Why does Odysseus kill the Suitors?
Our answer below is sourced directly from the text of The Odyssey, and includes key passages from the text to support it.
Odysseus kills the suitors because they have been disrespecting him and his son, Telemachus, by trying to take over his home and court, forcing Penelope to marry one of them, wasting Odysseus' resources while he is away, and plotting to kill Telemachus despite the fact that Ulysses had previously protected Antinous' father from the people of Ithaca. Furthermore, the suitors have been mocking Telemachus and disregarding his warnings, showing their disrespect for him and his home. Antinous even went so far as to physically assault Odysseus, demonstrating the suitors' complete disregard for justice and morality. Additionally, the suitors have been taking advantage of Telemachus' vulnerable position as an only son, disrespecting him and his home by maltreating the women servants, wasting food and wine, and refusing to leave despite Telemachus' warnings. Furthermore, the suitors have insulted and threatened Telemachus and his mother, Penelope, and have even gone so far as to physically assault Odysseus. They have also tried to prevent Odysseus from returning home by praying for his absence and attempting to marry Penelope and have children with her.
Here are the top passages from The Odyssey related to the question:
He took an arrow that was lying upon the table—for those which the Achaeans were so shortly about to taste were all inside the quiver—he laid it on the centre-piece of the bow, and drew the notch of the arrow and the string toward him, still seated on his seat. When he had taken aim he let fly, and his arrow pierced every one of the handle-holes of the axes from the first onwards till it had gone right through them, and into the outer courtyard. Then he said to Telemachus: “Your guest has not disgraced you, Telemachus. I did not miss what I aimed at, and I was not long in stringing my bow. I am still strong, and not as the suitors twit me with being. Now, however, it is time for the Achaeans to prepare supper while there is still daylight, and then otherwise to disport themselves with song and dance which are the crowning ornaments of a banquet.”
“Is that so?” exclaimed Minerva, “then you do indeed want Ulysses home again. Give him his helmet, shield, and a couple of lances, and if he is the man he was when I first knew him in our house, drinking and making merry, he would soon lay his hands about these rascally suitors, were he to stand once more upon his own threshold. He was then coming from Ephyra, where he had been to beg poison for his arrows from Ilus, son of Mermerus. Ilus feared the ever-living gods and would not give him any, but my father let him have some, for he was very fond of him. If Ulysses is the man he then was these suitors will have a short shrift and a sorry wedding.
