I'm interested in the bits about his wife and how she didn't recognise him.
Cos in the modern Italian rewriting of it she does recognise him but I don't know enough about the original to know why she didn't recognise him in the first place and why it's a significant change.
( LimeyTreat Bitch. Lover. Child. Mother. Sinner. Saint., Sun 10 May 2009, 12:08, archived)

She didnt recognise him because he disguised himself.

( Dr Preference AjcuiVd289, Sun 10 May 2009, 12:09, archived)

Yeah I know. But in the rewriting he does too, but his old wetnurse recognises him and tells her.
Then she has a whole crisis thing because he didn't see fit to reveal himself to her but instead just to Telemaco and Eumeo and when he does reveal himself to her she pretends not to believe him then he almost leaves til she tells him that she does believe him and they stay. but int he original she just seems perfectly happy when he reveals himself to her and nto upset at all that he confided in Telemaco and Eumeo and not her and she's a bit wet. And I don't know why she was so happy just to accept it in the original.
( LimeyTreat Bitch. Lover. Child. Mother. Sinner. Saint., Sun 10 May 2009, 12:13, archived)

Of course she's wet. She married a poofter.

( Dr Preference AjcuiVd289, Sun 10 May 2009, 12:14, archived)

He disguised himself as a beggar
and went along with all the other suitors, rather than just turn up and say 'Hello, the Wife, I'm home'. I think he was just showing off, to be honest.
(rnuk http://flickr.com/rnuk, Sun 10 May 2009, 12:14, archived)