Appearance Versus Reality In Homer's Odyssey

One of the most fundamental themes in the Odyssey is the theme of appearance versus reality. It is of great significance for the reason that this is how Athena communicates with Telémakhos. In order to carry out her plans, Athena appears to Telémakhos as Mentes, an old friend of Odysseus. Later, she becomes Mentor, the adviser of the prince, to protect Telémakhos during the journey and to show him the proper way through his coming of age. Athena becomes the guide, cheerleader, and the supporter of the prince. Mentor says, “Let no man holding scepter as a king be thoughtful, mild, kindly, or virtuous; let him be cruel, and practice evil ways; it is so clear that no one here remembers how like a gentle father Odysseus ruled you.”(II, 239-243);

Athena (Mentor) points out the hence dishonor and it demonstrates how the man must be conscious to be human. Mentor is trying to help him see that his time has come to leave his childhood behind and be an integrated man.

Then she continues “I find it less revolting that the suitors carry their malice into violet acts; at least they stake their lives when they go pillaging the house of Odysseus their lives upon it, he will not come again. What sickens me is to see the whole community sitting still, and never a voice or a hand raised against them- a mere handful compared with you” (II, 244-251). Now Mentor points out the cowardice of the community, who stays silent and has done absolutely nothing in regards to it (use of pathos). They have failed to honor the king Odysseus by not standing up for his wife and son and his household. During this stage, Telémakhos grows as man. Mentor guides and instructs the

prince. Athena uses the logos subcategory of syllogism to teach him how to behave among the leaders. She is saying that by taking action as a leader he will succeed but in the event that he does not succeed then it will be a disgrace therefore at that moment he is a disgrace for his father and the people who depend on the king for a peaceful living since not everything is under control.
Spiritual growth is one of the main themes in the story, especially as it relates to Telémakhos.

At the beginning he was lost and he did not know how to deal with the suitors in his home who were seeking the hand of his mother in marriage for reasons of personal convenience. He is the future king and his own life is in danger. The people of the kingdom do not have any respect for the prince and he needs to grow up fast. With Athena’s help, he ends up calling an assembly meeting of the leaders and confronts the suitors. During the assembly he says, “Now that I know, being grown, what others say, I understand it all, and my heart is full. I’ll bring black doom upon you if I can either in Pylos, if I go, or in this country” (II, 328-331). Here is when he takes his first steps towards maturity and this allow us to speak of a before and an after of his spiritual growth. The quote is the evidence that Athena achieved her stated aim, to show Telémakhos humility and that it is time to start being a man. Athena could protect Telémakhos with her divine powers but that’s aside from the point. He has to reach his manhood by himself. For he is, perhaps, the only character in “The Odyssey” who shows any development. All of the other people who appear in the story are already fully grown. This epic story has to do with human nature and what it means to be a human, to discover ourselves, and to know how to go home. While Athena persuades and guides him as Mentor, the experience

itself must be solely from his own doing. He is being shown in different situations through his relations with different people and all of the various facets of his persona appear in their turn. The meetings with these people helped him to progress into a fearless and confident man. In the story there is more than enough time for Telémakhos to grow from a helpless boy and to reach the manhood. The evolution of Telémakhos is quite stunning in the fact that he grew so fast and that he changed because of the different situations he went through. The growth of Telémakhos proves him to be a man with the worth and power that resembles his father Odysseus.