At the beginning of the
Odyssey, Telemachus seems young and powerless. He is completely passive in the face of the suitors abuses and they treat him like a pushover. As he embarks on a journey and the epic wears on, how and why does the character of Telemachus change?
Throughout the beginning of the epic, it is clear that Telemachus is going through changes. Changes including presence of new responsibilities, ownership, and power. Very early in the book, it is clear that Telemachus knows that he has to take charge and responsibility for the land and his household and take the place of Odysseus in his absence. And, book 1 goes on to prove how he does a great job accepting these things.
ReplyDeleteSome evidence of Telemachus' realization of responsibility and power reads, "As for giving orders, men will see to that, but most of all: I hold reins of power in this house" (01-412-14). This quote shows how Telemachus wants the power, and wants the control. Part of his growing up is recognizing this, and he did so fairly quickly.
Further, throughout the beginning of the epic, Telemachus starts do things that he hasn't done before that people who are in power should be doing. He holds a meeting for his mother, and keeps the house in order. So far, it is clear that he is doing a good job accepting his position in the household and doing things he should be doing.
To conclude, Book 1 of the Epic is pretty much a story about how Telemachus willingly accepts his responsibilities and does what he should be doing to keep his household and needing mother in order.
At the beginning of the Odyssey Telemachus has to take on the duties of his father. However, he is not ready to receive this power. Telemachus very much realizes the importance of his duties. He not only has to take care of the land and his mother, he has to do it as well as his father did. As the story continues Telemachus realizes the importance of his fathers duties and beings to take the job a little more seriously. After a while the suitors stop treating him like a powerless man. This is because Telemachus shows his power. He does this by taking on all the duties of his father and begins to think: what would my father do? He puts the house back in order by protecting his mother, whom the suitors are set on marrying off. He hosts a meeting explaining the his mother will not be married off just yet. By realizing his duties Telemachus shows people he is serious and they should treat him as they would treat his father.
ReplyDeleteTelemachus becomes more responsible and confident with himself as the epic continues on. Telemachus is being shaped into a more mature man because he feels he has the responsibility to protect his mother and house from the suitors that are taking it over, and is on a mission to find his father, Odysseus. With all of these obligations, Telemachus is being exposed to all of the experiences of life beyond his life with his mother, and he is learning to be independent and grow as a person. He also is becoming a man because Athena gave him hope that his father is still alive. The following quote from Athena is the reason that Telemachus became hopeful that he may find his father, Athena explains to Telemachus, “Yet I tell you great Odysseus is not dead. He’s still alive, somewhere in this wide world, held captive, out at sea on a wave-washed island, and hard men, savages, somehow hold him back against his will.” (1. 228-231) He does not approve of the suitors being at his house so he made it a priority to try to find his father, because he feels his mother should only be with his father, since Athena gave him hope that Odysseus is still alive, and not marry a suitor any time soon. Having these types of situations in life where your mind is set on a goal, you will mold yourself into the person that you know can reach the goal you are striving to accomplish, and that is exactly what Telemachus is doing.
ReplyDeleteIn The Odyssey, the story explicitly portrays how Telemachus is young and powerless. In the beginning of the book, it is shown how Telemachus encounters new responsibilities such as taking control over the land, his mother, and the household. While Odysseus is absent, Telemachus needs to live in his image and maintain constant control. Here is an example of how Telemachus finally realizes his role in these drastic changes.
ReplyDelete“So, mother,
go back to your quarters. Tend to you own tasks,
the distaff and the loom, and keep the women
working hard as well. As for giving orders,
men will see to that, but most of all:
I hold the reins of power in this house” (1. 409-414).
This quotation depicts how Telemachus is craving for control and power. While Telemachus is in the process of growing up, he identifies this dilemma, and comes up with a solution. Additionally, another example of Telemachus growing up throughout The Odyssey, is how he has a meeting with his mother and maintains order in the household. To this point, this book shows how Telemachus is rising to the occasion, and accepting his position of authority in the household. Furthermore in The Odyssey, Telemachus ultimately responds to his responsibilities of maintaining control over the land, his, mother, and the household.
In the beginning of the Odyssey, Telemachus seems like a powerless and fatherless little boy. He seems to have no responsibilty or no craving for power in Ithaca. But as Telemachus matures and realizes that the suitors are going to take over Ithaca he begins to mature. His newly found maturity can be seen in a quote in chapter 1.
ReplyDelete“So, mother,
go back to your quarters. Tend to you own tasks,
the distaff and the loom, and keep the women
working hard as well. As for giving orders,
men will see to that, but most of all:
I hold the reins of power in this house” (1. 409-414).
This quote shows that Telemachus has a new found responsibilty in Ithaca and that he has a need to power and control in his life. As the Epic goes on, he shows even more responsibility such as going off to find his father and save Ithaca from the suitors.