This is a part of his supreme ordeal. His return home is much broader and includes his supreme ordeal which is what you described in the question. He fought them because he wanted to stop them from taking his wife Penelope. This was during the competition where they had to prove themselves.
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the great gatsby
"Consequently, some students have become so frustrated with the long lines that they have resorted to patronizing the vending machines" and "Those of us who take part in after-school activities or have jobs often don’t get home until late in the evening. Then we are usually too exhausted to put our best effort into our homework."
