Laura Ross
World Literature to 1650
ENGL 2410-N01
23 September 2015
Telemachus and his transformation “Long before anyone else, the prince Telemakhos now caught sight of Athena—for he, too, was sitting there, unhappy among the suitors, a boy, daydreaming” (Homer 277). Odysseus’ son, Telemakhos is depressed about his situation at home with the suitors, and lacks the strength to change it. Odysseus is presumed dead, and his wife Penelope is doing everything she can to avoid having to choose one of the suitors as her new husband. Telemakhos must learn that he cannot stay a child forever; he is old enough to take a stand against the suitors! Telemakhos matures into a man by a series of events: setting sail to Pylos in search of his father, standing
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Telemakhos reached Pylos, and with the help of Athena, for he could not have done it without her, he mustered up courage to talk to Nestor and Menelaus about his father’s whereabouts. After Odysseus returned to Ithaka, with the help of the Phaiakians, Athena disguised him so his son wouldn’t recognize him. Telemakhos is shocked when Odysseus finally reveals himself and his father has to finally “parent” him and remind him that to be struck with wonder is not princely (481). At this time, word has reached the suitors that Telemakhos has come back safely from Pylos. It becomes obvious that they have started to see him as a man now. They worry that he might actually be able to overthrow them or send some calamity upon them, so the suitors began to talk of killing him once more (483). Meanwhile, Odysseus talks to his son about how to kill the suitors, using the help of Athena and Zeus. This shows that he has matured because no one would talk to a child about slaughtering men. Telemakhos has learned to articulate his thoughts without emotional outbursts, a crucial part of