Transformation of Telemachos

He is drenched in confusion and lack of determination. As a result, Athena is there to advise and prepare Telemachus for her greater plan of the homecoming of Odysseus. Athena’s first goal is pointed out by her statement, “Tomorrow, summon the Achaian warriors into assembly / and publish your word to all...Tell suitors to scatter and go back to their own holdings” (1.272-274) which commands Telemachus to call an assembly for suitors and tell them to leave his household. Further, Athena suggests Telemachus visit Nestor and Menelaus, who was his father’s friend in the Trojan war by the statement “First go to Pylos, and there question the great Nestor, / and from there go over to Sparta to see fair-haired Menelaos, / since he came from home last of all the bronze-armored Achains.” (1.284-286). Finally, the words of Athena “after you have made an end of these matters, and done them, / next you must consider well in your heart and spirit some means by which you can kill the suitors who are in your household, / by treachery or open attack.” (1.293-296) reveals her final plan for Telemachus that he must find a way to kill the suitors after his return.

Odysseus’s wife, Penelope lives back in their town, Ithaka, is being pressured by unwanted suitors. Their son, Telemachos, is visited by the goddess Athene. Athene was quite close with Odysseus, and she tells Telemachos to go looking for his missing father. He travels to Pylos to see the King, Nestor. Nestor takes him in, gives him dinner and then tells him to go see King Menelaos in Sparta. Telemachos does as he’s told and travels to Sparta to see King Menelaos. He tells him that his father Odysseus is alive and is being kept captive on Kalypso’s island. He also tells him that his brother, King Agamemnon, has been murdered by his own wife, Klytamestra, and her lover Aigisthos. But, Agamemnon’s son, Orestes has killed his father’s murderers

The goddess Athena then appears to Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, disguised as an old friend of his and tells him to travel to Pylos and Sparta in search of his father, meanwhile banishing the suitors from his father’s estate in Ithaca since Odysseus would return soon. In Pylos, Telemachus learns that the two brothers leading Odysseus’ expedition had a sort of disagreement leading to their separation. Later, in Sparta Telemachus learns that Odysseus is being held captive on an island by the goddess Calypso. However, the gods order Calypso to allow Odysseus to return to Ithaca.

Prince Telemachus, from Homer’s The Odyssey, is not a weak character. Although he may seem like a bit of a vulnerable hero, the absence of his father plays a large role in that version of his character. The Trojan War had just ended, and Ithaca’s King, Odysseus is missing. His son Telemachus, who was just a baby when his father left for war, is now a young adult, with his father nowhere to be found. As Odysseus returns, Telemachus begins to blossom and develop as a person. He improves his strongest traits and suppresses the more negative and childish ones.

His new commanding attitude becomes more and more similar to Odysseus. Odysseus often does what he thinks is best because of his experiences. Since Telemachos has grown up with the suitors and their constant torment and ridicule towards him he is sick of it.Telemachos is looking for a change and knows he must do it on his own. Now he must find the strength and courage to go off on his own. Telemachos has always been with his mother, but now he must leave her and become more independent to be the man he wants to be. In book 3 goes against his mothers wishes of staying with her and goes on his own adventure. On this adventure he must prepare himself for the worst, to hear that his father is no longer alive. He is no longer in Penelope’s shadow. Penelope has always sheltered him and now he has to experience things on his own. This is why he continues o with his plans and goes on his journey. On his journey he meets Nestor, a man who does not lie and has once traveled with Odysseus. He tells Telemachos that he did not know where Odysseus was at this exact time or if he was alive but he was with him at the time they were traveling together. This makes telemachos feel better knowing that someone knows of his father’s whereabouts. Nestor isn’t the only one that he encounters who knows of his father, Menalayus and Helen both traveled with Odysseus. They said that when they parted with Odysseus that he was still alive but that they too had no idea of where he was now.

There are a hundred grown men in his house trying to win his mother’s hand in marriage after his father had not returned for seven years. Telemachus shows courage by speaking to the suitors in a commanding tone and telling them to leave. They are disrespecting his father, Odysseus, by living in his house and eating all of their food. His father was very courageous in the battle of Troy and is well respected for his courageousness. However, the suitors do not respect Telemachus and see him only as a boy but he commands them to do so anyway. This is not successful so he, with the help of the goddess Athena disguised as a family friend of Telemachus’ grandfather, sets out on a journey to find news of his father. He is extremely courageous to go on a journey of such magnitude and his father would be proud of his

Telemachus goes out on a journey to search for his father who’s been missing for 20 years. He’s determined to bring his father home. Telemachus had to grow up without his father and after so long citizens of Ithaca lost the expectation of Odysseus coming back. It will astonish the people of Ithaca to see Odysseus because they truly believed that their leader was deceased. Previously Telemachus exclaimed how his father was alive but no one thought he was telling the truth. In order to prove his father was alive he had to get a ship and sail to go find

“You must not cling to your boyhood any longer— / it’s time you were a man,” Athena tells Telemachus when giving him advice before he his begins his journey (1.341-342). In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, “The Telemachia” are the first four books of the epic poem. They focus on Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, and his struggles as he goes on a quest to find any news of his missing father, Odysseus. Telemachus’ development throughout his journey in the first four books of The Odyssey help us to understand the Greek ideal of manhood.

