Day Four

1. The character of Melanthius is the brother of melantho. Melanthius supports the suitors. And in book 17 Melanthius starts abusing the beggar who shows up at odysseus palace. Melanthius doesn't realize that the beggar is odysseus. Melanthius gave Ulysses a kick on the hip out of pure wantonness. Ulyssess didn't know wether or not to kill Melanthius with his staff of fling him to the ground and punch his brains out. But then Melanthius prayed to the gods and spared him and he claimed back his spot next to Eurymachus with the suitors. Melanthius is not a wise character and him no seeing that odysseus was the beggar showed that he was weak and that he should of been killed but was spared because Eurymachus who likes him the most spared him along with the other suitors.
2. Irus is a very interesting character that started off begging all over ithaca and he was notorious as an incorrigible glutton and drunkard. He had no strength or say in him and his a very hulking fellow to look at. His birth name is Arnaeus but the young men call him Irus. They call him Irus because everyone would send him on a errand. As soon as he saw Ulysses he tried to run him out of his house.

Thought

I think that Irus is pictured as this very good looking character, if that is what Hulking means, and he is just used as a errand boy and once Ulysses comes in as this hero he feels like he is gonna be driven out of his house so before that happens he tries to do the opposite and drive Ulysses out of his house. And i also am wondering why Ulysses is at Irus house in the first place, I'm confused with that.