By Anonymous
via Pablo App
Odysseus Returns: A Summary
Disguised and facing adversity, Odysseus's return to Ithaca sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation with the suitors and a reunion with his loved ones.
Can you summarize the scene in Odyssey when he goes home undercover and what happens during that time?
The Homecoming of Odysseus in The Odyssey
This is one of the most dramatic and emotionally rich sections of Homer's epic. Here's a comprehensive summary of Odysseus's undercover return to Ithaca:
The Disguise and Arrival
After 20 years away (10 fighting the Trojan War, 10 trying to get home), Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca with the help of the Phaeacians. The goddess Athena meets him and transforms him into an aged, ragged beggar so he can assess the situation at home without being recognized. This disguise is crucial because his palace has been overrun by suitors—over 100 arrogant noblemen who have been:
- Consuming his wealth and livestock
- Harassing his wife Penelope to choose one of them as a new husband
- Plotting to kill his son Telemachus
Reunion with the Swineherd Eumaeus
Odysseus first goes to the hut of Eumaeus, his loyal swineherd. Eumaeus doesn't recognize his master but shows extraordinary hospitality to the "beggar," demonstrating his faithful character. Odysseus tests him with stories and questions, confirming Eumaeus's loyalty.
The Emotional Reunion with Telemachus
When Telemachus arrives at Eumaeus's hut, Athena briefly restores Odysseus's true appearance. Father and son reunite after 20 years in one of the epic's most touching scenes—both weep together. Odysseus then reveals his plan to defeat the suitors, and they begin strategizing. Telemachus is instructed to:
Return to the palace and act normal
Remove the weapons from the great hall
Tell no one about Odysseus's return
Entering His Own Palace as a Beggar
Odysseus, back in disguise, enters his own home and witnesses firsthand the suitors' outrageous behavior. Several key moments occur:
Argos, the Faithful Dog
In one of literature's most poignant scenes, Odysseus's old hunting dog Argos—now neglected and lying on a dung heap—recognizes his master after 20 years. The dog wags his tail and drops his ears but is too weak to move. Odysseus sheds a secret tear. Argos dies moments later, having finally seen his master return.
Abuse from the Suitors
The suitors mock and mistreat the "beggar." Antinous, the cruelest suitor, throws a footstool at Odysseus. Another beggar named Irus challenges Odysseus to a fight; Odysseus defeats him easily, hinting at his hidden strength.
Penelope's Interview
Penelope asks to speak with the mysterious beggar, having heard he might have news of Odysseus. In a deeply emotional scene, Odysseus sits with his own wife but maintains his disguise. He tells her fabricated stories but assures her that Odysseus is alive and will return soon. Penelope weeps, and Odysseus must steel himself to hide his emotions.
Recognition by Eurycleia
The old nurse Eurycleia, who raised Odysseus from infancy, is asked to wash the beggar's feet. While doing so, she recognizes a distinctive scar on his leg—a wound from a boar hunt in his youth. She gasps and nearly reveals him, but Odysseus grabs her throat and swears her to secrecy.
The Contest of the Bow
Penelope, perhaps guided by Athena or her own intuition, announces a contest: she will marry whoever can string Odysseus's great bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe heads in a row—a feat only Odysseus ever accomplished.
- The suitors all try and fail miserably; none can even string the bow
- The "beggar" asks for a turn and is mocked
- Odysseus effortlessly strings the bow and makes the impossible shot
The Slaughter of the Suitors
Odysseus then reveals his true identity and, with Telemachus, Eumaeus, and another loyal servant Philoetius, begins the massacre of the suitors. The doors are locked. Odysseus systematically kills them with his arrows, starting with Antinous. When the arrows run out, they fight with swords and spears. Athena assists by deflecting the suitors' weapons.
The disloyal servants—maids who had slept with the suitors and the treacherous goatherd Melanthius—are also executed.
Reunion with Penelope
Even after the battle, Penelope remains cautious. She has waited 20 years and been deceived before. She tests Odysseus by ordering Eurycleia to move their marriage bed. Odysseus reacts with anger, explaining that the bed cannot be moved—he built it himself around a living olive tree, a secret only the two of them know.
This proves his identity. Penelope finally embraces him, and they are reunited at last. Athena even extends the night so they have more time together.
Key Themes in This Section
- Loyalty vs. Betrayal – Eumaeus, Eurycleia, and Argos vs. the suitors and disloyal servants
- Disguise and Recognition – Identity revealed through scars, secrets, and intimate knowledge
- Justice and Revenge – The suitors' punishment for violating xenia (guest-host customs)
- Patience and Cunning – Odysseus's trademark intelligence on full display
- Homecoming (Nostos) – The emotional weight of returning after 20 years
This extended sequence (Books 13–23) is considered the emotional and narrative climax of The Odyssey, showcasing Homer's mastery of suspense, character development, and dramatic irony.