Odysseus' Disguised Return

Authors Avatar
                                    The Significance of Odysessus' Disguised Return            Book 23 in Homer's The Odyssey chronicles Odysseus' return to his wife Penelope after his twenty years away at sea. Odysseus' return is unanticipated, and Penelope assumes that Odysseus is dead since twenty years elapsed since she has seen or heard from him. Odysseus' return to Ithaca answers and poses many questions about his epic journey, and serves to confirm that he is not dead and that he still loves and misses his wife. Homer uses Odysseus' disguise as dramatic irony to heighten the tension before the climax of the epic when Odysseus reveals himself. This disguise allows Odysseus to test those around him to see who really loves and cares about him. Although Odysseus knows his wife grieved his as if he
Join now!
were dead, he still disguises himself in order to test        Penelope's love and loyalty.         Odysseus’ multitude of tests starts with his entrusting Eurycleia with the secret of his return. When Odysseus returns to Ithaca disguised as an itinerant beggar, Penelope takes him in, and subsequently Eurycleia recognizes Odysseus by a scar on his foot. Eurycleia is the first to find out about Odysseus' return, and notifies Penelope when Odysseus tells her that the time is right. Homer has Eurycleia find out first because she is the epitome of loyalty - she has been with Odysseus' family for years, and is ...

This is a preview of the whole essay