Telemachos' Coming of Age The Odyssey by Homer has been around for almost three-thousand years. Many critics and analysists have given their opinions on his pieces. Throughout the reading of Howard W. Clarkes' article in Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism, it was thought to be a comparison between a

... "My heart tells me to come right out and say I 've never seen such a likeness, neither in man nor woman - I 'm amazed at the sight. To the life he 's like the son of great Odysseus, surely he is Telemachus! The boy that hero left a babe in arms..." (4, 155 - 159) This statement is very telling as it defines not only the appearance of the great Odysseus, but also the son he left behind. Furthermore, it begins to develop a timeline of actions by announcing that Odysseus left home when Telemachus was only a baby. Nestor recognizes that Odysseus ' appearance, vivacity, and personality are apparent in his progeny, Telemachus. This is encouraging to Telemachus as he hears that he resembles the great king Odysseus. As Telemachus presses for news of what has become of his father, Telemachus learns that his father may yet be alive and held captive by a goddess-nymph named Calypso. He then glorifies the strong will of Orestes and encourages Telemachus to do the same: "And you, my friend - / how tall and handsome I see you now - be brave, you too, / so men to come will sing your praises down the years." (3, 226 - 227).

Like Father, Like Son: The Evolution Of A Family Tie Throughout the last few books of the Odyssey, Homer explains to the reader how Odysseus reestablishes his relationships with his family and friends of Ithaka. It’s possible the restoration of his relationship with his son, Telemachus, is the most significant

Three traits that Odysseus and Telemakhos share are clear-headedness, eloquence, and showing strong emotion. They are portrayed with these traits in the Odyssey, composed by Homer. Odysseus is a renowned military strategist, warrior, and the King of Ithaca. He was forced to go to war against Troy twenty years ago, and since then has traveled all over the Aegean trying to find a way back home. Meanwhile, his son, Telemakhos, has developed into a full-grown man from the mere infant he was when his father left for war. He has searched far and wide for news of his father, still hoping, along with his mother, Penelope, that Odysseus is still alive somewhere and somehow, even though most have assumed he is dead. Through his ventures, Telemakhos

Through his journey to Pylos and Sparta, Telemachus, who was born into a very privileged and high ranking family, learns how to use his inherited social status and connections for his own interests, which will help him mature into manhood. Telemachus was never old enough to remember what it was like when his father was around. Since Odysseus left, he has lived with his mom and nurse. However, for three years, he has been overwhelmed by suitors, who have taken over his house. Odysseus was never able to show Telemachus how to stand up for himself. Telemachus has been less than passive when going about doing things to get what he wants. When Athena comes and tells him that his father is going to come home, he realizes he has been ignoring what he knows is wrong, such as the suitors throwing parties every night, and that he needs to stop them. He doesn’t have any idea of how he is going to find his father when Athena comes, but he along his way finds that he has many resources and connections at hand that will allow him to find out what happened to his dad. Athena, disguised as Mentor, an old friend of Odysseus, encourages Telemachus to talk to Nestor. "Telemachus, no more shyness, this is not the time!/ We sailed the seas for this, for news of your father —// So go right up to Nestor...// Press him yourself to tell the whole truth:/ he'll never lie — the man is far too wise"(3.16-22) Here, Athena is encouraging Telemachus to be assertive, to get what the needs to know to find his father. Telemachus responds, "How can I greet him, Mentor, even approach the king?/ I'm hardly adept at subtle conversation./ Someone my age might feel shy, what's more,/ interrogating an older man."/ (3.23-27) He is intimidated. The irony is that he himself is of the higher class, and if Odysseus had been home, he would be accustomed to these interactions. This is Odysseus learning that he has high social status and can enjoy the privileges he was born with, such as being able to talk to the king. While there, Telemachus learns of the fate of the family of Agamemnon. Agamemnon came home to find his wife in love with Aegisthus, and together they kill him. Orestes, one of Agamemnon’s sons, avenges his father’s murder and kills

The son of the Odysseus, though he has never seen his father, valiantly defends and believes that he is not dead. He also tries to step into his father’s shoes. He is inexperienced, nonetheless. Yet, this is soon resolved though interactions with Athena and his journey to Pylos and Sparta. Telemachos does not have just hope that his father is alive, but sound faith. We as Christians in the same manner, have faith that our Heavenly Father will come someday to take us home to eternal felicity, our eternal family. In addition, In the Odyssey, we see how the family regards growing up. As head man of his father’s estate Telemachos regards his mother with courtesy and respect. He does, however, rebuke her at times. When she comes down from her bedchamber moved by a barb’s song to tears, Telemachos reprimands her, saying if she did not wish to hear the song, she should go to her own quarters. Thus, Telemachos assets growing into adulthood by the way he interacts with his mother, taking control of the relationship.

Menelaus greets Telemachus with a great reception, and he is recognized as Odysseus' son before a large gathered crowd at the palace. Menelaus takes very good care of Telemachus as his guest. Athena (still in disguise as Mentes) was not treated as well as her goddess status afforded her to be. After another recollection of old stories, and war legends, Telemachus was able to once again set sail, still in search of his father, Odysseus.