Family

The Theme in the Work

The family is where the poem measures the time of absence. Penelope weeps for her husband night and day, and when Phemius sings of the return of the Achaeans she asks him to change his song; Telemachus answers that speech is the concern of men, and she, astonished, obeys (Book I). In Book II, he says he cannot drive his mother out of the house against her will, because of Icarius, the Erinyes and men's reproach, and he leaves without telling her, with the oath of Eurycleia.

Parents are remembered by those who have lost them. In Book III, Nestor encourages Telemachus with the case of Orestes, the son who avenged his father. In Book IV, Menelaus weeps for Odysseus more than for the others. In Book XI, the mother of Odysseus, Anticleia, says she died of longing for him, and that Laertes sleeps in the ashes, feeding his grief; Odysseus tries three times to embrace her, and three times she slips away like a shadow.

When father and son meet, the scene is that of birds. Eumaeus embraces Telemachus like a father who receives his only son after ten years, and Telemachus accepts that the guest is his father only after an explanation, and the two weep like birds whose young have been taken away (Book XVI). Telemachus explains that the line has only one son in each generation, and that is why the enemies are many. In Book XVIII and Book XX, he tells his mother and the suitors that he is no longer a child.

Penelope tells the guest that her spirit is divided between staying with her son and keeping the goods, respecting her husband's bed and the reputation before the people, or following the best suitor, and that the son, now grown, asks her to leave the house (Book XIX). Telemachus, in Book XX, says he does not delay his mother's marriage and that he sends her to marry whoever she wishes, but he is ashamed to drive her out.

The family on the other side also weeps. Eupeithes, father of Antinous, calls the Ithacans to avenge his son and says he does not want to live unless he avenges him (Book XXIV). In the same book, Laertes, who was mourning in the orchard, sees his son and grandson armed and says he is glad the two dispute excellence.

The family of the Odyssey is made of waiting and of silence imposed. Odysseus demands that no one know of his return, not Laertes, not Penelope (Book XVI), and the mother weeps for a husband who is in the hall without the son or husband being able to say anything. The reunion comes in stages: the son's in Book XVI, the wife's in Book XXIII, the father's in Book XXIV, each with its own trial.

Where It Appears

• Book I: Penelope asks Phemius to change his song because it reminds her of her husband, and Telemachus sends her back to the loom, saying speech is the concern of men.
• Book II: Telemachus refuses to drive his mother out of the house against her will and sets out for Pylos in secret, after making the nurse Eurycleia swear silence for twelve days.
• Book III: Nestor encourages Telemachus with the example of Orestes, the son who avenged his father, and advises him not to stay long away from home.
• Book XI: Anticleia tells Odysseus that she died of longing for him, and Odysseus tries three times to embrace her, but she slips from his hands like a shadow.
• Book XVI: Odysseus reveals himself to his son, who does not believe until he hears the explanation, and the two weep like birds whose young have been taken.
• Book XVIII: Penelope rebukes Telemachus for letting the guest be mistreated, and he replies that he is no longer a child, but is alone against many.
• Book XIX: Penelope tells the guest that her spirit is divided between keeping her husband's house and following the best suitor, and that her son now asks her to leave.
• Book XXIII: Penelope and Odysseus tell each other, on the night of the reunion, what they suffered during the absence, she in the hall surrounded by suitors, he at sea.
• Book XXIV: Laertes, after the bath and the vigor Athena gives him, sees his son and grandson armed and rejoices that the two dispute excellence.
• Book XXIV: Eupeithes, father of Antinous, calls the Ithacans to avenge his dead son and says he does not want to live unless he avenges him.

Passages

Telemachus asserts for the first time power in the house, and the first one struck is his mother.

Anticleia explains to Odysseus how she died.

Father and son recognize each other and weep.

Telemachus explains why he is alone.

Penelope says where she stands.

Laertes speaks after seeing three generations armed.

Antinous's father asks for his son's vengeance.