Honor determines the hierarchy of an individual while revealing his loyalty and true intentions. Reward comes for those at the top of the hierarchy whose honor does not diminish, while a false or fleeting honor of a lesser mortal causes destruction.
             Such a contrast of honor can be seen between Telmachos, Penelope, and her suitors. Telemachos will one day be rewarded for honoring his father. His feelings toward his father and his intentions are golden. Telemachos not only honors his father's name but he also respects and uphold s the rules of hospitality. Thus the "overbearing" suitors were allowed to stay in his household despite what they represent:
             But if you decide it is more profitable and better
             To go on, eating up one man's livelihood, without payment,
             For these actions the story holds Telemachos as a hero of great importance and will one day be rewarded with the homecoming of his father. The most contrast can be seen between Penelope and the suitors. Odysseus has been gone for many years. Most women would have ruled him dead and given into the temptations of one of the hounding suitors. But Penelope continues to resist. So strong is her honor to her husband she "wept for Odysseus, her beloved husband until gray-eyed Athene cast sweet slumber over her eyelids" (The Odyssey, p. 36). For this, she is held in high regards. The suitors, who were all honorable subjects before Odysseus left, are introduced as evil menacing almost parasitic creatures that plague the household. While Penelope wept for her husband "the suitors all through he shadowy halls were raising a tumult and all prayed for the privilege of lying beside her" (The Odyssey, p. 36). These suitor's lack of honor will eventually bring their destruction upon Ody!
             sseus' return. In the end this episode from the Odyssey shows how people's hon
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