Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey, follows many individuals’ quests for home in both the concrete and metaphorical sense. While Odysseus is the main focus of this tale, many other characters are on a somewhat similar journey. Though they do not face the search for belonging in such extreme circumstances, each does look to create meaning and a sense of home within the confines of their lives. One such example is Odysseus’ son, Telemachus. His search for home is very metaphorical, as Telemachus does, have a house. Yet he cannot bear to think of the place like that, because it is missing the qualities he needs to call the space his own. We see this when, in a conversation with Athena, a visiting goddess, the boy recounts his longing for his living space to become as it once was.
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After Athena inquires as to the previous state of the building, Telemachus’ answer comes laced through and through with a barely concealed grief. “Since you ask me these questions as my guest—/ This, no doubt, was once a perfect house,/ Wealthy and fine, when its master was still home” (1.249-251). Though the building still stands, his sense of comfort and belonging has been taken from it. The “master” he refers to could be him or his father- Odysseus is gone, but Telemachus’ power, and mastery of his house, has also been compromised. This struggle is one that Telemachus’ grandfather, Odysseus’ father, shares. Instead of enjoying the vast comforts of the families estates, he chooses to forsake that and instead create a home for himself that acts as a physical representation of his inner turmoils. Laertes moves to the slaves quarters after Odysseus left, unable to see his house without his son within it. Odysseus learns of this on his journey to Hades, where his dead mother tells him that his
After Athena inquires as to the previous state of the building, Telemachus’ answer comes laced through and through with a barely concealed grief. “Since you ask me these questions as my guest—/ This, no doubt, was once a perfect house,/ Wealthy and fine, when its master was still home” (1.249-251). Though the building still stands, his sense of comfort and belonging has been taken from it. The “master” he refers to could be him or his father- Odysseus is gone, but Telemachus’ power, and mastery of his house, has also been compromised. This struggle is one that Telemachus’ grandfather, Odysseus’ father, shares. Instead of enjoying the vast comforts of the families estates, he chooses to forsake that and instead create a home for himself that acts as a physical representation of his inner turmoils. Laertes moves to the slaves quarters after Odysseus left, unable to see his house without his son within it. Odysseus learns of this on his journey to Hades, where his dead mother tells him that his