Summary 21-24

Book 21 
In book 21 it starts off with Penelope removing Odyseseus's bow from its honor on the wall. The Queen starts to tell the suitors about the contest and all the details. Eumaios and Philoitios have a mental breakdown because Penelope has given up on her husband returing back home. Telemachos is the first to string the bow because he wants to show his sttrength and manliness. Odysseus then tells him not to do so they then move on to the first suitor who fails. Antinoös orders Melanthios to try in cheat in hopes of stringing the bow. Odysseus sees Eumaios and Philoitios so he tells them its him and shows them his scar. When Odysseus wants a chance at stringing the bow all the suitors tell him no. Penelope then lets him have a chance, and Telemachos tells Penelope that she needs to go upstairs and be a women. Telemachos tells Eurykleia to tell all the women to go to their rooms and tell them not to come out until they are allowed even if they hear sounds of battle. Odysseus sucssefully strings the bow and all the suitors make fun of him for taking so long. 

Book 22
Odysseus and Telemachos start killing all the suitors, but the suitors start running because they have no weapons. Telemachos trys to have Odysseus stop killing all the good suitors but Odysseus doesnt stop. Telemachos goes and gets more weapons, but leaves the door open and now the suitors have weapons. Odysseus also kills twelve of the of the maids. Odysseus purifies the hall and everything is back to normal. 

Book 23
Eurykleia tells Penelope that Odysseus is back but she doesn't beleive her. She finally sees Odysseus, but she won't know him until she tells her their secret about the bed, and how he built it around a tree and used the one as the bed posts so no one can move the bed. They then sleep together again after twenty years and stayed up all night talking. Odysseus then tells Penelope that he is going to see his father so he orders her to go upstairs and lock themselves away from any avengers from town. Odysseus, Telemachos, and the herdsmen then go see Laertes and Athena covers them with a dark cloud. 

Book 24
Odysseus reaches the land where his father lives and he finds his dad plowing the land. Odysseus trys testing Laertes loyalty by insulting his aperance and telling him that he once housed Odysseus on his voage home. Laertes responds by thanking him for helping his son. Odysseus then shows him his scar and tells him that it is him. They then walk back to the farm house were they find out that everyone knows about the massive slaughter. No one is worried though because they know the gods are on Odysseus's side. Odysseus friends are ready to fight and Laertes kills Eupeithes with a spear right through the helmet. Athena then yells at everyone to stop and have peace. She tells them that is they don't stop Zeus will be mad, so they all stop and Ithaka is back to normal. 

Theme: Loyalty