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Telemachus Character Analysis

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Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, started off as an inexperienced, scared young boy due to the lack of presence of a father figure in his life. After many tough experiences, Telemachus developed into a strong, courageous young man. One of the characters that had the most influence on the development of Telemachus is Athena. She helped Telemachus on his journey to finding his father and developed into a young man. The powerful goddess with “flashing sea-gray eyes” (Homer: 2.476), Athena, has had the greatest influence on Telemachus’ growth.
In Book One and Book Two, Athena came to Ithaca to speak with Telemachus with the permission of Zeus and instruct him on what to do as a fatherly figure. Telemachus was raised without a father. He was raised by his mother and the suitors who only had their eyes out for the prosperous …show more content…

Telemachus, who was born and raised Ithaca, never once left his homeland. Athena taught him how to approach people such as King Nestor and King Menelaus. Telemachus timidly says to Athena, “How can I greet him, Mentor, even approach the king? / I’m hardly adept at subtle conversation” (3.24-25). Athena patiently educated, inspired, and encouraged him on saying what he wanted to say. She replies, “Some of the words you’ll find within yourself, the rest some power will inspire you to say” (3.30-31). After approaching King Nestor, Telemachus was able to receive much information about his …show more content…

He is now willing to step out of his comfort zone and take risk after being inspired by Athena. She helped him become the man he is now. Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, acts as a father figure, a mentor, and a protector to Telemachus. If Athena never provided guidance and assistances for him, Telemachus would still be a shy young boy, rather than what he is now, a strong, independent, almost god-like

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Odysseus receives guidance, and help, from mainly Athena, the daughter of Zeus. She helps Odysseus and his son, Telemachus, throughout the whole book. Often, she disguises herself as the Mentor or another person. Athena was also the one god who spoke up for Odysseus and his son during the council of the gods. Although Odysseus does gain support from a few of the other gods, at the same time, he becomes an enemy to others, such as Poseidon, so having Athena on his side helps him to further move towards his end goal to return home.

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In the novel, The Odyssey translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Telemachus gives a speech to Ithaca. He argues to the suitors about disrespecting his father Odysseus’ home even though they think Odysseus is dead and will never come home. Courageously, from the heart, Telemachus goes up against the suitors to state control over the key social practices of marriage hospitality. Telemachus’ speech was effective because it showed pathos, logos, and ethos. Telemachus looks and acts the part of his father, astonishing those who presumably knew him as a boy.

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Athena disguises herself and reveals to Telemachus that his father is alive but tells him to sail in search of more information, “Do you hear me: As a goddess, yesterday/ you came to us, command me to sail/ across the shadowed sea, that I might learn/ about my long-gone father’s coming home” (32). Athena has Telemachus best interest at heart and by commanding him to find his father she played a big role in helping him shape himself and grow into the man he was destined to be. He takes Athenas’ advice and finally comes to the realization that he needs to stand up to the suitors, “Throughout all those years/ when I was still a boy, you suitors squandered/ the riches that were mine. But I am grown;/ and listening to the words of others, I/ can understand…” (33). Telemachus then sets off to find more information on his father and his possible whereabouts “I’ll come fetch what you’ve prepared.

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(Fagles 102). These new words of encouragement, especially since they are from the goddess of wisdom, place a new since of hope and robustness into Telemachus allowing him to go ahead with his

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As Athena assists him, he listens attentively and becomes driven in his actions. Telemachus first visits King Nestor. The first stop did not give Telemachus the answer he was looking for, but being the new eager and strived person Telemachus has become, he continues his journey by going to see Menelaus. Telemachus insists Menelaus to be truthful and exclaims, “Spare me no part of kindness’ sake; be harsh; but put the scene before me as you saw it” (Homer IV. 351-352).

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