Kaitlin Spear

Paper 3, page 1
krspear@purdue.edu
WC: 1,834
Odysseuss Defense
Athena has decided to organize a trial at the palace in Ithaca to decide the fate of
Odysseus with Penelope as the mediator. She believes that Penelope is the best person to
construct the trial for she has both the favor of the suitors (therefore the families of the suitors, as
well) and Odysseus preventing both parties from blaming her for her decision. The reasoning
behind the decision to appoint Penelope to supervise and facilitate the trial lies in the fact that
she is indeed the wife of Odysseus. In this position, she would be able to discern the facts from
his defense speech and perhaps pick up on specific nonverbal cues that might hint at
untruthfulness and/or sincerity. Having said that, Penelope was also in Ithaca and experienced
many encounters with the suitors who had attempted to seduce her in Odysseuss absence. And
although she did not ever surrender to the temptation, when Odysseus returned, the suitors still
found reason to win her over by taunting and provoking her husband and fighting against him
before they were killed. For example, in book 17. 500-507, the poem says, As he spoke he
grabbed the footstool and threw it, Hitting Odysseus under his right shoulderblade. Odysseus
stood there solid as a rock And didnt even blink. He only shook his head In silence, and brooded
darkly. Then he went back to the threshold and sat down. While it would appear that Odysseus
was not fazed by Antinouss actions against him, this proves that despite Penelopes rejection of
the suitors offers, they still thought it necessary to fight for her or, at the very least, attempt to
get rid of her husband once and for all. So with Penelope being the prize to claim of both
parties, she was chosen to mediate the trial; Athena anticipated less backlash from the losing

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party given whatever verdict came of it. Odysseus is called to the stand to present his defense for
his actions on the journey from Troy and his actions when he arrived in Ithaca
Preface, The Prosecutors Accusations: Odysseus is being accused of the followingunfairly
killing all the suitors and the servants and questionable leadership skills on his journey back to
Ithaca (not making the well-being of his crew a priority, placing personal needs above his crew,
choosing not to take safety in to account when making stops along the way which made the
possibility for death more prevalent). Odysseus, himself, was apprehensive following his actions
at the palace of the reactions from the families of these suitors. If he truly believed he was in the
right for killing them, why would he have anything to worry about when explaining his actions
to their families? Explain how it is okay to commit vengeful killings just because one is upset
with what has gone on in his absence. Another instance to make note of would be Athenas
contemplation to make the suitors families forget that Odysseus killed their sons. Zeus says to
Athena, Why question me, Daughter? Wasnt this Your plan, to have Odysseus pay them back
With a vengeance? Do as you will, But I will tell you what would be fitting. Now that Odysseus
has paid the suitors back, Let all the parties swear a solemn oath, That he will be king on Ithaca
all of his days. We, for our part, will have them forget The killing of their sons and brothers. Let
them live in friendship as before, And let peace and prosperity abound. This was all Athena
needed to hear (Book 24. 496-507). The fact that the gods had to consider making the
Ithacans forget what Odysseus did to their sons further proves that not even divine morality truly
supported what was asked of their mortal ally. Athena would not have felt the need to make them
forget in the first place had Odysseuss actions been completely justifiable. In addition, he not
only kills the suitors but then goes on to kill the disloyal slave women. What if the motivation
behind killing them be so that there are no witnesses to tell of what he had done? There is clear

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evidence to see why Odysseus should be convicted as he is responsible for the lives of so many
now and no man should be able to walk free with so much blood on his hands.

