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How do the suitors react when Odysseus, in disguise, takes up the bow in The Odyssey?
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In The Odyssey, the suitors initially react with scorn and objections when Odysseus, disguised as an old beggar, takes up the bow. They fear he might succeed and humiliate them. However, when Odysseus effortlessly strings the bow, the suitors are stunned into silence, realizing too late that he is the true hero and their doom is imminent.
The bow contest takes place in book 21 of The Odyssey. The purpose is that the winner will have Penelope's hand in marriage. She presents the contest by saying:
Come now, ye wooers since this is shown to be your prize. I will set before you the great bow of divine Odysseus, and whosoever shall most easily string the bow in his hands and shoot an arrow through all twelve axes, with him will I go, and forsake this house of my wedded life.
When Odysseus, disguised as an old beggar, says he will try to string the bow, the suitors all vehemently object. They are actually afraid that he will succeed and make them look bad. Eurymachus, one of the suitors, tells Penelope that he and the other suitors would not want people gossiping that an old beggar won her hand instead of a far more eligible...
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suitor. Penelope responds by scolding the suitors for insulting the beggar, who is her guest.
When Odysseus takes up the bow and effortlessly strings it, the suitors' attitude changes to one of shock. They are stunned into silence that they were bested by a mere beggar. At that moment, Zeus sends a thunderclap to break the silence.
Odysseus is disguised as an old beggar. When he takes up the bow, some of the suitors laugh him to scorn. They ridicule the old beggar, not realizing it is Odysseus. The suitors are despicable. They have taken advantage of Penelope and Telemachus. They have eaten more than their share and have drunk so much wine. They have worn out their welcome. Most importantly, they are planning to kill Telemachus.
When Penelope creates the contest of agreeing to marry whoever can string the bow and shoot it through a series of small circles, the suitors make fun of the old beggar, knowing or thinking he is too old to string the bow.
When Odysseus does string the bow, he wins the contest. This is when he reveals himself to the suitors who realize they are about to die at the hand of the hero Odysseus. Odysseus is alive and well, and he takes back his kingdom.