Importance Of Telemachus Final Conquest In Odysseus

Odysseus and Telemachus’ final conquest over the suitors is used to show the importance of cunning, and the occasional insignificance of physical power. Odysseus, Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Philoetius (the cowherd), face 108 suitors. The suitors are in their prime years, the best men in all of Ithaca. By sheer might alone, Odysseus and Telemachus would not have stood a chance. Yet their cunning defeats the suitors. It is Odysseus and Telemachus’ cunning, and not their power, that leads them to victory. The virtue cunning is seen not only in the planning of the battle, but also embedded in the actual fight. Even as the reader sees wartime Odysseus in all of his glory, it is his cunning that shines through. He is referred to through epithets as

It is his cunning that singles him out, not his physique. His intellect has won him glory. Conversely, we see the consequences for stupidity in the death of Antinous: “Antinous...about to drain the wine. But Odysseus aimed and shot Antinous square in the throat.” (439-440). He is killed with a wine glass in hand, and shot through the throat. This wine glass represents intoxication: Laziness, lack of foresight, and most of all the loss of wisdom and cunning. It is Antinous’s lack of cunning that defeats him. His stupidity has led to his death. We also see the consequences for idiocy with the death of Ctesippus “ and the cowherd stabbed Ctesippus right in the man’s chest and triumphed over his body: ‘...No more shooting off your mouth, you idiot, such big

Throughout the novel, the cowherd has been described as “trusty,” “nobody's fool,” “caring,” and the altogether embodiment of a good Greek. By showing his disgust and distaste towards the idiocy, the reader sees the negative connotation of stupidity in Greek society as a whole, and the importance of cunning. Again, stupidity has led to death. The intolerance of foolishness is repeated with the death of Eurymachus. Eurymachus first appeals to the merciful side of Odysseus, in a cunning attempt to spare the destruction he knew was coming. Yet when Eurymachus gives up the cunning, and sinks into savagery in pure, unconfined, rage, Odysseus strikes him down: “He...hurled himself at the king with a raw savage cry in the same breath that Odysseus loosed an arrow ” (442). When he turns to physical power and attempts to kill Odysseus, Odysseus strikes him down. The lack of cunning was not tolerated. Again, stupidity has led to death, and “wily” Odysseus, lives on, kleos earned. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is the ideal good Greek, and a man like a god, whose cunning has won him fame. The Odyssey reflects Greek virtues, and Odysseus is the role model for all