Telemachus Character Analysis

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Recommended: The gods and their roles in the odyssey

Joseph Asan
Dr. Rosiene
Civilization 1
09/28/2014
The development of the character Telemachus in the Odyssey Telemachus does not know his father when Odyssey begins as he was an infant when his father left for Troy. As a maturing man, he is dedicated several books to the study of his father and is entirely dedicated to his mother and to maintaining his father’s estate. He, however, is uncertain on how to shield his mother and property from the suitors whose actual plans he discovered recently. A meeting with Athena was turnings point for him as she educated him on the ways of a young Greek prince. After an encounter with Athena, he becomes more responsible, assertive and courageous and able to confront the suitors on their intentions and abuse
Initially, he had found it difficult to be neighbourly and friendly to his mentor Athena but he is cheerful and lively in the eyes of Theochlamenos the diviner. Just like his father Odysseus, he possesses the vital qualities and skills of a successful leader. These attributes include boldness, shrewdness, judiciousness, confidence, and cordiality. Though the suitors dug a pit along the way that he was to use on his return trek to Ithaca, Athena informed him of the trap. Athena also suggested to him that perhaps his father was still alive but held hostage by the goddess
Faith and hope with unwavering determination are particularly pleasing to his dad and describes Telemachus’ life as a grown up. Athena, the Great God and Odysseus his courageous father have what it takes to defeat the suitors once and for all. His shrewdness was proven when he got his mother out of the line of fire at the shutdown with the suitors in the great hall. His father was pleased that Telemachus had grown into a man that could be of importance to him even in combat. As he stood alone against many suitors and fought diligently and victoriously, he earned both the trust and respect of his father.
Though he is now grown enough, he makes silly mistakes that people of his father’s caliber will never make and this illustrates that Telemachus is not yet like his father but is on the way up to it. For instance, he accidentally leaves a weapons’ storeroom open, a careless mistake that allows the suitors to arm

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