CLA 2100	Lecture Seven: Homer IIII: Vengeance is Mine.
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Assignment: Homer, Odyssey, pp. 309-462.

After reviewing the action of books 13-24, we addressed the following topics:

•  The gods (again), especially pp. 250ff. (gods and moral conduct), 294ff. (Athena appears to some, not all), 327ff. (is Odysseus a god?).
• Slaves and Masters, especially pp. 280-283 (Eumaios' story).
• We added to our previous discussion of women in the Odyssey with reference to the following:
  • Telemakhos on women in general and his mother in particular.
  • Odysseus' reaction to the sexually active slave women.
  • The behavior of Penelope before the suitors and upon learning of the suitors' deaths.
• Homecoming (again and again).
  • Landfall on Ithaca.
  • With Eumaios.
  • Telemakhos' escape.
  • Telemakhos meets dad.
  • The beggar arrives home.
  • In bed at last.
  • The islanders attempt revenge.
  • The intervention of Zeus, etc.
• Recognition Scenes: How do people know who we are and how is identity established? Odysseus is recognized by:
  • Telemakhos
  • Argos
  • Eurkleia
  • Penelope
  • Laertes
• Anger and Revenge
  • Odysseus is a man of war (p. 254)
  • But religious (p. 255)
  • He gets angry, but controls his anger:
    • Polyphemus
    • Games in Phaiakia
    • Melanthius (p. 317)
    • Fight with Irus (p. 338)
    • Rage at maidservants (p. 375)
  • Odysseus' anger is divinely sanctioned (p. 322)
  • Revenge is satisfying and thorough
    • Alkinoos
    • Odysseus explains doom (pp. 410ff.)
    • Odysseus is joyful in slaughter (p. 416), but compare rebuke of Eurykleia (p. 422)
    • Maidservants (pp. 423-424)
    • Melanthius
  • Revenge, however, leads to more revenge.
  • What puts a stop to the blood feud?

Gods approve of just vengeance and assist those who control their emotions intelligently, striking out not blindly, but at the guilty.