The Odyssey, Book 18

Another beggar-- Arnaios, called "Iros"-- arrives and confronts Odysseus for horning in on his turf.  Odysseus tries to blow him off, but Alkinoos mockingly eggs them on to fight for the suitors' entertainment.  Odysseus uncloaks, and his appearance is staggering.  Then he kicks Iros's ass.  Amphinomos toasts him, but Odysseus responds by warning him of his upcoming fate.

Penelope decides to present herself to the assembly.  First Athene puts her to sleep, then makes her appearance radiant.  Penelope scolds Telemachos for not keeping order in the home.  T: "What could I do?  The stranger takes care of himself.  I wish he'd done the same to the suitors."  Eurymachos tries a line on Penelope.  She blows him off-- among other reasons, for daring to woo her while feasting on her possessions, rather than by showering her with gifts.  Led by Alkinoos, the suitors retrieve gifts, which are taken to Penelope's chamber.  [Is she just going to keep them all?]

Odysseus volunteers to keep the fire.  This starts a quarrel with a servantwoman.  Eurymachos mocks Odysseus for his victory over Iros, saying he would be helpless in any real sort of contest or labor.  Odysseus: "Just try me, pal."  Eurymachos hurls a stool at him but misses.  Tempers rising.  Telemachos scolds all the suitors and puts them in their place.

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The reveal of Odysseus as Odysseus is going to be awesome.

A really important passage  from this chapter sums up the entire philosophy of the book, I think.  Odysseus's response to Amphinomos, xviii.130-142:

"Of all creatures that breathe and walk on the earth there is nothing
more helpless than a man is, of all that the earth fosters;
for he thinks that he will never suffer misfortune in future
days, while the gods grant him courage, and his knees have spring
in them.  But when the blessed gods bring sad days upon him,
against his will he must suffer it with enduring spirit.
For the mind in men upon earth goes according to the fortunes
the Father of Gods and Men, day by day, bestows upon them.
For I myself once promised to be a man of prosperity,
but, giving way to force and violence, did many reckless
things, because I relied on my father and brothers.  Therefore,
let no man be altogether without the sense of righteousness,
but take in silence the gifts of the gods, whatever they give him."

Odysseus is speaking in the voice of his beggar character, but is relating his own views on his life as well.  And he speaks for all men:  Mankind is wretched.  He has earned nothing, and deserves nothing, yet believes himself to be of higher dignity than, or immune to, hardships.  But the world is run by forces beyond our control, nay, for forces beyond our control.  The correct attitude is gratitude for the good things that come our way, and dogged stoicism in the face of the rest.

It will be interesting to see how this philosophy is responded to by future writers, and especially by Christian writers who would disagree with the opening position.