The creation of a hero is only decided through the actions that the character takes. Sophocles’ Creon and Homer’s Telemachus are clearly not worthy of the title “hero”, but they are forced into this hero’s journey so that they can realize what their effect has on others that surround them. It can not be known for sure if either one has completed the hero’s journey because in order to see that change, we would need to see a continuation of the story, however by observing their personalities, it is made aware that there is a transcendence back to reality and back into a hero’s mindset.
To begin with, these two characters exhibit selfishness meaning they operate in a manner that proves to be convenient for their own personal gain starting with …show more content…
The whole principle of the hero’s journey is the becoming and the start of a new life and that is exactly what Telemachus does, but the transcendence into this mindset takes longer than expected. Right from the beginning of his journey, when Telemachus arrives on Pylos, he and Nestor are talking and Nestor mentions how maybe when he returns he could attack the suitors at his house, however Telemachus replies and says “I do not think this will pass, dear lord; what you have said is too immense… I know it’s not to be even if the gods should will it so” (III, 49). This insecurity could strive from the fact that he did not have a father growing up and lacked a certain stereotypical “man” presence in his life. Nevertheless, after being persuaded by Athena in a hidden identity, Telemachus ends up pursuing the call of the journey and once he returns to the palace, he lets the suitors know that he is no longer the weak child they once knew and could take advantage of and gives them a warning as mentioned in the following “Be warned: within this house, let no man flaunt or strut; I note all that is done- both good and evil; I’m a child no more.” (XX, 414). They go from being frowned upon to returning to a better state where they are accepted in the eyes of society. He never had a fatherly influence for the most part
To begin with, these two characters exhibit selfishness meaning they operate in a manner that proves to be convenient for their own personal gain starting with …show more content…
The whole principle of the hero’s journey is the becoming and the start of a new life and that is exactly what Telemachus does, but the transcendence into this mindset takes longer than expected. Right from the beginning of his journey, when Telemachus arrives on Pylos, he and Nestor are talking and Nestor mentions how maybe when he returns he could attack the suitors at his house, however Telemachus replies and says “I do not think this will pass, dear lord; what you have said is too immense… I know it’s not to be even if the gods should will it so” (III, 49). This insecurity could strive from the fact that he did not have a father growing up and lacked a certain stereotypical “man” presence in his life. Nevertheless, after being persuaded by Athena in a hidden identity, Telemachus ends up pursuing the call of the journey and once he returns to the palace, he lets the suitors know that he is no longer the weak child they once knew and could take advantage of and gives them a warning as mentioned in the following “Be warned: within this house, let no man flaunt or strut; I note all that is done- both good and evil; I’m a child no more.” (XX, 414). They go from being frowned upon to returning to a better state where they are accepted in the eyes of society. He never had a fatherly influence for the most part