around it, even though I realize that Odysseus had many reasons to punish the suitors. I hadn't really paid attention to who Odysseus refused to spare so it's really cool that you point out he was actually one of the better suitors -- which just makes this whole thing all the more disturbing.
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