Thursday, September 20, 2012

Book Fourteen: The Loyal Swineherd

Odysseus went to his swineherd, disguised as a beggar and the swineherd welcomes Odysseus into his home. This exhibits that hospitality is not practiced solely by royalty. The swineherd talked about how his master left, and the suitors eat up his fortune. When Odysseus asks for the swineherd's master's name, the swineherd refuses since he does not want the "beggar" to tell lies to the queen for riches. It really shows how kind of a ruler Odysseus was that after twenty years, his employees still care for him and his family. Odysseus promises that Odysseus will return this month, yet the swineherd does not believe him. After Odysseus tells the swineherd a fabricated story about his troubles, the swineherd still insists that Odysseus will not be returning, and the details of his story are fine except for those about Odysseus. Odysseus tells the swineherd that if Odysseus returns, then the swineherd should give him clothes and send him off or otherwise kill him. The swineherd protests talking about the shame of being such a bad host as to kill his own guest. Odysseus tests the swineherd by asking for a cloak, which the swineherd provides.

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