Throughout Homers Odyssey, no mortal can surpass the mind and cunning of Odysseus, the clever hero of the

epic. He allows Athena to disguise him as a petty beggar to infiltrate his house among the suitors and to eventually bring them to their downfall. In fact, Odysseus disguise works so well that nobody initially recognizes him, not even his wife Penelope. The only exception is Eurycleia, Odysseus nurse, who recognizes Odysseus scar and sees through his disguise. As for Penelope, she does not recognize Odysseus until much later, after he kills all of the suitors. By line 99 in Book 23 of the Odyssey, Penelope first truly recognizes Odysseus, although at this point in the epic she still has not entirely convinced herself of her husbands return and that the gods are not simply playing another trick on her. Odysseus manages to conceal his false identity with ease and expertise while talking with Penelope, and only when Eurycleia washes his feet does his entire ruse threaten to fall apart. Eurycleia recognizes Odysseus scar and sees through his disguise, saying, You are Odysseus, dear child. I did not know you until I laid my hands on my masters body (Homer, Odyssey 19.520-1). She immediately tries to alert Penelope about her husbands return, but Penelope could not return her gaze or understand her meaning, for Athena had diverted her mind (Homer, Odyssey 19.524-6). By the will of Athena and by Odysseus cunning, Penelope is kept from recognizing her beloved husband prior to Book 23. By Book 23, Penelope still does not realize that Odysseus has returned, but Eurycleia tells her after Odysseus kills all of the suitors. Penelope rejects her news, saying, Dear nurse, the gods have driven you crazy (Homer, Odyssey 23.11). However, Eurycleia persuades her stubborn heart of Odysseuss return, and Penelope felt a sudden pang of joy. She leapt from her bed and flung her arms around the old woman (Homer, Odyssey 23.32-3). Unfortunately, Penelopes paranoid and cautious nature keeps her from convincing herself of Odysseus return.

She tells the nurse, but this story cant be true, not the way you tell it (Homer, Odyssey 23.667), and that Odysseus is lost, lost to us here, and gone forever (Homer, Odyssey 23.71-2). While heading downstairs to meet the man Eurycleia claims to be Odysseus, Penelope decides if she should test him or not. When she sits opposite him, she would look at his face and see her husband, but then fail to know him in his dirty rags (Homer, Odyssey 23.99-100). At this moment, Penelope truly recognizes Odysseus after seeing him with a more open mind that resulted from Eurycleias claims and good news. However, a doubt in her heart tells her that this is just another ruse of the gods, and that she must first test Odysseus before completely accepting that he has returned. And who can blame her? After all, she has not seen her husband in twenty years, and even upon recognizing him, she still needs to overcome the disbelief, shock, and amazement by having solid proof and evidence. Not to mention that her husband wears dirty rags, which does not create a very convincing appearance. Most people in her situation would assume that a god has taken Odysseus form to cause more grief and anguish. Thus, once Odysseus proves himself, Penelope finally let go. Odysseus had shown he knew their old secret (Homer, Odyssey 23.212-3). She says to him, dont hold it against me that when I first saw you I didnt welcome you as I do now. My heart has been cold with fear that an imposter would come and deceive me (Homer, Odyssey 23.221-4). Penelope tells her husband that she could not see through his disguise at first, and even when she recognizes him in line 99 of Book 23, her fearful heart could not be initially convinced. Even though Penelope recognizes her husband, she first has to test him to truly acknowledge him.