How can a great nation sustain its greatness? Many will say just laws, the morality of the people, or a strong military. I believe that the answer lies at the top with the character of the leaders. Great nations continue to stay great only if their leaders display strong character and leadership. Homer's poem 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
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At first glance, it may appear that he does not have the capability to. In the beginning of the book, Telemachus states that "All of the nobles who rule the islands . . . And all those with power on rocky Ithaca Are courting my mother and ruining our house. She refuses to make a marriage she hates But can't stop it either. They are eating us out of house and hoe, and will kill me someday" (Homer 8). This passage clearly portrays him as inexperienced, weak, and fearful. Despite his initial failings, Telemachus has a resilient heart that just needs some divine inspiration. By the end of the book, Telemachus has transformed into a brave young man, fighting side by side with his father against the suitors. He finally musters the courage to take on the enemy, showing great bravery and tremendous strength in the process. Homer even describes Telemachus as "cool-headed under fire" (Homer 340) as he relentlessly destroys them and protects his father. Telemachus, the timid boy who feared the suitors, has now turned into a man with a warrior's heart, just like his …show more content…
He matches the strength of his father and shows the same mindset of executing justice against the enemy. However, Telemachus still retains his tender, thoughtful, and deliberate self, as portrayed in the early books. Book 15 describes such a scene where Telemachus shows sound judgment and wisdom: "And Telemachus, in his clear-headed way: 'Ordinarily I would say go to our house, for it has everything needed for hospitality. But it wouldn't work out for you right now since I'll be away, and my mother won't see you'" (Homer 238). In this scene, Telemachus demonstrates clear and wise reasoning, leading him to make deliberate decisions. Telemachus possesses wisdom, good judgment, and sound reasoning, qualities that Odysseus lacks. Therefore, Telemachus displays both the might of a warrior and the mind of a wise
At first glance, it may appear that he does not have the capability to. In the beginning of the book, Telemachus states that "All of the nobles who rule the islands . . . And all those with power on rocky Ithaca Are courting my mother and ruining our house. She refuses to make a marriage she hates But can't stop it either. They are eating us out of house and hoe, and will kill me someday" (Homer 8). This passage clearly portrays him as inexperienced, weak, and fearful. Despite his initial failings, Telemachus has a resilient heart that just needs some divine inspiration. By the end of the book, Telemachus has transformed into a brave young man, fighting side by side with his father against the suitors. He finally musters the courage to take on the enemy, showing great bravery and tremendous strength in the process. Homer even describes Telemachus as "cool-headed under fire" (Homer 340) as he relentlessly destroys them and protects his father. Telemachus, the timid boy who feared the suitors, has now turned into a man with a warrior's heart, just like his …show more content…
He matches the strength of his father and shows the same mindset of executing justice against the enemy. However, Telemachus still retains his tender, thoughtful, and deliberate self, as portrayed in the early books. Book 15 describes such a scene where Telemachus shows sound judgment and wisdom: "And Telemachus, in his clear-headed way: 'Ordinarily I would say go to our house, for it has everything needed for hospitality. But it wouldn't work out for you right now since I'll be away, and my mother won't see you'" (Homer 238). In this scene, Telemachus demonstrates clear and wise reasoning, leading him to make deliberate decisions. Telemachus possesses wisdom, good judgment, and sound reasoning, qualities that Odysseus lacks. Therefore, Telemachus displays both the might of a warrior and the mind of a wise