We talked in class today about the suitors. We established before that the suitors have clearly overstayed their welcome and abused Telemachus' hospitality. When I was talking with my group about our thoughts about the suitors, "they deserve to die" came up. I agree that the suitors need to go. I don't like them at all, but it feels weird to think that someone deserves to die for being a rude house guest. A few of them did plan to ambush and kill Telemachus, but the others are just rude people.
Also, the idea of Telemachus being at fault is interesting (or maybe it's not, but it's something I never considered before). He could just throw them out since he's the prince of Ithaca. Is waiting for his mother something that is worsening his situation?
Whether the suitors deserve to die or not, I guess the slaughter is inevitable.
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I also have trouble saying anyone deserves to die, especially for being a bad house guest, but I also struggle to think of an alternative ending that would still show off Odysseus' strength and keep the "aesthetic appeal" we discussed in class. It's interesting that you brought up Telemachus' role, I think Odysseus was a little irritated at first that Telemachus hadn't thrown the suitors out, but I don't think young Telemachus could have removed 100 people by force, and we know he was unsuccessful in just asking them to leave. I don't really see the slaughter as being his fault, I think it's more Odysseus being (maybe) justified in killing them and then losing his emotional control and going way farther than a respectable hero should have (in my opinion).
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