In Aristophanes', The Clouds, and Homer's, The Odyssey, both Phidippides and Telemachos are adults age-wise. However, based on the fact that they have not matured yet, they are still considered "children" mentally. Though these two texts differ in genre, they demonstrate a father-son dynamic and how these two characters work on transitioning from childhood to adulthood by stepping out of their fathers' shadows. Over the course of the two texts, the characters transform from weak, dependent men to strong, independent men; whereas Phidippides matures into someone who can surpass his father, Telemachos' growth and development demonstrates he is not quite ready nor strong enough to outdo his father just yet. Phidippides depends on his father
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Phidippides is given the chance to help out his father, who pleads with Phidippides to "reverse your way of life as soon as possible, and go learn what I'm going to recommend" (Aristophanes 19). Phidippides agrees to do whatever his father says and Strepsiades tells him to attend the thinkery, where Phidippides will learn how to argue. If Phidippides can learn the Worse or Unjust Argument, Strepsiades can get away with not paying off his debt. However, Phidippides snubs the thinkery and those who live there so he refuses. Even after Strepsiades makes Phidippides swear up and down to do as he says, Phidippides ends up going back on his word. To make matters worse, Phidippides throws a temper tantrum and ignores his father's threat of kicking him out of the house, saying "I'm going inside and paying you no mind!" (Aristophanes 25). Phidippides could care less about his father and his worries if Phidippides has no qualms about letting his father drown in the debts Phidippides created. This highlights Phidippides' immaturity as well as his failure to accept responsibility. The broken oath combined with his display of childish behavior, reflect just how much of a child Phidippides is and how he has a long way to go before he reaches …show more content…
Telemachos wants to confirm whether or not his father is dead: "If he's alive, and beating his way home, I might hold out for another weary year; but if they tell me he's dead and gone, then I can…raise a mound for him, and burn his gear with all the funeral honors that befit him, and give my mother to another husband" (Homer 2.228-34). Presuming Odysseus is alive, in one piece and on his way home, Telemachos will wait in the meantime for his return. If not, Telemachos will accept the fact Odysseus is truly dead and marry off his mother to one of the suitors. If it just so happens that his father is dead, Telemachos will fully accept his responsibilities as a man of the oikos and make his mother marry one of the suitors. Not only is he prepared to assume the responsibilities if it should happen Odysseus is dead, Telemachos' determination to find the whereabouts of his father shows he is done hiding behind his mother's protection and going to take action. His journey will allow him to gain the strength he so desperately desires, both mental and physical strength. Moreover, this impromptu trip is not just a journey to find his supposedly dead father, it is also a journey where Telemachos will grow and mature as a
Phidippides is given the chance to help out his father, who pleads with Phidippides to "reverse your way of life as soon as possible, and go learn what I'm going to recommend" (Aristophanes 19). Phidippides agrees to do whatever his father says and Strepsiades tells him to attend the thinkery, where Phidippides will learn how to argue. If Phidippides can learn the Worse or Unjust Argument, Strepsiades can get away with not paying off his debt. However, Phidippides snubs the thinkery and those who live there so he refuses. Even after Strepsiades makes Phidippides swear up and down to do as he says, Phidippides ends up going back on his word. To make matters worse, Phidippides throws a temper tantrum and ignores his father's threat of kicking him out of the house, saying "I'm going inside and paying you no mind!" (Aristophanes 25). Phidippides could care less about his father and his worries if Phidippides has no qualms about letting his father drown in the debts Phidippides created. This highlights Phidippides' immaturity as well as his failure to accept responsibility. The broken oath combined with his display of childish behavior, reflect just how much of a child Phidippides is and how he has a long way to go before he reaches …show more content…
Telemachos wants to confirm whether or not his father is dead: "If he's alive, and beating his way home, I might hold out for another weary year; but if they tell me he's dead and gone, then I can…raise a mound for him, and burn his gear with all the funeral honors that befit him, and give my mother to another husband" (Homer 2.228-34). Presuming Odysseus is alive, in one piece and on his way home, Telemachos will wait in the meantime for his return. If not, Telemachos will accept the fact Odysseus is truly dead and marry off his mother to one of the suitors. If it just so happens that his father is dead, Telemachos will fully accept his responsibilities as a man of the oikos and make his mother marry one of the suitors. Not only is he prepared to assume the responsibilities if it should happen Odysseus is dead, Telemachos' determination to find the whereabouts of his father shows he is done hiding behind his mother's protection and going to take action. His journey will allow him to gain the strength he so desperately desires, both mental and physical strength. Moreover, this impromptu trip is not just a journey to find his supposedly dead father, it is also a journey where Telemachos will grow and mature as a