The Maids
I think it’s very interesting that Odysseus finds hospitality in every home but his own. One would expect taunting from the suitors – but in book 18 a maid play an (in my opinion) unexpected role. As a slave, she is probably consistently looked down upon and under appreciated – but does that give her an excuse to treat those lower than her badly? I don’t know. I understand where she’s coming from; I understand she would take any opportunity to boost herself up in a world where she is practically nothing. That being said, Xenia is a concept deeply rooted in Greek culture, irregardless of status or hierarchies of either party (based on what we have seen so far). Doesn’t violating it just make her more of an outcast? Even less worthy of honour and respect?
Odysseus and Irus
When Odysseus returns to his palace disguised as a beggar, he encounters a real beggar, Irus. Irus taunts and challenges Odysseus, unaware of his true identity, and they both fight for the suitors and their food. As arrogant and greedy as he was, at the end of the day, Irus was a poor beggar – which meant he had practically nothing. In the earlier books, Odysseus was described as a “fair ruler”. As a king with wealth and power, was is right for Odysseus to take advantage of his strength and fight (and defeat) Irus? Is Irus a villain, or just another struggling citizen of Ithaca?
Well, in terms of heroism, the beggar uses his strength to abuse another begger, one more abject than himself —he doesn’t resist the people oppressing him; he oppresses another in turn— so he seems a bit villainous to me.
I think it’s interesting that you are quite skeptical of Odysseus (and I’m not saying you don’t have good reason) but you want to give this loudmouth bully a second look . . .