Telemachus's Development In The Odyssey By Homer

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic poem, believed to have been written between 800 and 700 BCE. The book focuses on the hero Odysseus and his long journey home to Ithaca after the fall of Tory. During the epic, Telemachus shows a great deal of growth from acting like a boy into being a mature man. He starts his journey being regarded as a child in front of the suitors at his father’s house, and his outburst in front of them furthered this opinion. As the story progresses however his growth is seen in many ways. He first shows growth when he commands his mother to go to her chambers. His growth is seen again when he Journeys to find information regarding his father. Finally, he can be seen as a man when he returns with Odysseus and kill …show more content…
After his mother leaves for her chamber and the suitors quiet their uproar Telemachus decides to address the suitors. In a fit of rage with the suitors he commands them to “See to your feasting elsewhere, devour your own possessions.” . This indignant outburst toward the many men in the house shows his immaturity. Telemachus lashes out at the suitors in a fit of rage, rather than calmly addressing them as someone more mature would. While he is trying to show his power over the house, his animosity is seen by the suitors as immaturity. After letting the suitors destroy the house and ravage the food, his sudden outburst his regarded like the outburst of a child. They do not leave or follow his commands to return to their own homes in any way, rather they do the opposite. The suitors regard his actions as a simple outburst of anger and continue on with their activities at the …show more content…
The bard is singing The Achaeans’ Journey Home from Troy to the suitors gathered at Odysseus’s house. Penelope decides to come down from her room, and upon hearing the bard tells him to change songs. Telemachus, in turn, commands his mother “Go back to your quarters… As for giving orders, men will see to that, but I most of all: I hold the reins of power in this house.”By commanding his mother to return to her room Telemachus claims the power granted to men to issue commands. 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. This shows that he is in charge of the house to the suitor looking on and increase is credibility with them. Telemachus’s taking of this power begins his growth from a boy into a mature