Odysseus' Cruelty
Book 22 startled me even though I was prepared for bloodshed. The graphic detail with which every killing took place reminded me of a fast-paced hack-and-slash video game, and the lack of mercy that Odysseus fought with was definitively uncharacteristic of a hero. I was already hesitant toward the idea of killing all of the suitors -- the entire population of noble young men in the area -- especially when they were acting within the rules of their society (to court Penelope). Granted, they were not graceful and at some points were downright rude, but that didn't completely justify in my mind the decision to kill them. That's why I was taken aback by the absolute slaughter that took place. Odysseus did not take mercy on anyone except the people that could tell stories of his greatness: the minstrel Phemius and the herald Medon. Others who begged for his mercy were cut down. Again, we saw Odysseus' overwhelming self obsession. As evidenced when he asks the Phaeacian bard to