The Importance Of Telemachus Speech In The Odyssey

In Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, translated by Allen Mandelbaum, reveals the theme of coming of age through Telemachus. Telemachus starts off as a quiet young boy that is stepped all over by the suitors and then later grows to a brave and mature young man. He stands up and takes charge when he comes to realize enough is enough along with the help of one god in particular, Athena. After Telemachus’ father, Odysseus, had left for war and never returned several suitors began to move in in order to obtain Penelope’s, Telemachus’ mother, hand in marriage.

In all honesty, not everyone is going to feel some type of sympathy for Telemakhos for example, “and no one there had the audacity to answer harshly except Antinoos..” (Homer 2.89). The reader can infer that Antinoos didn’t care for Telemakhos’s problems, but much rather

Telemakhus The Odyssey, written by Homer, tells the story of the adventures of Odysseus's journey. During his return, Odysseus encounters treacherous waters, horrifying beasts, and angry gods. The story also focuses on his family and friends that wait for his return back home in Ithaca. One character that shows the qualities of a hero is Odysseus's son, Telemakhus.

It relates in the way how military children today have to deal with their parents being away and have to grow up without them being there. Not knowing if they are safe where they are. They have to wonder if they are coming home, when and if they are still alive. He has had to become the man of the house like most kids today have to make up for the fact that a parent is missing and has to do the things they would normally help with. Telemachus has struggled to do that because he has been without a father for so long

As Athena assists him, he listens attentively and becomes driven in his actions. Telemachus first visits King Nestor. The first stop did not give Telemachus the answer he was looking for, but being the new eager and strived person Telemachus has become, he continues his journey by going to see Menelaus. Telemachus insists Menelaus to be truthful and exclaims, “Spare me no part of kindness’ sake; be harsh; but put the scene before me as you saw it” (Homer IV. 351-352).

Telemachus going up to the suitors makes the suitors realize that he is now ready to take change of his own house. Telemachus gained a lot more maturity after the elders started stepping up for him.

Prior to the speech Menelaus has no urgency and respect for Telemachus'; he says “I'll escort you myself, harness the horses, guide you through the the towns,” which together imply that Telemachus should not travel by himself because he is still a boy (384). Directly after and because of “that” speech, however, Menelaus says “he told his wife and serving-women to lay out a meal at once,” and subsequently wishes Telemachus safe travels home (384). This contrast shows the effectiveness of Telemachus speech and, because the speech convinces Menelaus’ that Telemachus is capable of traveling by himself, reveals Telemachus’ maturity. Telemachus willingness to single handedly push himself to manhood, in times of personal and familial crisis, stresses his determination. Notably, all the compliments of Telemachus in this scene were from Menelaus and not Homer, once again revealing Homer’s

After the warm and touching union father and son embraced, Odysseus directs Telemachus to go home and not speak a work of his return. Odysseus plans on defeating the suitors and gaining back his kingdom, and in order to do so, he conducted a detailed plan that needs to be followed to the word. He strictly orders Telemachus to go back home. Odysseus wil go back home too, however, dressed as a beggar, with the swine herder. Once in the castle, the suitors will mock and abuse of him, however, Telemachus needs to remain and stay calm and guard his temper. «

At the end of the story, it is evident that, the character of Telemachus is fully developed. He is no longer the young powerless and weak boy who his mother’s suitors took advantage of in his father’s absence. At the end of the text, he depicts a character with great change after leaving Ithaca and in his own odyssey; he was able to prove his worth. Telemachus is a character who undergoes constant transformation and development throughout The Odyssey. His expedition was an initiation into the heroic world of his father, and a voyage that managed to endow him with the familiarity and essential virtues needed to become a future monarch.

Odysseus’s son, Telemakhos discussed the problem of the suitors to Athena. The suitors believed Odysseus to be dead, and decided to try and marry Penelope so they can inherit Odysseus’s wealth and kingdom. Telemakhos realized the suitors intents and the nuisance they have become, when he converses with Athena. “‘... Ithaka’s young lords as

He is annoyed and tired of the nonsense that he is left to deal with since his father’s disappearance and has grown both angry and sad because no one was there for his family when the suitors came and disrespected the great Odysseus’ home. Telemachus also felt sad because he could not believe that his father is absent from his throne to keep peace in Ithaca. Telemachus is passionate in his speech. He lowers himself for help and wants the men to realize that things are going wrong while his father is not there. Order needs to be restored and Telemachus knows that he is not strong enough to be a ruler like his father.

Telemachus Growing into a Strong Mature Man Samuel Ullman, an American businessman and poet, once said, “Maturity is the ability to think, speak, and act your feelings within the bounds of dignity.” Samuel’s words hold true in Homer 's The Odyssey. In this extraordinary poem, Telemachus, the Son of Penelope, queen of Ithaca, and Odysseus, king of Ithaca. While Odysseus is at war fighting, Telemachus losing fait about his father coming home. He soon starts to question that he could be dead or alive.

The Relationship between Telemachus and Odysseus his father is very different. First off, Telemachus has really never met his father but there is still some relation there. Telemachus longs to meet his father and have a relationship. It is very clear that Telemachus struggles to come to the fact that his father has been away for so long and questions at the beginning of the books if he will every come home. Once Telemachus is told by Athena in disguise that his father is still alive ( lines 220-228 in Fagles) he longs on a journey to try and find his dad to see if he is alive.

As a result, Telemachus embarks on the search for his father and brings him home, ultimately preventing his mother from marrying one of her

Before Athena appearing as a Mentor, Homer shows Telémakhos as a shy boy who is having difficulties to live up to his father’s legendary reputation. He is shown as detached, lost and confused. Rather than taking an action, Telémakhos kept on complaining about the suitors’ manipulation of Xenia. In order to reach manhood, Athena calls him to action through making him undergo a journey. This journey, through Homer’s words, is not only meant to pave the way for him to mature by the time Odysseus is back, but also to save him from the suitor’s plot to kill him.