Eumaeus, the swineherd of Odysseus, is an important character that Homer depicts within the poem of The Odyssey, and one very interesting aspect of this character is his characterization of loyalty. Homer establishes loyalty as a strong and vital characteristic of Eumaeus through the passage in Book Fourteen in which the swineherd is introduced into the poem, approximately from lines 40 through 85. This portrayal of the theme of loyalty through the character of Eumaeus is a crucial aspect of The Odyssey, as this is the welcome that the skeptical and distrusting Odysseus receives on his return to Ithaca, after the warnings from Agamemnon in Book Eleven to be cautious of disloyalty and treachery on his return. Therefore, this pure and unwavering
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Upon greeting the disguised Odysseus, as he seeks hospitality from Eumaeus, the swineherd mentions his master to the stranger saying “here I sit, my heart aching, broken for him, my master, my great king—fattening up his own hogs for other men to eat, while he, starving for food, I wager, wanders the earth, a beggar adrift in strangers’ cities, foreign-speaking lands, if he’s alive, that is” (14.44-48). Because this statement is part of Eumaeus’ greetings of a complete stranger that is seeking his hospitality, this passage suggests that Odysseus is constantly on the mind of the swineherd in his longing for his master to return home. Also, as the swineherd mentions “fattening up his own hogs for other men to eat,” it feels as if the character is speaking with a voice of contempt and sorrow; the feeling of contempt for the men that are hoarding his master’s belongings at the same time as the feeling of sorrow for Odysseus who he states is most likely starving as the suitors are eating him out of house and home (14.44-45). Furthermore, this scene is the initial depiction that Homer offers of the character of Eumaeus, highlighting instantly the loyalty of the swineherd and thus suggesting that this characterization of loyalty is highly …show more content…
Homer introduces the character of Eumaeus into the poem through this passage, and the initial depiction with which he chooses to portray Eumaeus is as the loyal swineherd that longs for the return of his master after twenty years. This is extremely important in the course of the poem of The Odyssey as this is the first interaction that Odysseus experiences on his return to Ithaca, and up until this point in The Odyssey, he is often skeptical and disbelieving of others. This passage in Book Fourteen begins to establish Odysseus’ trust in Eumaeus due to the loyalty of the swineherd, which eventually results in Eumaeus aiding his master in bringing revenge on the suitors. This demonstrates the importance of loyalty in the course of The Odyssey, and Eumaeus is a character that embodies this characteristic as seen in this scene. Therefore, this resolute loyalty of Eumaeus is a reassurance to Odysseus during his time of hardship, and it is truly significant as it establishes the foundation of Odysseus trust, meaning that his passage sets into motion the revenge of the suitors, thus demonstrating that Eumaeus’ loyalty is a force in The Odyssey that affects the overall course and outcome of the
Upon greeting the disguised Odysseus, as he seeks hospitality from Eumaeus, the swineherd mentions his master to the stranger saying “here I sit, my heart aching, broken for him, my master, my great king—fattening up his own hogs for other men to eat, while he, starving for food, I wager, wanders the earth, a beggar adrift in strangers’ cities, foreign-speaking lands, if he’s alive, that is” (14.44-48). Because this statement is part of Eumaeus’ greetings of a complete stranger that is seeking his hospitality, this passage suggests that Odysseus is constantly on the mind of the swineherd in his longing for his master to return home. Also, as the swineherd mentions “fattening up his own hogs for other men to eat,” it feels as if the character is speaking with a voice of contempt and sorrow; the feeling of contempt for the men that are hoarding his master’s belongings at the same time as the feeling of sorrow for Odysseus who he states is most likely starving as the suitors are eating him out of house and home (14.44-45). Furthermore, this scene is the initial depiction that Homer offers of the character of Eumaeus, highlighting instantly the loyalty of the swineherd and thus suggesting that this characterization of loyalty is highly …show more content…
Homer introduces the character of Eumaeus into the poem through this passage, and the initial depiction with which he chooses to portray Eumaeus is as the loyal swineherd that longs for the return of his master after twenty years. This is extremely important in the course of the poem of The Odyssey as this is the first interaction that Odysseus experiences on his return to Ithaca, and up until this point in The Odyssey, he is often skeptical and disbelieving of others. This passage in Book Fourteen begins to establish Odysseus’ trust in Eumaeus due to the loyalty of the swineherd, which eventually results in Eumaeus aiding his master in bringing revenge on the suitors. This demonstrates the importance of loyalty in the course of The Odyssey, and Eumaeus is a character that embodies this characteristic as seen in this scene. Therefore, this resolute loyalty of Eumaeus is a reassurance to Odysseus during his time of hardship, and it is truly significant as it establishes the foundation of Odysseus trust, meaning that his passage sets into motion the revenge of the suitors, thus demonstrating that Eumaeus’ loyalty is a force in The Odyssey that affects the overall course and outcome of the