Odysseus,
with the help of Telemachus, slays the suitors for two main reasons. First, they were
disrespectful to him and his household, especially the first ones he and his son target with
arrows and spear. Second, they were disloyal to Odysseus as ruler of Ithaca in their attempts to
displace him by taking his wife.
As for disrespect, Antinous, for example,
was the most impertinent of the suitors, and for this he is killed first by Odysseus, with an
arrow fittingly put through his throat. Telemachus kills Eurymachus, who was disrespectful to
him, with his spear. Ktesippus is killed by Odysseus for having thrown a cow's hoof at him, a
deeply disrespectful act.
Athena, though she is in the background to help if
needed, lets Odysseus and Telemachus fight off the swarm of suitors, who badly outnumber them,
without her help. This reasserts their right to authority in the household and shows Odysseus in
particular to be a strong warrior, worthy of command of his kingdom despite his
long...
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