“see how they are wasting the estate, and doing dishonour to the wife, of one who is certain to return some day, and that, too, not long hence. Nay, he will be here soon; may heaven send you home quietly first..”
~ The Odyssey - Book XVIII (Samuel Butler Translation. p285)
In Book 18 of The Odyssey, Irus, a beggar accustomed to being the only beggar in the palace, berates Ulysses and threatens to beat him up. Homer characterizes him as a bulky person who appears strong but is not brave. It is also probably implied that he is able-bodied, but he chooses to beg instead of working. In the fight that ensues, Ulysses gives him a deadly blow on his head, incapacitates Irus and drags him to the gate.
My initial thought was to ponder on the thought that appearances are deceptive and one shouldn’t jump to conclusions to challenge someone like Irus did. Then, I thought the better topic was that of Amphinomus. Amphinomus is unlike other suitors. He is kind to Ulysses in the beggar’s guise; he also quietens the crowd towards the end of the chapter when a riot is about to break out. Ulysses tries to warn him without revealing his secret, but Athena decides that he should also be punished just for being with the suitors.