The Maturity Of Telemachus In Homer's The Odyssey

Growing up in a questionable situation can be difficult for anyone. Telemachus has been raised without his father, a lost man whose location and status are unknown, and is now facing an assortment of struggles through uninvited guests and complicated circumstances that are testing him and his abilities. Through the first four books of Homer’s The Odyssey, Telemachus is able to set up the story for the rest of Homer’s tale. He experiences predicaments of his own as the journey begins. However, the purpose of the writing goes beyond an introduction; he himself undergoes character maturity. In this section of The Odyssey, Telemachus is learning about the world and society as he matures into the man his mother and father need him to be through …show more content…
As Telemachus discovers, this can be a more complicated issue when the suitors treat his home as their own, or worse. Telemachus states, “day by day they keep hanging about my father’s house, sacrificing our oxen, sheep, and fat goats for their banquets, and never giving so much as a thought to the quantity of wine they drink” (16). The way these men are treating not only Odysseus’s home but also his possessions and livestock is enough to make any disgruntled host even more enraged. Without even leaving his household Telemachus is getting a glimpse of the worst parts of civilization and the people contained within it. On the other hand, as he begins to travel in search of answers, he witnesses a very different definition of how others conduct themselves in a host’s household. In Book 4, Telemachus visits Menelaus who is entertaining guests of his own. “So the neighbors and kinsmen of Menelaus were feasting and making merry in his house. There was a bard also to sing to them and play his lyre, while two tumblers went about performing in the midst of them when the man struck up with his tune” (41). The scene Homer describes is a stark contrast to the setting of Telemachus’ home. Here, with Menelaus, guests are invited and appreciated; they come to dinner not to steal from the host but to enjoy his company. This similar situation can be observed when Telemachus visits Nestor who treats him with care though he is a stranger (28). Telemachus is beholding two very diverse venues and thus learning about civilization and what it means to be civilized. In this short period of time, he is picking up information about the world with his travels and maturing through this knowledge. The opportunity to view a diverse group of people will have a big impact on Telemachus’ future relationships. Rather than perhaps only fostering hatred for the way the suitors act and taking that