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Book 17 is important to the novel as a whole because Odysseus is at his Palace again, he is learning who is nice and loyal and who is disloyal and a jerk, and finally because Odysseus and Penelope just set up a time to talk to each other. This is so Odysseus, who she thinks is the beggar, can tell her about what he knows about Odysseus. But this of coarse will be the first time they have seen each other in twenty years.
Meanwhile Odysseus and Eumaeus are preparing to leave for the city. They left and were well along the path when they came to the spring where the townspeople got their water. On top of the spring was an altar built to the nymphs, where all the wayfarers mad offerings. This is when the met Melanthius, the meanest suitor. Melanthius was rude to both of them calling them trash and threatening to throw stools at the Beggar if he comes to dinner. As Melanthius drove the chariot off he kicked Odysseus, Odysseus was tempted to kill Melanthius but he had the restraint to hold back. Then Melanthius came back and told Odysseus how he hopes Apollo with kill Telemachus or if he doesn't he says the suitors will. When Eumaeus and Odysseus reached the palace they were talking outside, when Odysseus saw his old dog, Argus, laying in manure. He started to cry because no one was taking care of Argus, and he is the one who bred Argus. Argus also noticed the beggar was Odysseus, but Argus is dying and couldn't drag himself to Odysseus. Argus was so loyal to his master that he stayed alive just to see Odysseus one more time. Eumaeus goes inside and leaves Odysseus outside, so he can talk to Telemachus. Odysseus enters and Telemachus tells him to beg from every suitor because shame is not a good companion for a beggar. Every suitor fills Odysseus's pockets with food except Antinous. He insults the beggar instead, and then when the beggar insults him back him throws a stool at him and hits him under his right shoulder blade. Odysseus just stood there and shook his head. All of the beggars turned there back on him. Penelope hears of this and calls Antinous "black death itself ." Penelope tells Eumaeus to bring the beggar to her so he can share the news he has about Odysseus, she also adds that if the news turns out to be true she will provide him with a handsome tunic and cloak. When Eumaeus goes to get Odysseus, Odysseus tells him to Penelope that he will tell her the whole truth as soon as the sun goes down.
At the start of Book 17 Telemachus, Eumaeus, and Odysseus disguised as the beggar are at Eumaeus's hut. Telemachus is leaving in a hurry to get to the city to reunite with Penelope, because she won't stop crying till she sees him in person. Right before Telemachus leaves he tell Eumaeus that Eumaeus needs to take Odysseus to the city later, so he can beg for food. When Telemachus reaches his family's palace, he walks into the palace and the first to see him was Eurycleia, the nurse of Odysseus and Telemachus. She bursts into tears, runs to him, and gives him a hug. The other maids see him, circle around him, and kiss his head and shoulders saying welcome back. Then Penelope comes into the room, bursts into tears, kisses him, hugs him, and asks what he has found out about his father. He tells his mother that he has not seen his father or heard of him being alive. Peiraeus tells Telemachus that he still needs to give the gifts that he has been holding for Telemachus that Menelaus gave him. Telemachus tells Peiraeus to keep the gift for right now because he doesn't know if the suitors will kill him and split his money between them, so he tells Peiraeus he would rather have Peiraeus have his wealth, than have the suitors take his wealth.