Odysseus And Telemachus Relationship

Decent Essays
During Telemachus’s journey, he determined to find his father. Telemachus’s coming of age occurs during his visit to Nestor of Pylos and Menelaus of Sparta to gather information about his father, during his voyage he grows as a man, Telemachus grows as a man because he is uncertain and insecure of his potential power. Telemachus was a young boy when Odysseus left for his voyage, because of Odysseus leaving, Telemachus has a very small relationship with his father which causes Telemachus to not have a person to look up to and to grow as a man by himself. Telemachus takes a trip to Nestor of Pylos and Menelaus of Sparta where two of the kings knew his father, he first dines with King Nestor and his son Peisistratos, after dining with them

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the first book of Homer’s The Odyssey, Telemachus faces a variety of dilemmas, including, but not limited to, an identity crisis, a vast assortment of men exhausting his estate, a father on hiatus, a weeping mother, and quite frankly the ability to think independently. All of these adversities culminate into the overarching issue facing Telemachus, in that Telemachus is a bit over zealous to do something, anything really, without truly thinking through all of the possible consequences. Afore, a layer of context is essential in understanding Telemachus’ condition.…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Odysseus and Telemachus share many similarities and differences as they are father and son. One of the main differences between the two is the amount of experience each individual has. Odysseus is a character that has gone through the worst in life: The Trojan war that lasted ten years, Poseidon’s form of torture, and a journey home that took ten years. Three things that the Phaeacian’s stated only one man can endure, Odysseus. On the other hand, Telemachus is only twenty-one years old and has only gone on one year-long journey that Athena sent him on.…

    • 118 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Telemachus, in a way acted as a father figure that he could reach out to. Eumaeus as as stayed so loyal because he would have to shelter and purpose to do without the king's family and just be like any other beggar. He acted in this father like way when he first saw Telemachus because he has not seen him in a…

    • 267 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Athena challenges Telemachus to leave boyhood and enter manhood. Athena calls Telemachus to subdue his grief for one year. During that year, Telemachus is to call an assembly with the purpose of gathering and scattering the suitors inhabiting the palace, commandeer a ship with twenty oars with the purpose of searching for whispers and rumors regarding the status of Odysseus. Telemachus must first visit Pylos and interrogate King Nextor. Then, Telemachus must sail to Sparta in search of the red haired Menelaus.…

    • 983 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After Athena listened to his story about the lack of a father in his life, she decided to help him. Athena later gives Telemachus reassurance that his father is alive and was not mysteriously killed at sea. She gives Telemachus the courage to stand up to the suitors that have been freeloaders on his land for far too long. Because of Athena’s advice, Telemachus is able to call an assembly and address the problem of the suitors. Athena also gives him the courage to go looking for Odysseus.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Different experiences change us in ways we would have never expected. When Telemachus leaves his home in Ithaca on a mission to find his father and gain his peace of mind back, these changes are evident. Before meeting Athena, Telemachus was weak and passive towards the suitors. Although, when he begins his journey to find his father he becomes much more assertive rather than passive. When he learns that his father was a well known and very likable man, it gives him the confidence and hope that he can be a true successor to his father.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Odyssey presents Telemachus as a possible successor to the great king of Ithaca, Odysseus. Telemachus’ character develops throughout the story, leading one to wonder if he has the capability to take over as king over Ithaca. I believe that Telemachus can worthily succeed his father because he displays the qualities necessary to rule and proves himself in tough situations. Before jumping into Telemachus' character, we must first define…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    (2.66) And although Telemachus is most certainly Odysseus’s biological son, it is only in the journey to find his father that he can truly become like his father, a king and a brilliant strategist of war. In order to measure up to his “fearless” father Odysseus, Telemachus must learn self-restraint, respect, and articulation in his words (4.303).…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    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…

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Both Odysseus and Telemachus play extremely pivotal and important roles in Homer’s The Odyssey. The phrase “like father like son” can easily describe the similarities between Odysseus and Telemachus’s characters. However, no human beings are exactly alike as both characters also share a great number of differences. So although Odysseus and Telemachus are both similar in the way that they’re great heroic warriors, they differ in craftiness and arrogance which reflect Ancient Greek values.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    By commanding his mother, Telemachus is demonstrating his growth into a man. By telling his mother what to do, he is showing he has the authority to tell her what to do, and by doing so infant of the suitors helps to build their view of him. With his first commanding his mother, Telemachus is demonstrating his first taking of the powers typically granted to men. This growth is further seen when he declares that he holds the “reins of power” in his fathers house while he is gone.…

    • 1501 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Athena convinces Telemachus to journey and find out whether his father is alive. He meets King Nestor in Pylos and King Menelaus in Sparta, who both have news about Odysseus. Telemachus's journey—both a physical and metaphorical journey—is essential for him to become the true son of Odysseus because he learns how similar he is to Odysseus, gains confidence, and understands the importance of praying to the gods. First of all, Telemachus's…

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the story of The Odyssey written by Homer and the novel To Kill a Mockingbird the theme of loyalty can be seen throughout both story lines. In ancient Greek Loyalty could be seen as establishing or having a lifetime friendship. Based on these story lines it can be argued that loyalty is epic, and a loyal person should be considered the hero. Loyalty is a strong feeling of support or allegiance. In the odyssey book 4 Prince Telemachus showed loyalty to his father even at the hands of danger, while in To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus showed loyalty to Tom Robinson even though all odds were against him.…

    • 1003 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The journey to Pylos and Sparta also symbolises Telemachus’ maturity to take up the father’s role, a position that has been unoccupied for a while. The trip plays an important role as Telemachus gains a lot of boldness and courage through his meeting with Nester, the kings of Pylos as they discuss the whereabouts of his father. The readers also notice a quality in Telemachus which is his ability for polite conversation. This was seen during his visit with king Menelaus. The king was so impressed, he pleads for Telemachus to extend his visit.…

    • 1330 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Odysseus Character Traits

    • 1047 Words
    • 4 Pages

    After Odysseus left Ithaca for the Trojan War, the suitors take over his estate. Odysseus’ absence compels the young Telemachus to take Odysseus’ place and maintain his estate. Telemachus hears about his father’s deeds throughout his life, which inspires him to be a brave warrior and carry out his duties towards his mother and estate. Telemachus is influenced by his father’s virtues of prudence and humility. When Odysseus lays out his plan to first test his servants for loyalty, Telemachus uses his prudence, to propose to kill the suitors first.…

    • 1047 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays