Odysseus is disguised as a beggar by the goddess Athena, who is helping him plot his revenge against the suitors who are courting his wife. From the vantage point of a beggar in his own court, Odysseus is able to assess who remains loyal to him, who the suitors are, their habits, and he is able to sow dissent amongst them. The information he gleans allows him to formulate a plan for revenge.
Agamemnon's warning also causes Odysseus to be weary in returning home as himself, as he does not know if his wife is true and on his side yet. Odysseus also is able to see if his wife has remained loyal to him after all these years.
Odysseus believed that the other beggar viewed him with suspicion and did not recognize his true identity. He thought that the beggar saw him as just another wanderer or stranger passing through. Odysseus cleverly played along with this perception to maintain his disguise.
The symbolic meaning and practical application of the old beggar is so nobody will know that Odysseus is back to Ithaca. So if Odysseus came back not disguised everyone would know that he is back in Ithaca.
Penelope asked the beggar what he remembered about Odysseus, what he looked like etc. The beggar was easily able to answer these questions. She asked these questions to ensure that the beggar was not just making up a story to get her hopes up. She made sure that the beggar truly had seen Odysseus.
At first, Odysseus is disguised as an old beggar by Athena. When his disguise is lifted, Telemachus believes he is a God and then after some persuasion believes that Odysseus really is his father.
Melanthius, the goatherd, treated Odysseus and Eumaeus poorly, verbally abusing them and even kicking Odysseus in the hip. He treats both of them as lower class, and calls Odysseus a man who became a beggar out of laziness and refusal to do work.
Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar upon learning that he is back on Ithaca.
Athena, who is trying to help Odysseus, tells him to disguise himself as a beggar.
a beggar
The beggar, who is actually Odysseus in disguise, is mistreated by the suitors in "The Odyssey." They mock him, insult him, and even throw objects at him. Despite their rude behavior, Odysseus maintains his disguise to observe their behavior before revealing his true identity.
Penelope's interview with the beggar is ironic because, unbeknownst to her, the beggar is actually her husband, Odysseus, in disguise. Despite spending years waiting for his return, Penelope fails to recognize him, showcasing her loyalty and patience. This encounter reveals the power of disguise and the testing of identity within the epic narrative.
she dresses him in rags. she disguises him as a beggar.
Odysseus dressed up as an old beggar when he returned to Ithica.
In Book 17 of the Odyssey, Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar to secretly return to his home in Ithaca. He uses this disguise to gather information about the situation in his household and to assess who is loyal to him.
She disguised Odysseus as an old beggar, so he couldn't be recognized by anyone on Ithaca.
Penelope believes that the beggar is her husband, Odysseus, who has returned home in disguise after being away for many years. She tests him by asking him to move their bed, a task only Odysseus could accomplish due to its special construction.
Antinous is warned that Odysseus, the wandering beggar, may actually be a god in disguise.
Penelope asks the beggar for information about Odysseus without realizing she is speaking to Odysseus himself!