Telemachus in the most part grew up just listening to stories about whom his father is through a third party. Athena's purpose of sending Telemachus on this expedition is so he can learn about different cultures and who his father is. Not to mention, in order to gain this knowledge, Telemachus will have to build his own character and earn their trust for himself.
For the greeks, culture and heredity is everything, with the suitors occupying Odysseus’ house Telemachus has not really had a chance in experiencing both. It may seem unobvious, but the main purpose of Athena is to show Telemachus a world outside of Ithaka. During his arrival to Nestor's kingdom, the first thing he did was a “prayer to the lord Poseidon” because they came by sea (3.43).
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Their belief that it is due to Poseidon they “have come” and once they have “poured to him and prayed” will they discuss the reason for their arrival (3.44-5). It emphasizes the value each individual has toward a guest and how they should be treated. As they were talking about the Trojan war Telemachus got to see how “there was no man” who could ever match the “cunning against great Odysseus” (3.120-1). How they use to come up with “thoughtful / planning” together and never “spoke against one another” (3.127-9). Symbolizing how a great group of leaders should be, and how to deal with multiple threats. Through strategic planning and patients. When Telemachus leaves Nestor's kingdom, he shows great hospitality in that of Greek traditions but also he is his longtime friend's son. He does not send them back “poor and without clothing” but with many “blankets and rugs” as a “gift” for the “dear son of Odysseus” (3.346-55). Telemachus learns a new deal of respect and gratitude that he did not get with the suitors. This trip may seem as it is for his fathers where bouts, but it is actually for Telemachus to realize who he is and wants to be. In addition, as Telemachus is speaking to Nestor about his father, the readers slowly learn who he is.Telemachus humbleness “could never happen to [him],” that the gods could never love him as much as they love Odysseus (3.228).
Telemachus’ belief that the gods would never help him in a dire situation was immediately negated by Nestor. As Nestor makes Telemachus understand that “not even / the gods can fend [death] away from a man they love” (3.36-7). Even though it may seem the gods have control over fate, they do not. Using the example of Agamemnon being the gods chosen the king of the king was nevertheless, “killed … [by] his wife” (3.235). That it is in fates hands more than the gods. As then Homer presented an example of Odysseus floating in “the stream of Ocean” with the winds carrying Odysseus to the “mortals” (4.567-8). Homer indirectly emphasizing that Poseidon may have wanted to kill Odysseus but fate had other ideas and kept him alive. Nestor advises Telemachus as if he were Nestor's own son, earning his trust. With that Telemachus also built a respectable character towards Nestor. Certainly, now it is clear that Telemachus “has a likeness to the son of great-hearted Odysseus” (4.143). This conversation plays well to the term like father like a son since Telemachus’ “words are like [Odysseus’] words” (3.124). Making the readers realize that Odysseus is now not the only one with remarkable, cunning nature, but with experience, Telemachus will be as
great. Athena shows many purposes of this trip. Not only did Telemachus learn a little more about his father but learned more about greek culture. He also learned who he was, and how to earn someone's trust. Athena revealed that Telemachus is more like his father than anyone else. That this journey is not only about Odysseus but who Telemachus becomes because of it.
Telemachus’ and his father Odysseus’ experiences/journeys parallel each other in many different ways. One way that they are both similar is that they are both very well liked by Athena, who accompanies both on their journeys around Greece. Athena acts as guardian to both father and son. A quote which proves this is I, 85 “In the meantime I will go to Ithaca, to put heart into Odysseus' son Telemachus; I will embolden him to call the Achaeans in assembly, and speak out to the suitors of his mother Penelope, who persist in eating up any number of his sheep and oxen; I will also condu...
Her description of him, so close to his father's, helps Athena make Telémakhos realize that he is indeed the son of the great Odysseus, and he can easily become a man like him, which seems to be the young man's dream. Even Mentês' reminiscence of dining with Odysseus in the old days being linked to eating with Telémakhos makes this assertion of his likeness to Odysseus more real for the young man. Before Athena talks to Telémakhos, as far as anyone can tell, Telémakhos is but a boy, meaning that he has not yet traveled the seas and has yet to stand up to the grown men wronging him.
