The Odyssey Summary:Book 2
Book Two of the Odyssey begins in the morning as Telémakhos dresses and arms himself. He calls all the Ithakans and suitors together for an assembly. Aigyptios begins the assembly by questioning who called for it and why, and asks Zues to bless the meeting. Telémakhos replies that he called the meeting because he is sick and tired of these suitors and their rude behavior. He also asks why Odysseus’ people have allowed their behavior to continue. Angrily, he asserts that he, his mother, and their home have been mistreated, and he doesn’t have the power to correct the injustice.
Antínoös then retorts that Telémakhos is wrong to be angry with the suitors because the blame belongs to his mother for not choosing a new husband. He calls her “cunning” and tells the story of how she has stalled for the past three years weaving a funeral blanket for her dead husband before she could again marry. She wove during the day and unwound at night until one of her maids snitched on her. Antínoös orders Telémakhos to dismiss his mother or force her to choose a husband. He adds that the suitors will not leave until she does. Telémakhos replies that he’d be damned before he treat his mother that way and repeats verbatim the warning he gave them in Book One.
At this second warning, Zeus sent a sign (a pair of eagles) which Halithersis interprets. He tries to enlighten the suitors of their coming doom saying that Odysseus will return. Eurymakhos mocks Halithersis stating that all this eagle talk is just getting Telémakhos more worked up and will eventually only frustrate him since he is powerless to change anything. Then Telémakhos tells them about the journey in which Athena has told him to go on. At that point, Mentor tries to rally up the Ithakans to fight off the suitors. Leokritos mocks him questioning why he wants to start a fight when even Odysseus would lose right then.
The assembly breaks and Telémakhos prays to Athena who comes to him in the form of Mentor. She tells him he will be lucky and the suitors are doomed. She tells him to go home and “get provisions ready” for the journey, while she will round up the crew and the ship. When Telemakhos gets home to prepare, Antínoös tries to make light of the situation like, “Don’t be mad, let’s just keep partying!” But Telémakhos is angry and determined now and basically tells him to drop dead. The suitors laugh at him and mock him and tell him he will probably die at sea like his father did. Telémakhos ignores them and gets his nurse to help him pack.
Though Eurykleia cries in fear for him, she promises, at his request, not to tell his mother of the journey. Meanwhile, Athena gets the crew and ship, and then calls Telémakhos. The Book ends with Telémakhos, Athena, and the ship’s crew sailing off as they thank the gods.