Odysseuss Defense: While I understand that I have a number of mens and womens lives on my
hands at this point, people must understand that I had fully good reason to commit these actions
and I feel as though anyone in my position would have done the same as I. There are a few points
that I would like to bring attention to that justify my actions. First and foremost, I was merely
doing as I was told by divine authority. Athena made the entire journey back to Ithaca possible to
ensure that her will be doneto kill these men for attempting to seduce my wife. When I left
Calypso and the storm stirred, I would have been killed had it not been for Athenas protection
She created a tailwind and river so I could be delivered safely to Phaeacia. I prayed Hear me,
Riverlord, whoever you are And however men pray to you: I am a fugitive from the sea And
Poseidons persecution, A wandering mortal, pitiful To the gods, I come to you, To your water
and your knees. I have suffered so much, O Lord, Lord, hear my prayer. (Book 5.448-456). I
made it safely to shore after because the water was suddenly calm. And because I was so fatigued
from the storm, Athena aided my sleep, immediately following, so I could restore my energy for
everything that was to happen after I woke (Book 5.499-502). Athena and I sat and discussed the
death of suitors as well and she told me Oh, Ill be there all right, and Ill keep my eye on you
When we get down to business (13.408,409). Athena assured me she would be by my side
while I committed the killings, leaving me to think that it was what she wanteddivine will.
And who would dare disobey the commands of the goddess? Like I said before, I was only doing
what I was told by the goddess Athena, herself (Book 13.387-396). Divine authority trumps even
our own moral compass and no one can disagree with that. We do what the gods tell us to do for

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a number of reasons and when we are needed as tools in their schemes, we do not question, we
simply do. May I also make the point of what might have happened to me had I not followed her
orders? I was not about to face her wrath by disobeying the plan she chose to make me
instrumental in. I would have, no doubt, ended up the dead man.
My next point of defense would be the fact that these men did attempt to commit adultery
with my wife so wouldnt anyone in their right mind be a bit upset with someone else if they had
they tried to seduce their significant other? These men were well aware that there was a
possibility I was still alive, yet they still attempted to seduce Penelope. My son, Telemachus
called an assembly to announce he would be leaving in search of news of my whereabouts. This
could have very easily alluded to the idea that I might still be alive (pg. 256, Book 2, omitted).
Even with their claim that they were not certain of what happened to me, the right action to take
would be to respect me and not attempt anything with my wife for the sole reason that my
whereabouts were unknown. Dead or living, I demand to be respected in that what is mine stays
mine because my legacy will live on. Not only was I more than enraged about that but when I
came to the palace, I was insulted and mocked by the suitors as well. Eurymachus and Melantho,
both, took it upon themselves to throw jabs and taunts my way, only further provoking me. Did I
not mention the footstool that Eurymachus threw at me (pg. 402, Book 18, omitted lines 116466)? So here I say if my case of divine authority is not yet enough justification, am I not at all
justified by claiming self-defense? Who is to say that I would not have been killed if I hadnt
killed them first? With their desire to lay with my wife, they have all the motivation in the world
to end my life. If they succeed, there, technically, is no wrong in sleeping with her. With that
motive to kill me, I see killing them to establish my authority and position and to keep what is
rightfully mine, perfectly justifiable. And as if that is not enough, the suitors were also plotting

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to kill my son. Any loving parent would go to ends of the earth to protect their child from any
harm; to save my sons lifeto ensure that he would get to live another day, I did what I thought
was the necessary course of action.
As far as my leadership tactics that were used on the way back to Ithaca from Troy,
originally; while not completely thought out in the moment, it was to ensure that I made it back
to Ithaca to carry out the goddess, Athenas and my plan. I lost some crew members along the
way, but I would venture to say that, it was better them than me because if I had not made it
home, Athenas plan to end the lives of the suitors would not have been able to be executed how
she wanted it to be. If my fallen crew members were alive today, I say with confidence that they
would be honored to die in my place because doing so ensured that Athenas plan of action was
carried out correctly. They died with honor and I will be forever grateful to them for that as I
know the gods will bless them in their afterlife.

As Odysseuss defense speech comes to a close, it is decided that he will walk away from
the trial innocent in that because he carried out the will of divine power, he shall not be punished.
He did what was wanted of the goddess, Athena; therefore he potentially saved the lives of more
people than lives he ended. If he had not done what he was supposed to, it is likely that Athena
would have ended the lives of far more people, including his own loved ones. Peace in Ithaca is
restored without the plan to take the memory of the suitors families because they see that the
decision to let Odysseus walk away as a free man and King of Ithaca is the gods handiwork. We
mortals are merely their playing cards.