The Odyssey was a great book in which many
characters were brought out and developed.
The most significant development that occured in the epic was the
development of Telemachus. Telemachus is
a very complex character that Homer develops from beginning to end. From the beginning when is a mere shadow of
his father to near the end in which he is considered just as courageous. Many factors influence Telemachus as he
matures into a man.
To begin with his name means "Far from
Battle". This was given to him
because he was born when the male generations of his parents were going off to
the Trojan War. But the name proves to
be ironic, for the epic ends with Telemachus taking part in two battles.
Not having any father figures as a child
severely effects Telemachus. He becomes
a timid, shy and spineless boy who is greatly pampered by his mother. He is not helped by being the son of a
world-famous father- a difficult reputation to live up to. This lack of motivation and assertive
behavior does not help Telemachus when the suitors start eating away at his
estate. Telemachus knows what the
suitors are doing is wrong but yet does not do anything about it. Telemachus foolishly hopes that his father will
come and clean up the mess that the suitors are to blame for. Telemachus knows that his father would handle
the situation with the suitors in a much more aggressive manner than he does. Odysseus would kill all of them for being
treacherous beings, while Telemachus does nothing but whine. Telemachus says "how his noble father
might come back out of the blue, drive the suitors headlong from the house, and
so regain his loyal honors, and reign over his own once more"(The Odyssey,
Homer, 1980 Oxford University Press, W. Shewring)(pg. 17)
It is not till Telemachus receives divine
attention that he even begins to mature in the least bit. Athene has to come in and has to encourage
and give advise to the young, immature Telemachus on what to do. Without this he would have undoubtedly done
absolutely nothing about the situation with the suitors and/or any news
concerning his fathers return. Is it
then ok to ask if Telemachus would be a hero at the end of the book without
divine intervention ? Should we judge Telemachus on what he was before or after
the goddess helped him ? Telemachus did not have a role model, no father
figure. It is probably because of this
that we come to have pity for poor Telemachus and condone that a goddess had to
help him before he was anybody. In a
large way it is unfair to compare Telemachus with his father who also receives
divine attention. Odysseus had a chance
to prove himself to the gods and earned their attention. However, because Telemachus had no father he
never had the chance to prove himself.
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 wife Helen.
Telemachus learns how to act tactfully with those that he want to
avoid. This is brought out when he
avoids Nestor on his way back from Sparta.
Through a series of events he sees what the world is about. He learns of his surroundings and perhaps for
the first time in his life interacts with them.
The journey to Sparta was very important in developing Telemachus,
however it is plausible to argue that the journey back from Sparta was a bigger
learning event. He faces his biggest
obstacle so far in the book, the suitors plotting against him. He skillfully avoids a bad fate with some
help from Athene.
By the end of this epic a once shy, timid,
incompetent boy has matured into a thoughtful and brave man that lives up to
the legacy of Odysseus. It becomes
evidently clear that Telemachus has really matured when we hear new logic,
sensibility, and authority in his words as he speaks to his mother shortly
before the death of the suitors. The Odyssey, Homer, 1980 Oxford University
Press, W. Shewring)(pg. 260) It is
amazing that by the end Odysseus and his son fight side by side against the
suitors. It is clear at this point that
the old Telemachus is gone and all that is there is a new brave, bold and
thoughtful Telemachus.
Homer does a wonderful job in maturing
Telemachus during the course of this book.
It is delightful to see a young, foolish boy grow into the proud man
that he became. Pallas Athene helped get
the wheels in motion but it takes true hero to get places and keep the status
that he gains. We last see him standing
within the accurate order of the clan of Odysseus, when Grandfather Laertes,
Odysseus, and Telemachus, all in armor, all defending the ancestral estate
receive the blessing of Pallas Athene and of Zeus.
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