The Odyssey, Books I - IV Essay

      During the book it seems that even a goddess, such as Athene, does not know what to do with somebody as incompetent, and inexperienced as Telemachus.  Athene toys with some ideas and then finally decides to get Telemachus to go to Sparta.  Perhaps it is this journey that finally gives Telemachus a chance to mature and see the world.  Through this journey, Telemachus' first, he sees many new sights and encounters new situations. He is humbled when he sees the palace of Menelaos and his most beautiful

Odysseus, once he is gone, is willing to give his riches, throne, and Ithaca to his son. This is a reasonable action by itself, but one must consider that a major theme in the Odyssey is the coming of age of Telemachus. In many occasions throughout the story, Telemachus finds himself unable to conduct various important tasks because he is not taken seriously. This is because Telemachus is too young to nearly match his father’s strength and wit. One instance is, when aiding Odysseus in killing the suitors, he accidentally leaves the door to the armory open, allowing the suitors to gather weapons. This is something Odysseus would never do, and it would be extremely unrealistic to believe that Odysseus would confide in Telemachus because of mistakes like

Prince Telemachus is the first human character whom the reader meets. He is the son of the long-missing Greek warrior Odysseus, King of Ithaca.

In the first four books of novel, The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fagles, Homer depicts the change in character in Telemachus. At the beginning, Telemachus was this helpless, weak, ignorant boy, who is supposed to be the prince of Ithaca and the son of the great Odysseus, however, Telemachus is rather “sitting among the suitors”. Homer’s word choice of “among”, stands out, as it makes Telemachus appear weak and not partaking because as a prince, he should be having control over his father’s palace, yet Telemachus isn’t able to act like a prince nor does he live to the high standards and expectations of one. Homer ends the sentence with “heart obsessed with grief”, the word “obsessed” has a negative connotation, which portrays Telemachus’

He goes through emotional and mental changes that were helped along by the actions of gods and goddess. Telemakhos would not have gone from a young helpless man to if it wasn’t for their intervention and actions. Telemakhos was a baby when Odysseus left for Troy. He has since grown up without his father, and wants to do something against the suitors who have overrun his home but the does not know how. Athena disguised as Mentor, convinces him to take a stand against the suitors.

The epic, The Odyssey by Homer begins in medias res, meaning in the midst of things, creating a sense of urgency. The scene that is set in the first several books is quite chaotic; Odysseus has not returned to his estate since the end of the Trojan War and since then suitors have presented themselves to Odysseus’s wife, Penelope. Telemachus is essentially the main character in the first four books since the theme of the first books is his struggles to take control of the chaotic situation in his home. Telemachus has called an assembly to plea with the elder people of the community to drive the suitors out of the estate of his father. With the guidance of Athena and the chaotic scene that his home is in Telemachus is driven to mature into a strong young man that resembles his father.

Growing up without a fatherly figure in his life, Telemachus does not have a guide or a figure to look up to on the way to becoming a strong and independent man. Athena, as an old mentor and a guide figure in Telemachus’ life, urges him. “You must not cling to your boyhood any longer” (1.341). Athena tells him that now he is “tall and handsome” (1.347), he should be brave and behave his age. Before meeting Athena, Telemachus acts really distant to his surroundings. He, himself, just sits around as the suitors raid his palace and then indulges themselves with the Prince’s food and wealth. Telemachus is really lonely, friendless, and isolated. The only character he is able to rant to was his nanny, Eurycleia. Athena’s constant encouragement also helps him change his physical appearance which made him appear much more powerful. Telemachus walks in with “a bronze spear in his grip / and not alone: two sleek hounds went trotting at his heels (Homer 2. 11-12). Telemachus steps up his game and starts taking leadership over his kingdom. He is now willing to take the risk to find his father and defend his

The epic poem The Odyssey is an intriguing story about a determined and witty man Odysseus who is on a journey back home to his island Ithaca to his wife and son, who he has not seen for twenty miserable years. There are a few detrimental characters in this tale, and Telemachus is one of them. This prince goes on his own journey of becoming a man. He transitions from a doubting, push-over, child-like being, to a fighting, independent-thinking man. But why was Telemachus not always this strong beast of a Man before his father’s arrival?

After Odysseus wins the challenge, he calls upon his son, “and the prince/ Telemachus, true son of King Odysseus,/ belted his sword on, clapped hand to his spear,/ and with a clink and glitter of keen bronze/ stood by his chair, in the forefront near his father” (5.1401-1405). Odysseus has just completed the challenge that Penelope set for her hand in marriage. The Suitors are now enraged that all the time they spent on Ithaca was wasted just because of a filthy beggar who turns out to be Odysseus so they are going to kill him. Before they could carry out their wish, Odysseus calls up his son, Telemachus. It is intriguing that Telemachus would fight with his father against so many men even though Odysseus was not there for most of his life. This shows a lot about the undaunted loyalty that his family gives him to return alive and defeat the enemy that was trying to take the land. Telemachus finally felt reunited with his father and would do anything to keep him alive and give him back his position of King of

Telemachus shows great maturity at this time for he is asking Menelaus for the truth, good or bad, he wants the truth. The confidence and poise of Telemachus at this time is much more visible and has shown a huge change over the past books. Although Telemachus has overcome his weakness in the face of his crumbling home, he is not yet the hero his father is. But his new liberation causes the meeting of Odysseus and Telemachus and eventually their victory over the

A poor idea of Telemachus was to lead the assembly and try to rebel against the suitors (Odyssey). This was senseless as it put a target on his back from the suitors to go after him. One of his smarter choices was when he traveled all the way to Sparta, and returned home when hearing his father was dead (Odyssey). This was an intelligent choice, because it prevented him from getting lost like his father. Another good decision he makes is deciding not to kill a suitor when given the opportunity (Odyssey).

Telemachus sees his father as a

The novel, The Odyssey, is not only about Odysseus’ travels back to Ithaca after the Trojan War but it is also about Telemachus’ journey into manhood. Telemachus becoming a man is displayed in many ways. Him maturing and becoming a man is shown through his own thoughts and ideas. It is also shown through his ability to compromise and strategize. Lasty, him willing to stand up for what he believes in displays his journey into

When describing the tenacious Telemachus, son of Odysseus, to someone who has never read about the character, one should highlight his spirit. Early on in the book, Athena disguises herself as an old friend of Odysseus to deliver the news to his son that the great war hero still lives. Upon hearing this, Telemachus wastes little time in clearing out the disrespectful suitors chasing after his mother. He lashes out at the unwelcome men with articulate yet pointed words, “You suitors who plague my mother, you, you insolent, overweening… for this evening let us dine and take our pleasure, no more shouting now… But at first light we all march forth to assembly, take our seats so I can give my orders and say to you straight out: You must leave my

Athena gives Telemachus advice on what to do about his father and to the suitors. Athena gives Telemachus a new hope and ideology about his