Telemakhos of The Odyssey Telemakhos, Odysseuss son, finally realizes that in order to preserve his estate he must fill in his fathers shoes and grow up. Telemakhos not only needs to do this for himself, but for his father who is still alive. Telemakhos became a man his father would be proud of. Twenty years ago Odysseus left for Troy, leaving Telemakhos without a father figure since he was an infant. He grew up a mommys boy not knowing his role in the kingdom because Odysseus was far away. Telemakhos recognizes that all the men trying to court his mother, Penelope, only want control of his kingdom. Zeus, King of the Gods, gives his daughter, Athena permission to encourage Telemakhos to fall into his fathers shoes and become the man he was meant to be.
For my part, I shall visit Ithaka to put more courage in the son, and rouse him.(211 & 212) In a way Zeus and Athena are doing what Odysseus could not be there to do. The reader is left to question if Telemakhos needed to be encouraged or would he have grown up on his own? The first sign that Telemakhos is becoming a man is when instead of comforting his mother in her grieving for Odysseus, he scolds her and tells her Mother, why do you grudge our own dear minstrel joy of song, wherever his thought may lead? (218) Odysseus was not the only one at Troy never to know the day of his homecoming. Others, how many others, lost their lives! (218) Telemakhos then went to his mothers suitors and told them At daybreak we shall sit down in assembly and I shall tell you – take it as you will – you are to leave this hall.(218) This was very stunning to all the suitors because Telemakhos had no male guidance and they wondered who had invoked him to take back his home and inheritance. The suitors questioned Telemakhos if the Gods were teaching you this high and mighty manner. (218) Telemakhos justified himself by saying all I insist on is that I rule our house and rule the slaves my father won for me. (219) When Telemakhos said this he not only justified himself as household master, he achieves his birthrights.
The Essay on Man Or Boy Telemakhos Father Odysseus
... to impress his father and prove he can help overtake the suitors. After all there are many men for Odysseus and Telemakhos to fight and ... is crucial because Telemakhos knows who his father is and his mother does not so she would not know to allow Odysseus to participate ... for his land. At a glance, this passage where Telemakhos gives his mother orders may seem uneventful. In actuality, this is a ...
All of these actions that Telemakhos takes is preparing him for his journey to manhood. Telemakhos knows that he has the Gods watching over him, but this is a journey he must do on his own. Again the reader is left wondering if the Gods really have a hand in the outcome of his journey or does Telemakhos finally show that he is Odysseus son? Odysseus proved that he was very clever. When he was faced with having to get out of Polyphemuss cave, Odysseus first told the Cyclops, My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, / everyone calls me Nohbdy. (pg. 452, 341-342) Odysseus told him this because he knew if the other Cyclopes would come and ask who was with him, they would think that Nohbdy was there. In another episode, Odysseus outsmarted the Sirens; he wanted to listen to their sweet song, but he knew he would try to jump overboard.
It was then he got the notion to tell his crew, …you are to tie me up, tight as a splint, / erect along the mast, lashed to the mast, / and if I shout and beg to be untied, / take more turns of rope to muffle me. (pg. 459, 536-539) This and telling the crew members to put wax in their ears ensured that Odysseus, alone, could listen to the Sirens song and not die. This sounds very much as something that Telemakhos would do as well. He would not loose in any situation and always find a way out of a tough situation. Works used: Homer, Odyssey, Penguin USA; 1 edition (November 29, 1999).
