Odyssey Book 17 - 18
Eumaeus has still not recognized Ulysses, as they walk with a group including Telemachus, Penelope, and Theoclymenus, who is a seer. Telemachus and Theoclymenus go to the palace. This seer advises Penelope that Ulysses is in Ithaca, but Penelope is skeptical, completely unaware that the beggar in their midst is Ulysses.
Meanwhile, Eumaeus and the "beggar" are accosted by Melanthius, a mean and vile goat-herder, who insults and assaults Ulysses. Ulysses exercises restraint and avoids a fight, still maintaining his disguise as a beggar. Later, a tired old dog is seen on the side of the road. The dog recognizes Ulysses as the man who raised it as a pup 20 years ago and offers a weak wag of the tail. Ulysses recognizes the dog, as well, but cannot acknowledge the recognition. After the group passes, the dog dies.
Later, the group attends an event at the palace's banquet hall, where the suitors are feasting upon Ulysses' food, and drinking his wine. Telemachus (and Athena, who remains with Ulysses now, guiding and helping him) advises Ulysses to go around to the various suitors, begging for scraps of food.
Some suitors are kind to the beggar, but Antinous shows special meanness. He threatens, curses, and mocks the beggar. However, before the confrontation becomes physically violent, Telemachus steps in and defuses the situation.
Penelope has asked about the beggar and is told by Eumaeus that a beggar is a good man. However, the "beggar" declines to meet with Penelope, saying that he will meet with her later. One reason for this is that Ulysses does not want the suitors to see him approaching Penelope.
Later, Irus, a pauper with no social standing, arrives. He is a puppet of the suitors and provides comic entertainment. Antinous orders Irus to antagonize the beggar. Iris does so, trying to pick a fight. This time, Ulysses strikes back, breaking the pauper's jaw, stopping just short of killing him.
Even a maidservant, Melantho, demonstrates disloyalty and is rebuked by Ulysses for carrying on an illicit affair with the suitor Eurymachus.
While all of the suitors are guilty of subversion, some, such as Amphinomus, seem to have some redeeming features. Some of these more redeemable men are given a warning by the "beggar" to leave, as there are whispers that Ulysses may seek retribution on members of the group. However, even under warning, none accept the opportunity to leave. The goddess Athena has already decided that all will pay the ultimate price for their disloyalty to Ulysses.
Telemachus calls the event to a close, and the attendees go home.
Analysis
Both Ulysses and Telemachus exercise considerable restraint, self-control, and patience by not reacting to the abuse heaped upon Ulysses by various men of ill repute. While temptation surely encouraged immediate retribution, both men possess the strength to bide their time and continue allowing others to believe that this stranger is only a beggar. This not only demonstrates the strength of Ulysses, and that of his son, but simultaneously showcases the vile weaknesses and poor qualities of these individuals. This will further justify the eventual demise of such awful men.
Some suitors, though, do not appear to be entirely bad, and these men are shown a certain measure of compassion. They are allowed to leave without retribution. Unfortunately for them, their bad outweighs their good, or at least their wisdom, and none of these men accept the advice to depart and distance themselves from the rest of the suitors. They, too, will pay the price for their failure to repent.
Melantho's affair with Euymachus again demonstrates the disloyalty that has reared its head during Ulysses' absence. The distinction between loyalty and disloyalty remains at the forefront of the story, even if disloyalty seems to be running rampant among those once trusted.
