We arrived at Meneláos mansion. He invited us to dinner within his vast and beautiful home. He started talking about his long, weary journey, and connected it to my father's without knowing who I was. I suddenly broke down thinking about my lost father. Meneláos was angry at the Gods for not allowing him to return. After all of the good things he ever did, he is now lost in the world. This statement caused everyone to weep, including Zeus's daughter. Then, everyone at the table spoke of my father's greatest stories. After, I told Meneláos of the problems that were going on back home. He was furious, and he wanted them to honor Odysseus. He then told his entire story and asked me to stay for eleven more days with him. I would have loved to, but I had to get back to my journey. Meneláos understood and gave me a few gifts for the next part of my journey.
I'm happy that I've heard all of these great things about my father, but in the end they don't really matter. I said to Meneláos, "...all the more pity, since these valors could not defend him from annihilation..." (61). My father is a great man, but if his powerful acts don't get him home, then they weren't for anything. If heroes don't get rewarded or aren't allowed to return home, then what's the point of setting out for that journey in the first place?
I was surprised when Meneláos told me the story of when he tricked a God. He told me, "Still we hung on... through everything until the Ancient saw defeat..." (66). Aren't all Gods supposed to be all powerful? If they were the strongest beings in the world, then a few mortals shouldn't have been able to trick and defeat one. This is very embarrassing for them. Gods may not be as powerful as they are seen.
I'm happy that I've heard all of these great things about my father, but in the end they don't really matter. I said to Meneláos, "...all the more pity, since these valors could not defend him from annihilation..." (61). My father is a great man, but if his powerful acts don't get him home, then they weren't for anything. If heroes don't get rewarded or aren't allowed to return home, then what's the point of setting out for that journey in the first place?
I was surprised when Meneláos told me the story of when he tricked a God. He told me, "Still we hung on... through everything until the Ancient saw defeat..." (66). Aren't all Gods supposed to be all powerful? If they were the strongest beings in the world, then a few mortals shouldn't have been able to trick and defeat one. This is very embarrassing for them. Gods may not be as powerful as they are seen.
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