What did the suitors do to make Odysseus shoot them in the throat?

Answer 1

It was more than just the fact that they were courting his wife. That might anger him, but it would not be enough justification to kill them. After all, no one had heard anything about him since the end of the Trojan war - 10 years earlier. It's not unreasonable to think that someone gone for so long was dead and thus his wife, Penelope, would be free to marry again. Penelope would be a particularly attractive widow because she was rich.

What made Odysseus really angry and justified his killing them according to the ethics of the time was that they were rude, obnoxious, treated the servants and his son badly, and generally acted as if they were the owners of the house to do whatever they wanted.

The concept of "hospitality" was a very important one in many ancient societies. Because there weren't hotels back then, many travellers could run out of food and water and could get caught out on the road at night, which was very dangerous. So, it was in everybody's best interest that guests be given food and shelter. One day you might be such a traveler.

Although guests should be treated well, sometimes even to the point of being treated better than the family, guests in turn had rules they needed to follow in order to keep the practice reasonable. Guests were supposed to be respectful; they might help with chores or for example, chop wood for the hearth. The most important thing required of guests is that they not "wear out their welcome." If guests were rude, demanded too much, or stayed too long, the practice of guest hospitality might become unpopular. So, if a guest had worn out his welcome, the owner of the house was no longer obliged by the rule of hospitality, and could certainly turn them out, even if they had to do so by physically kicking them out.

Penelope's suitors were far from being respectful. They not only acted as if they were the owners, they acted like particularly awful owners. When Odysseus appeared to them in the guise of a beggar, they didn't treat him like a guest, extending him hospitality. They were particularly rude. That made Odysseus' actions - killing them all - reasonable/acceptable.

Answer 2

It was more than just the fact that they were courting his wife. That might anger him, but it would not be enough justification to kill them. After all, no one had heard anything about him since the end of the Trojan war - 10 years earlier. It's not unreasonable to think that someone gone for so long was dead and thus his wife, Penelope would be free to marry again. Penelope would be a particularly attractive nwidow because she was rich.

What made Odysseus really angry and justified his killing them according to the ethics of the time was that they were rude, oboxious, treated the servants and his son badly, and generally acted as if they were the owners of the house to do whatever they wanted. The concept of "hospitality" was a very important one in many ancient societies.

Because there weren't hotels back then, many travellers could run out of food and water and could get caught out on the road at night, which was very dangerous. So, it was in everybody's best interest that guests be treated well. One day you might be such a traveler. Although guests should be treated well, sometimes even to the point of being treated better than the family, guests in turn had rules they needed to follow in order to keep the practice reasonable. Guests were supposed to be respectful; they might help with chores or for example, chop wood for the hearth. The most important thing required of guests is that they do not "wear out their welcome." If guests were rude, demanded too much, or stayed too long, the practice of guest hospitality might become unpopular. So, if a guest had worn out his welcome, the owner of the house was no longer obliged by the rule of hospitality, and could certainly turn them out, even if they had to do so by physically kicking them out.

Penelope's suitors were far from being respectful. They not only acted as if they were the owners, they acted like particularly awful owners. When Odysseus appeared to them in the guise of a beggar, they didn't treat him like a guest. They were particularly rude. That made Odysseus' actions - killing them all - reasonable.

Answer 3

Oh, and I forgot his dog. The sight of his dog, Argos, "lying neglected on a pile of cow manure, infested with fleas, old and very tired." The Argos Odysseus left behind was a very different dog "known for his speed and strength and his superior tracking skills." Odysseus wants to show affection to his loyal dog but he can't for fear that his real identity would be discovered, so he passes Argos by in sadness. Argos recognized his master and dies. This scene is clearly important or it wouldn't have made it into The Odyssey. Was it part of what fueled Odysseus anger? Possibly. He might blame them for not taking care of Argos as an owner should or is he angry at the suitors because it's their fault he has to maintain his disguise?

Homer here is touching upon a universal situation that still gets us in the feels. There are countless videos of service members coming home and being greeted by a faithful dog (or dogs). There's something very enjoyable about witnessing the joy of dog and master in their reunion that makes these videos popular. Here, Homer may have set up the scene, knowing that his listeners would expect, or hope for, such a joyous reunion. Instead, he gives us a tragic twist, setting up the events to follow.

Answer 4

The suitors were courting Odysseus' wife Penelope.