Private suffering is carried into the open, and silence finally breaks. Standing before the gathered Achaeans, Telemachus claims the floor and gives voice to the wrongs that have consumed his home.

In this passage from The Odyssey, Book II, Telemachus addresses the assembly for the first time, explaining that he has not summoned them for news of the war or matters of state, but because of the devastation within his own household. He speaks of Odysseus’ absence, the relentless abuse of hospitality by the wooers, and his own helplessness in the face of their power, calling on the people of Ithaca—and the gods themselves—to witness the injustice.

This moment matters because it transforms personal grief into public accusation. Telemachus no longer suffers in isolation; he demands recognition, judgment, and accountability before the whole community.

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Odyssey is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Homer’s classic epic — every day. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Odyssey.

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