Odyssey - Telemachos Analysis
"To thine own self be true," is a famous Shakespearean quote, and one the character Telemachos in The Odyssey had to struggle to learn to appreciate. He is first introduced to the reader as being meek and passive, feeling as if defending his family against the suitors is a hopeless effort. With the interference of Athena, he begins to have faith in both himself and his father, returning after years abroad to reclaim the Ithacan throne. By the riveting conclusion of the book, Telemachos has proven himself to be an admirable and brave young man. When this epic begins, Telemachos and his mother Penelope's home is being overridden by her suitors. Having grown up in a fatherless environment, Telemachos has not yet learned how to stand up for himself and is pessimistic about his father's return. As he talks to Athena, in the disguise of Mentes in Book I, she says this of his attitude, "The gods decreed no lack of honor in this generation: such is the son Penelope bore in you. But tell me now, and make this clear to me: what gathering, what feast is this? Why here? A wedding? Revel? At the expense of it all? Not that, I think. How arrogant they seem, these gluttons, making free here in your house! A sensible man would blush to be amon
Another passage that proves Telemachos's manhood and his father's trust and praise is found in Book XXIV when they get ready to face off against the suitors' fathers. Another example of Telemachos's pessimism can also be found in Book I before he departs to find more information on Odysseus through Athena's instruction. In fighting power we have excelled this lot in every generation. " By saying this, Telemachos is trying to command the respect of the suitors and prove that he is a strong and capable leader of the household. Says he to the suitors, "You others, let me see no more contemptible conduct in my house! I've been awake to it for a long time-by now I know what is honorable and what is not. In Book XX, Telemachos finally stands up for what he believes in and makes it clear that he will no longer tolerate the suitors' disrespectful behavior. Further into the tale, Telemachos's demeanor begins to change and his faith in his father, disguised as an old man by Athena's doing, becomes strong. " By saying this, Athena is questioning Telemachos's pride and why he would be so passive as to let the suitors do as they please in his household without legitimate reason. He assures his son that he will uphold the family name and keep it revered after his passing, therefore recognizing him as a clear-headed and thoughtful young man. As the story comes to a close, Telemachos has proven himself and his merits worthy of praise and respect. In Book XXII, Medon, the estate's herald, begs for mercy at Telemachos's knees, begging, "Here I am, dear prince; but rest your spear! Tell your great father not to see in me a suitor for the sword's edge-one of those who laughed at you and ruined his property!" Hugging the knees of a superior was a symbol of respect in Homeric times and by pleading to Telemachos, Medon shows that he is worthy of dealing out mercy at his liking and that his judgement was needed before Odysseus's. In this passage from Book XVI, the semblance of a bond between father and son begins to blossom when they begin to plot the reclaiming of their household.
Common topics in this essay:
Book XXIV,
XX Telemachos,
Telemachos Odyssey,
Mentes Book,
Eurymachos Penelope's,
XXII Medon,
Ah Father,
Odysseus Little,
Telemachos Medon,
Book XVI,
telemachos proven,
faith father,
found book,
telemachos finally,
information odysseus,
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