In the epic poem ,the Odyssey, by Homer relates Odysseus’ heroic journey to his home in Ithaca after the defeat of Troy. His prideful boasting about the victory has the god, Poseidon, pitted against his voyage home, and in Odysseus’ absence, suitors take over his home and threaten his wife, Penélopê, and his son, Telémakhos. In her attempts to bring Odysseus home, Athena urges Telémakhos to begin his own travels in search of his father. During Odysseus’ trial to return to Ithika appearance reveals itself in diffrent ways to aid Odysseus and Telemachus.
A major time when appearance had been used happened when Athena comes to Telemachus in the form of Mentes. Mentes had been a friend of Laureates so there can be no suspicion about her visiting. This is crucial because she comes to encourage and make the search possible for Telemachus to search for his father. “But never in this world is Odysseus dead, only detained somewhere on the wide sea.” Telemachus had given up hope until Athen had come to share this news. Athena had to appear as Mentes because the suitors would be suspicious if a God walked into …show more content…
Odysseus needs to look like a beggar so he can go into his manor unnoticed from the suitors. If the suitors were to find him they would surely kill him because there are 40 suitors and only one of him. “God! What evil wind blew in this pest?” (XVII 585-586) Antinous says this to Odysseus while he begs in the palace. This appearance becomes so important because it allows Odysseus to take mental notes on who has remained faithful in his home. With this information he can plan his final massacre of all of the unloyal people. Odysseus can also talk with Eumaios and hide all of the weapons in a storeroom under his disguise. Without this appearance he would never have made it into his palace and never had the chance for the final massacre in the
A major time when appearance had been used happened when Athena comes to Telemachus in the form of Mentes. Mentes had been a friend of Laureates so there can be no suspicion about her visiting. This is crucial because she comes to encourage and make the search possible for Telemachus to search for his father. “But never in this world is Odysseus dead, only detained somewhere on the wide sea.” Telemachus had given up hope until Athen had come to share this news. Athena had to appear as Mentes because the suitors would be suspicious if a God walked into …show more content…
Odysseus needs to look like a beggar so he can go into his manor unnoticed from the suitors. If the suitors were to find him they would surely kill him because there are 40 suitors and only one of him. “God! What evil wind blew in this pest?” (XVII 585-586) Antinous says this to Odysseus while he begs in the palace. This appearance becomes so important because it allows Odysseus to take mental notes on who has remained faithful in his home. With this information he can plan his final massacre of all of the unloyal people. Odysseus can also talk with Eumaios and hide all of the weapons in a storeroom under his disguise. Without this appearance he would never have made it into his palace and never had the chance for the final massacre in the