Odysseus And Telemachus In The Odyssey

n The Odyssey, Odysseus deceiving people closest to him, including Eumaeus and Telemachus, shows how deception can easily fool others; even the ones that know you best. Due to the help from the Phaeacians, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, has just returned home. With assistance from the goddess Athena, Odysseus turns into a beggar and goes to the swineherd Eumaeus to avoid the suitors at his palace. Eumaeus asks about his identity, and Odysseus tricks him by telling him that he is a man from Crete, who suffered many troubles in coming to Ithaca. Eventually, Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, comes back from Sparta and learns about the suitors’ plans to kill him. To avoid this, Telemachus also goes to Eumaeus’ house, where he sees Odysseus, but decides not to question him. During dinner, Telemachus eventually musters up the

Telemachus immediately calling Odysseus a “stranger,” and asking, “‘Why did the sailors land him here in Ithaca?’” demonstrates that Telemachus assumed that he is a visitor to Ithaca and not an Ithacan. Odysseus’ disguise of a beggar was deceiving enough for Telemachus, his own son, to trick him into thinking he was a stranger. Additionally, Eumaeus informing Telemachus, “‘I’ll tell you the whole true story, / He hails from Crete’s broad land…’” shows that Eumaeus, without a doubt, believed Odysseus’ story, since he had stated it was “whole,” and “true,” not suspecting anything. Even though Eumaeus is known as a “loyal swineherd,” to Odysseus, Odysseus was still able to deceive Eumaeus into believing Odysseus’ story. Both Telemachus and Eumaeus knew of Odysseus’ clever capabilities and deceitful nature, but, still weren’t able to figure out that Odysseus had deceived them. Odysseus’ usage of deception in lying about his identity shows how even the closest people can easily be tricked by