The Odyssey: Book 16 Summary & Analysis

When Telemachus arrives at the farm, Eumaeus asks him to take care of the stranger. Telemachus gladly offers to give the stranger clothes and a sword. Odysseus-the-beggar interjects to say that it upsets him to hear about the sad state of affairs at the palace, and that he wishes he could help fight the suitors; if he were Odysseus, he says, he would deserve death if he did not fight his offenders, and he would gladly die trying to fight them rather than tolerate their insulting behavior. Telemachus asks Eumaeus to go to the palace and tell Penelope that her son has returned home safely, but to tell no one else, not even Laertes.

Athena approaches the farm, but only Odysseus and the dogs can see her. He walks outside to talk to her, and she tells Odysseus to reveal his true identity to Telemachus so that the two can plan their revenge against the suitors. She makes Odysseus look like himself again. When he steps back inside, Telemachus is amazed at the transformation – he thinks Odysseus must be a god, since only gods can change so easily. I am your father, Odysseus tells him; Telemachus can't quite believe it at first, but Odysseus explains that Athena is responsible for his magical transformation.

Odysseus asks Telemachus to describe the suitors so that they can plan an attack. Telemachus doubts that only two men can defeat such a large group of suitors – over a hundred in total – but Odysseus reminds him that Athena and Zeus will stand by them as well. Odysseus tells him to go to the palace and mingle with the crowd of suitors. Eumaeus will bring Odysseus, once again disguised as a beggar, into town later. Odysseus further instructs Telemachus to keep his return secret – even from Laertes, Penelope, and Eumaeus.

Both Eumaeus and a herald from Pylos report to Penelope that Telemachus has come home. The suitors are dismayed to hear the news. They gather at the meeting grounds and complain that a god must have saved Telemachus's life. Antinous proposes to murder him on home soil, but in secret, to avoid persecution. Amphinomus suggests that they should only kill the prince if the gods are in favor of the murder, and the suitors all agree to this more moderate plan.

Penelope emerges from her chambers and confronts Antinous about his schemes against Telemachus. She reminds him that Odysseus once saved his father, and shames Antinous for mistreating Odysseus's land and wife in his absence. Eurymachus tells Penelope that he will not let Telemachus be harmed, but his reassurance is dishonest. Meanwhile, Eumaeus returns to the farm, and he, Telemachus, and Odysseus (once again disguised as the beggar) eat and fall asleep.