I can see why Odysseus kept his true
identity hidden from Eumaeus. Of course he would have wanted everyone he knew
and loved to know that he was back to take his rightful place, but it would
probably have added a lot of stress and more time to his journey if people—especially
the suitors—knew he was back. It’s not as easy as sailing back into harbor and
waltzing back into his house; Odysseus must make sure it’s safe for him. If
Eumaeus knew from the beginning that it was Odysseus he was helping, there’s
always a chance he could give the secret away, or be too overwhelmed after
seeing both him and Telemachus return to really be a big help. It’s better to
have Eumaeus in the dark about Odysseus’ identity because, first of all,
Odysseus can better tell his true character by how well Eumaeus treats a
stranger who comes to him asking for help, and second of all, the more secret
Odysseus’ return is, the better he can figure out what really needs to be done
to reinstall himself in his own home, by posing as a stranger so he can get the
real news.
Eumaeus obviously loves Odysseus and his
family very much and is very loyal, and is simply a good person to boot, after
we see him give Odysseus a place to stay and helps him out. When Telemachus
returns and goes to speak with Eumaeus, he’s almost as happy to see Telemachus
as Odysseus was: “Like a fond father welcoming back his son after nine years
abroad, his only son…the admirable swineherd threw his arms around Telemachus…”.
To see someone other than his father care about Telemachus like a son was
important, because it shows that there are still some who are loyal to
Telemachus and Odysseus, who would help out whenever they’re needed.
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