Odysseus and Telemachus are favored by the gods particularly Athena, Athena respects Odysseus’ wily nature she even begged Zeus to release him from Calypso's island “If now it really pleases the blissful gods that wise Odysseus shall return-home at last.” (p.80 99-100). Then after that she herself went to Odysseus’ house to tell Telemachus that his father was still alive, “Yet I tell you great Odysseus is not dead. He’s alive, somewhere in this wide world.” (p.83-84 229-230). And
In Odyssey, Homer creates a parallel between Odysseus and Telemachos, father and son. The two are compared in the poem from every aspect. One parallel was the quest of Telemachos, in correlation with the journey of his father. In this, Odysseus is developed from a childish, passive, and untested boy, to a young man preparing to stand by his father's side. This is directly connected to the voyage of Odysseus, in that they both lead to the same finale, and are both stepping-stones towards wisdom, manhood, and scholarship.
Given these points, Athena (as Mentor) acts as a mentor and advisor for Telemachus. She is able to greatly increase his confidence, prepare him for his journey to find his father, and make him feel worthy of being his father’s son. In real life, many people have experience with a relationship similar to this, someone who gives them advice and is a positive, guiding influence in their life. This relationship is critical to Telemachus and his growth from an immature child to a man, and also proves to be an important relationship to have in one’s own
Throughout the last books of The Odyssey Homer tells us how Odysseus restores his relationships with his friends and relatives at Ithaca. Perhaps one of the most revealing of these restoration episodes is Odysseus' re-encounter with his son, Telemachus. This re-encounter serves three main purposes. First, it serves to portray Telemachus' likeness to his father in the virtues of prudence, humility, patience, and planning. Secondly, it is Odysseus' chance to teach his son to be as great a ruler as Odysseus himself is. Lastly, Homer uses this re-encounter to emphasize the importance of a family structure to a society. To be able to understand the impact that this meeting had on Odysseus it is necessary to see that Telemachus has grown since his first appearances in the poem and obviously since his last contact with his father; Odysseus left Telemachus as an infant now their relationship is a man to man relationship rather than a man to child relationship.
In every journey the hero also has a mentor. In this story Athena, the gray-eyed goddess of wisdom, has taken on this role for both Odysseus and Telemachus. Athena was by Odysseus’ side as a guide for much of the beginning of his Journey. Athena also is a guide to Odysseus when he’s not even aware o...
Right at the beginning of The Odyssey, the reader is shown the hospitality that Telemachus has. Athena arrives, disguised, and he invites her into his home by saying: "'Greetings, stranger! / Here in our house you'll find a royal welcome. / Have supper first, then tell us what you need'" (1.144-46). His address to Athena shows right away that he is an extremely hospitable character. Despite his house being overridden by the suitors, he is still welcoming of this stranger. When she is about to leave, he offers that she stay longer and wants to treat her with honor (1.352-60). Telemachus has no idea who Athena is, yet he still shows extreme generosity towards her. Telemachus is a perfect role model for xenia. Even though the suitors have been pushing him around for years, he still finds it in his heart to provide strangers a lovely experience when they visit him. It seems as though he has seen how terrible it is to be treated with bad xenia and he in turn wants to treat his guests the way that he hopes to be treated.
Throughout The Odyssey Telemachus grows in character from an unprepared teen to a young man who could one day rule Ithaca. He has many experiences traveling to learn more about his father and many that occur on Ithaca once Odysseus returns. All of these events help to shape him into the assertive young man he becomes.
