The Odyssey Summary:Book 4

Telémakhos and Peisístratos arrive at Meneláos’ mansion, and find the house full of merriment and feasting in honor of a double wedding. The travelers’ are amazed at the splendor. After a bit of harassment from Eteóneus, one of Meneláos’ men, they are invited in. They speak for awhile, and then Helen comes from her room and immediately guesses Telémakhos’ identity. Her husband shoots her a look: all is not magic in the court of Atreides. Meneláos sarcastically agrees with her, and Peisístratos admits that they have guessed correctly.

Meneláos is thrilled to have Telémakhos as a guest in his home, for he loves and respects Odysseus. They talk of Troy and warriors’ deaths which puts a pall on the gathering, but Helen assuages the bad mood with a potion of forgetfulness. She tells a story that she remembers of Odysseus during the Trojan War. Meneláos, who perhaps is not affected by the wine after being served by Helen for so long, relates his own story, which questions Helen’s version of the same story. Truly, all is not well between these two.

The next morning Meneláos learns that Telémakhos wishes to hear of his father. He tells Meneláos about the sad shape of the family estate, and then Meneláos tells (quite long-windedly) Telémakhos what he knows of his father: that Proteus told him that Odysseus was being held on the island of Kalypso. Meneláos tries to convince Telémakhos to stay two weeks as his guest, to which Telémakhos graciously declines, remembering Nestor’s advice that he should return to Ithaka soon.

Meanwhile, on Ithaka, the suitors discover that Telémakhos intends to learn what happened to his father, so they conspire to murder Telémakhos as he returns home. Penelope learns of the suitors’ plans and is traumatized by visions of losing her husband and son. Athena creates a vision of Penelope’s sister Iphthime and sends the ghost into Penelope’s dream to comfort her, though the ghost cannot say if Odysseus is dead or alive. As Penelope awakes from her dream, feeling better, the suitors hide out on the islet of Asteris waiting to ambush Telémakhos.

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The Odyssey Summary > Book 4