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Telemachus In Homer's Odyssey

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Homer’s epic, the Odyssey, tells the story of the famed war hero Odysseus, but the epic starts with the focus on his son, Telemachus. Although the Odyssey’s main focus is not on Telemachus, Odysseus’s story starts with him for a reason. Telemachus plays his own unique, important role in the story. Telemachus has been separated from Odysseus since his infanthood. Since the whereabouts of Odysseus are unknown to Telemachus, Telemachus worries for his father, and for all he knows, he might be dead. Telemachus is thus in a position where he is about to grow up and take charge of his household lacking the asset of a father figure. When he realizes that his father is probably alive, it greatly affects him, because Telemachus has an unconditional love for his absent …show more content…

This new, positive side of Telemachus presented to the reader is one that helps the reader realize the importance of Odysseus to Telemachus. When the goddess Athena comes to Telemachus under the disguise of Odysseus’s old friend Mentes to let Telemachus know that Odysseus is probably still alive, Telemachus expresses a spark of unprecedented hope and gratitude. For one thing, when first speaking to Athena, he has a very pessimistic outlook on his father and father’s story, telling her to “think of the most unlucky mortal ever born—since you ask me, they say yes, I am his son” (1.254). Athena gives him details about Odysseus and reassures Telemachus that he is not, in fact, dead, and Telemachus reacts with incredible happiness. He tells Athena that she’s “considered me with so much kindness now, like a father to a son” (1.353-354). After all, Athena gave him something he felt he had been lacking and longing his whole life—fatherly advice. The importance to Telemachus of having a father figure is what is ultimately expressed with his happiness and gratitude towards

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