Telemachus and Pisistratus arrive at Sparta. When they arrive Menelaus is hosting a double wedding feast for his son and daughter. Then, Menelaus serves Telemachus and Pisistratus food. Telemachus is amazed by Menelaus of how he takes care of the palace. Menelaus tells him a story that he has been wandering the sea for seven years and discovered that his brother Agamemnon was murdered. He also shared Telemachus that he lost a lot of friends during the Trojan war. He was deeply sudden with all these discoveries and realizes that it is better to stay home with his family and with his people by living honorably in Sparta. That is why the city of Sparta is well take care of because of his stay and ruling. Menelaus is satisfied with his city. Then, Menelaus talked about Odysseus and how he misses him so much and Telemachus cries. The room was quiet then Helen, Menelaus’s wife walks
In the Odyssey, Telemachus, son of great hero Odysseus, who grows up in the world of greed and disrespect where the suitors take over his palace and court his mother, is one of the most significant character throughout the whole epic. His father, Odysseus, leaving the land Ithaca for 20 years, is the only warrior alive in Trojan war who hasn’t make his return home. During Telemachus’ expedition to search for the news of his father, he is under a process of maturation from the beginning in which he is mere a shadow of his father to the end in which he becomes more and more like him in terms of initiative, sensitivity and socialization.
...sniveling coward who would faint at the sight of blood, or worse yet, a traitor who would warn the suitors of Odysseus' plans. Apparently, Odysseus believes that since Telemachus was his son that was a good enough reason to trust him. (jackhdavid)” This quote shows how that even though Telemachus didn’t know his father, right when he found out who he was, he loved him automatically like if he knew him for years and stood by his side to do anything he needed to make Ithaca better for his family and his people. This father-son relationship is different than any other, they actually spend more time apart than they do together, and it is through distance that they develop respect and love for one another.
If not for divine interference, neither Odysseus nor Telemachus would have journeys to make. The gods are first responsible for establishing the conditions under which the story begins. While the Greek soldiers had returned home from Troy, Odysseus remained trapped as “the brightest goddess, Calypso, held him in her hollow grottoes” because “she wanted him as a husband” (Homer, Odyssey 1.5, Translation by Allen Mandelbaum). Calypso traps Odysseus on her island of Ogygia and “keeps the sad Odysseus there—although he weeps. Her words are fond and fragrant, sweet and soft—so she would honey him to cast off his Ithaca” (1.7).
She later sparks a flame inside of Telemachus to embark on his journey to find his father. At the first destination Telemachus arrives at, Athena appears once again in the court of King Nestor. She appears in the form of an eagle to represent that she is beside Telemachus in his righteous journey to find his father. When hearing of her son’s departure, Penelope becomes extremely distraught. In an attempt to reassure and comfort her, Athena appears as a “glimmering phantom” and says these comforting words, “Take heart, and don’t be so afraid. The guide who goes with him is one many men pray for to stand at their side, a powerful ally- Pallas Athena. And she pities you in your grief, for it is she who sent me to tell you this” (Homer 342). There are many motivators for Athena in The Odyssey. Some could argue she relates with Penelope, and provides protection for her household throughout the years. Others may say she is enamored with Odysseus because of their relating character traits. Athena basically takes on the motherly role of watching over both Telemachus and Odysseus. She monitors both of the men’s journeys, and allows them to go through tribulations in order to grow emotionally and spiritually. Brian Lower a literature professor from Union College wrote,” Athena allows Odysseus to experience the storm, but not die. She knows that it will make him stronger for it. There is an
At the end of book four, the reader is left to feel that Telemachus is a good and, in all likelihood, a virtuous young man. Athena, it is assumed, would not have gone to the trouble to assist in his cause if this were not the case. By the time he reaches Sparta, however, he remains untested. Athena tells him where to go and with whom to meet, she teaches him what to say, and she even physically grooms him for the role. One suspects that there are likely to be trials that lie ahead for him. Athena tells Telemachus that his actions will be a combination of instinct and divine guidance. One can only hope, if the goddess is not by his side, that these instincts will see him through these upcoming struggles.