Odyssey - Telemachos Analysis essays

Odyssey - Telemachos Analysis essays To thine own self be true, is a famous Shakespearean quote, and one the character Telemachos in The Odyssey had to struggle to learn to appreciate. He is first introduced to the reader as being meek and passive, feeling as if defending his family against the suitors is a hopeless effort. With the interference of Athena, he begins to have faith in both himself and his father, returning after years abroad to reclaim the Ithacan throne. By the riveting conclusion of the book, Telemachos has proven himself to be an admirable and brave young man. When this epic begins, Telemachos and his mother Penelopes home is being overridden by her suitors. Having grown up in a fatherless environment, Telemachos has not yet learned how to stand up for himself and is pessimistic about his fathers return. As he talks to Athena, in the disguise of Mentes in Book I, she says this of his attitude, The gods decreed no lack of honor in this generation: such is the son Penelope bore in you. But tell me now, and make this clear to me: what gathering, what feast is this? Why here? A wedding? Revel? At the expense of it all? Not that, I think. How arrogant they seem, these gluttons, making free here in your house! A sensible man would blush to be among them. By saying this, Athena is questioning Telemachoss pride and why he would be so passive as to let the suitors do as they please in his household without legitimate reason. By being meek, Telemachos is doing more harm to his estate than good. Another example of Telemachoss pessimism can also be found in Book I before he departs to find more information on Odysseus through Athenas instruction. He says to Eurymachos, one of Penelopes suitors: Eurymachos, theres no hope for my father. I would not trust a message, if one came, nor any forecaster my mother invites to tell by divination of time to come.... Telemachos is extremely skepti...