Is that a reliable way to establish the original meaning of the text, though? Literal translations of idiomatic texts are often less "true" than a subjective interpretation. The translator's job is insanely difficult, likely impossible.
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Edit: Here is an essay in the "Bryn Mawr Classical Review," which touches on the issue of the slave girls killed at the end. Look for the paragraph that begins:
"This brings me to the episode often discussed by Wilson, the killing of the slaves in Odyssey 22."
This particular essay doesn't touch on what I've said about Odysseus and Telemachus, but it does touch on the fact that her own opinion of things influences the translation.
https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.10.58
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Edit: And here is a review in the "London Review of Books," which touches on what I said:
"This makes him sound more of a brat and much less of a would-be hero than he does in the Greek."
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v40/n08/colin-burrow/light-t...
The word used for Telemachus could be translated as "prudent" and "judicious". In the way it was perceived for what a kid should be growing up in the times, we could also call it "well rounded".
regardless of how we feel about "victims," in the ancient world they had no sympathy at all. The thought didn't even occur to them.
You can disabuse yourself of this misconception by reading some of the works in any translation.
What basis is there for the idea that they were sociopaths? Plenty of ancient literature is concerned with these things. Plenty of modern literature overlooks it - play most computer games, for example.
What is the basis for that? I read it as the imagination of the contemporary reactionary movement - the idea that a sort of sociopathology is a normal human condition, and compassion about others and a belief in their rights is a fake contrivance (of liberalism). But the evidence points strongly the other way. Still, there is plenty I don't know about the ancient Greek and Roman literature.
From my knowledge of other such situations, enslaved people have many fewer rights, customary and legal, but not none. Humans will still be sickened by seeing other humans do bad things; there are limits. Also, they want the enslaved people to be pacified and cooperative, not murderous and angry.
Please cite some of the "Plenty of ancient literature is concerned with these things."
The word "sociopath" gives you away. Nearly every ancient hero could be thus described.
For the record, overall they come across very well. They are interesting. They make sense. They act consistent with situations they are in. They do not get criticized or insulted, nothing like that. But there is this weird assumption from some people that if they do not come like totally perfect alpha heroes in every single subtle situation, it is an ideological agenda against the guys.
I said people go out of their way to act offended. And very often worh fascinating caveats like "I did not read it" or with "I don't understand original but Google translator of characters name is something nice therefore every single word must be super flattering." And then get offended over passages that are flattering, but I guess not enough.
As she says on the first page of her translation, "Now goddess, child of Zeus, tell the old story for our modern times."
O tempora, o mores!