Eumaios In Odysseus

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In The Odyssey, for a long time all Odysseus wanted was to arrive safely back to Ithaka. In this epic by Homer, Odysseus has arrived back in Ithaca after his strenuous journey. He has taken form of another man, not recognized by any members of his town. Most people believe that Odysseus died on his treacherous journey back. Even though Eumaios, the swineherd that continually displayed acts of kindness, loyalty, and compassion to Odysseus, others within Ithaka were not as benevolent to a newcomer’s arrival. When Odysseus is in disguise as a beggar within Ithaka, he has had to endure both physical and emotional pain before reuniting with his family. When Eumaios leads Odysseus to the town, Odysseus suffered many physical challenges due to others …show more content…
When Eumaios is leading Odysseus to the village, Melanthios taunts Odysseus. Melanthios is an insolent goat herder who didn’t recognize Odysseus and announces, “Where are you taking your new pig, that stinking beggar there, licker of pots?” (17.280-281). Melanthios also infuriates Odysseus when he offers to “make a farmhand of him, a stall scraper, a fodder carrier!” (17.286-287) . Odysseus also endures emotional pain when he reunites with his dog, Argos. Argos was raised and bred by Odysseus, but after Odysseus left, Argos was neglected. He was “treated as rubbish now, he lay at last upon a mass of dung before the gates” (17.383-384). When Argos immediately recognizes Odysseus, he starts to wag his tail, however has no strength to move towards Odysseus. After finally seeing his master after 20 years, Argos dies and “darkness in that instant closed the eyes of Argos” (17.420). The reuniting of Odysseus and Argos allows Odysseus to notice how much people declined his possessions after he was presumed …show more content…
Odysseus yearns to reveal himself to Penelope. Odysseus says, “I wish this instant I could tell my facts to the wise daughter of Ikarios, Penelope- and I have much to tell about her husband; we went through much together” (17. 738-741). Odysseus struggles because he doesn’t fully understand who he can trust, which makes him reconsider his options. While Eumaois and Penelope desire for Odysseus to come, Odysseus believes that it would not be wise to tell Penelope about Odysseus with what occurred with the suitors. Penelope believes that Odysseus, disguised as a beggar can bring closure to her beliefs about her husband. Theoklymenos told her that Odysseus arrived, and is safe in Ithaca, and Penelope wanted Odysseus to tell her that was the truth. However, Odysseus kept refusing to meet with her even though she offered food and new
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