Odysseus was one of the original suitors of Helen. He agreed to help Tyn dareus, her father, settle the dispute for her hand in marriage, in return for which Tyn dareus supported Odysseus in his quest to marry Penelope. Odysseus and all the other suitors pledged to defend Helen's marriage to the winning suitor, Menelaus. Odysseus did not want to make good on his pledge to defend Menelaus' marriage. He pretended to be insane.