The Role Of Telemachus In Homer's Odyssey

An epic poem about a man of twists and turns discovers the value of patience. Odysseus, the greatest hero in Ithaca and known for his muscle and bravery finds himself far from home for two decades. His son, Telemachus, a curious boy seeking to find his father, starts his journey across the seas of Greece. In The Odyssey, by Homer, the reader can ponder two outcomes of the poem, based on gender roles. In Ithaca, where Telemachus lives, there are precise gender roles; relevant to our lives today. The poem would change significantly if Telemachus were a girl because of the unfair gender beliefs in Kingdom of Ithaca; viewing people differently for their gender and talking to men and women differently.

Viewing people differently for their gender causes unjust thoughts

and actions. Specific scenes in the poem would change if Telemachus were a girl. The suitors want to marry his mother, Penelope; but they may want to marry Telemachus as a girl, who is young, instead of her mother, who is elder. Also, if Telemachus were a girl, the suitors would most likely not obey her because he is already unforceful and not demanding. Telemachus already gets teased for his shyness. If Telemachus were a girl, there would be little respect. Another specific example from the poem of treating genders differently is when Telemachus sets sail for his journey. He acts ‘like a girl’ because he is shy and fearful. Most of the men thought he would drown before he even set foot on the ship. The bias people of Ithaca shout, “Off in that hollow ship of his, he just might drown, / far from his friends, a drifter like his father. / What a bore! / He’d double our work for us” (2.368-70). Girl’s are viewed in the same way as Telemachus; unable to complete to the journey or show bravery.
Dependending on one’s gender, the likelihood of talking differently to them increases.

Telemachus is seeking advice to a crucial decision,“Dear god, hear me! Yesterday you came to my house, / you told me to ship out on the misty sea and learn / if father, gone so long, is ever coming home” (2.2975-97). He wants to know if he should leave on a dangerous journey to find his father. Athena, Zeus’s daughter, disguises herself when talking to Telemachus so he does not recognize her as a goddess; she has to disguise herself as Mentor, one of Odysseus good friends. She imagines an easier way to communicate; man to man rather than woman to man. Telemachus would believe a man’s word more and act on the advice because he is a man. Telemachus has a tendency to act babyish and needs a man's demanding words. Athena is still disguised as Mentor and speaks to him in a direct and non-emotional way, “Telemachus!” / Pallas Athena broke in sharply, her eyes afire- / ‘What's this nonsense slipping through your teeth?’” (3.260-63). If Telemachus were a girl, then Athena would approach her as a girl; the conversations and relationships would change. Athena may act softer in her approach and try to appeal to emotions

instead.
The poem reads in an extraordinarily different way if Telemachus were a girl. There are biased gender opinions in Ithaca and the world today such as viewing people differently for their gender and talking to men and women differently. Many situations in The Odyssey would change and the ending possibly changes; Odysseus might not have ever returned home. If Telemachus were a girl, her motivation to seek her father weakens. The reason he went to find his father was because Penelope has to marry a suitor within a period of time. As a young girl, the suitors would desire her more. Also, Telemachus would fit more into the bias of girl-like traits because he is already reserved and needs reassuring. As a girl, people would speak in a softer, more sympathetic way. To me, a woman can do just as much as a man can. Many perceive that women are delicate like a glass slipper, so they cannot do the things men can do. In reality, women are equally as tough and brave.