Monday, December 12, 2016

How Blind Were the Suitors?

          In the Odyssey, there was much foreshadowing about the suitors death, which of course they couldn't see, but there were several signs they could see, but did not seem to recognize. Were they really that blind, or did the Gods put some spell on them so they wouldn't notice all the signs pointing to their deaths?
          The first big thing that pointed to their deaths was the Hospitality rules they were breaking. I'm sure that they knew these rules, and knew that breaking them would lead to terrible things, so did they not care, or was some God clouding their judgement, and keeping them from noticing all the prophecies leading to their deaths?
          The second thing was the anger Telemachus had toward them, and their ignorance to the fact that he might be planning to kill them just like they were planning to kill him. It makes sense that they might not see him as much of a threat because he was just one young man, but he was in the line of Zeus, and his father was Odysseus who had done many amazing things, so it seems like they might have taken more precautions.
          The third, and most obvious thing that they did not notice was the trap that Telemachus and Odysseus were laying for them. It seems like they should have noticed that all their weapons had gone missing, and also after Odysseus won the contest, they should have noticed that he did not put his bow down, and he was not planning to let them get away with all they had done.
          These were the three big things I found in the Odyssey leading to the death of the suitors, that seemed like they should have noticed. I know that several of them were cunning, but they were young and immature which could have affected their judgement and awareness. I also think that there definitely must have been some God clouding their minds and keeping them from noticing the most obvious things.

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