By Book XI, Homer has firmly established Odysseus as a hero for all time, but one whose failings made him distinctly human. Heroes such as Achilles, who had previously been accorded godlike status, are also brought to this level. In particular, the point in the interaction between Odysseus and Achilles where the latter declares "I'd rather live working as a wage-laborer for hire by some other man...than lord it over all the wasted dead." (480-500) reveals much about this concept of human nature. Achilles, having previously chosen to die a hero, now as a shade regrets that choice.
Book XXII illustrates the slaughter of the suitors. This chapter reveals not only the superiority of Odysseus in the ease with which he and his men conduct the slaughter, but other nuances about his character as well. His sense of justice, for example, is revealed. In lines 330-380, he spares the lives of Medon and Phemius. He does so on the basis of testimony from his Telemachus. This exemplifies that Odysseus, as a great leader, inherently understands who is right and wrong. He also implicitly trusts his son, who he left as an infant when we embarked for Troy. Odysseus further demonstrates his strong sense of right and wrong by killing Leodes, the priest who had begged for mercy similarly to Phemius. Lastly, Homer shows the strength of Odysseus' wisdom and justice when he illustrates how these traits passed down to Telemachus. In line 460-470 the son eschews his father's advice to kill the women servants who'd betrayed the house with his sword. Instead Telemachus, showing the same strong sense of justice as his father, has them hanged, a less noble death.
Book XXII illustrates much about human nature. Justice is meted out gleefully against those who are disloyal. The suitors' fates in large part match their actions. Eurymachus, for example, had previously insulted Telemachus and now dies at the son's hand.
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The tone of the book also reveals something about human nature. There are humorous elements in Book XXII, which seem somewhat inappropriate given the violence. Yet, the humor and sometimes light tone fit with the fact that we, as the audience, are intended to derive joy from the slaughter. The killing of people who violate our moral and ethical codes are not fit to exist in our society and their dispatch should is something to be enjoyed.
Another aspect of human nature revealed in this book is our love of the underdog. The outcome of the battle has been preordained, but that does not stop Homer from making the task more difficult. Athena, for example, stays out of the fighting until the end. Further, Melanthius is able to get to the storeroom and arm some of the suitors. In this way, the suitors are given the upper hand. This is despite earlier setting up the slaughter both in terms of Odysseus' clear superiority, the support of Athena, and the preordained outcome. The victory would simply not be as pleasurable to the audience if Odysseus and Telemachus were not disadvantaged. Humans love underdogs, even when we know we want them to win.
Throughout the Odyssey, we see many aspects of Odysseus' character revealed. We see his cunning and his hubris, his sense of justice and his place as one the history's great men. The poem also reveals much as human beings. Some of this is revealed in the characters and tales themselves, the way that lessons about society, its norms and the punishments for those who ignore those norms are revealed. Yet, some of the aspects of human nature are revealed in Homer's relationship with the audience. The way in which he specifically crafts the story to give the reader what the reader wants speaks volumes about the nature of the reader, both in ancient Greece and today.
