The Role Of Telemachus In Homer's The Odyssey

The Odyssey, earliest surviving text and language, is an epic poem written by Homer, a blind poet, in the Eighth Century BC. Homer is arguably the best ancient poet, most famous for the Iliad and the Odyssey. Homer’s style of writing is very unique, he tends to write in a lyrical type of diction and uses a lot of sounds devices such as consonance, anaphora, alliteration and more, which leads historians to believe that these epic poems were traditionally sung and later on written. The Odyssey revolves around King Odysseus and his ten year journey back home from war to Ithaca, where his wife and his son, Telemachus, long his return. Telemachus through this poem shows a wide wage of emotions and immaturity. The effects of growing up without a

father are shown in this play as we (the audience) see Telemachus come to age and maturity.
Telemachus was just a little baby when Odysseus set out to war.

Growing up he heard stories of his heroic father, along with rumors of his father being dead. While Telemachus and his mother, Penelope,waited ten years for the return of Odysseus, suitors filled their homes trying to marry Penelope. Without Odysseus being around Telemachus had to be a man on his own with no male guidance. Not knowing if Odysseus is still alive gives Telemachus a feeling of hope, which his father will come back and guide him to be a man until then he is still a child, emotional and vulnerable. “(Telemachus) Suitors plague my mother-against her will… Not they-they infest out palace day and night, they butcher out cattle, our sheep, put fat goats, feasting themselves sick, swilling our glowing wine as if there’s no tomorrow…” (Homer 95) Telemachus whines and complains that they suitors are ruining his home, he is very emotional and cries. Telemachus calls himself “a boy inept for battle”(Homer 95), and says that if he had the power in him to attack he would, but instead the suitors should fear the gods’ wrath, then begs the gods to punish them. Telemachus doesn't man up to get rid of the suitors, instead he uses the excuse that he is just a boy and does nothing because a child can’t do anything but beg the god’s to care of the

problem.
Pallas Athena came to Telemachus to help guide him and to help find his father. The journey they took together pushed Telemachus further to manhood. When Athena and Telemachus went to go talk to King Nestor in hopes of any news of his father. Athena constantly spoke in a tone that would guide and urge Telemachus to be tough and smart. “(Athena) Telemachus, no more shyness, this is not the time!…”(Homer 108) Athena then continued to question him on why they came, reminding him of the true reason, motivating him to be tough and strong. Telemachus responded by asking Athena how to greet the King, says that he is “hardly adept” at subtle conversations, that someone his “age” would feel shy. Athena reassured him by telling him to trust his own gut, that his he will find the words in himself to say. Athena pushed Telemachus to realize his true potential, made him more of a man, helped him trust his own self.