Book 24-Peace Returned to Ithaka

Approaching my father's home, I told my companions to prepare lunch inside while I go find my dad. I found him planting trees in the back of his house. When I started talking to him, I pretended to be someone else, not Odysseus. He didn't recognize me. As I continued to pretend, I couldn't keep looking at him anymore. I embraced him and told him the truth. Of course he had to test whether it was truly me or not, but he believed me. Together, we walked inside for lunch. My dad's servant came in, and he also couldn't believe I was home. I then told somebody to go outside and check whether the town was coming to get me. I was told they were coming, when my Mentor appeared. I felt much more confident, and I told Telemakhos to be prepared to fight. He sounded ready, like he was finally the strong person I knew he would be. We went outside, with our armour shining in the bright sun, and I threw a spear at Eupeithes, killing the first victim. My son and I would not be denied, but Athena stopped the fight and told us to make peace. She said Zeus was going to be angry if we didn't stop so I obeyed. We swore on a peace agreement and all was finally good back on Ithaka.

When I was talking to my father, I couldn't pretend to be someone else and hold the truth from him. Going to embrace him, I said, "...he could not watch this any longer.He leaped and threw his arms around his father, kissed him..." (454). It was a miracle to see my father alive and well. After all of the stressed I had put on him from my journey, I felt relieved that he was still alright. Seeing Penelope and Telemakhos made me feel alot better but seeing my dad again made everything almost perfect.

When Athena came down from Olympus, she gave me advice on what to do with the citizens of Ithaka. After she had gone, I realized, "Athena...who bears the stormcloud as a shield-- though still she kept the form and voice of Mentor," (462). Although that Athena knew that I knew who she truly was, she still didn't come down to me in her real form. She decided to stay in the form of Mentor. While a goddess is a powerful figure, a man may be easier to trust. Even goddesses used the form of men to get their point across to mortals.