The Journey Of Telemachus To Manhood

Telemachus, one of the main characters in The Odyssey, endures a series of events that shape him into a different character than at the beginning of the poem. As an infant, his father, Odysseus, left to go to war. After many years of being away from home, between fighting, enduring various challenges with his soldiers, and being trapped on an island, he has not returned home. Telemachus, now twenty years old, has had no guidance on how to take charge of his household.

Athena’s help is what prompted and guided Telemachus’ journey into manhood. She acts as the father figure he never had growing up and pushes him to take on and achieve specific tasks that culminate in his manhood and prepare him to meet his father.

Through Athena’s help, Telemachus is able to grow and mature from a helpless daydreamer into a young man who is able to take charge when necessary and put his words into action.

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By Athena’s aid, Telemachus takes on various tasks: calling and speaking in an assembly, traveling to foreign countries, and battling against the suitors. Each of these helps to solidify and strengthen his manhood as he takes on this critical journey. By the end of this journey, he becomes much more assertive and even portrays many characteristics similar to those of his father, Odysseus. The earlier books of The Odyssey are focused mainly on the maturation of Telemachus while the final books show the results of his growth.

As mentioned before, Athena plays a vital role in the maturation and growth of Telemachus, and she uses various tools to assist him on this journey.

Xenia a significant theme in the text, and in their society, it was an essential practice. She uses it as a test to see if Telemachus is worthy and ready to embark on this journey. He passes the test when he sees her standing in the frontcourt and invites her in (137-146). It is also important to note that when Athena enters, her spear is placed in Odysseus' spear rack among some of Odysseus' spears (148-151). Here Homer uses this action as a clear representation of Athena taking the place of the absent father that Telemachus has yet to meet. Athena uses the practice of xenia to prompt the journey of Telemachus from boyhood to manhood. By being an excellent host to Athena, he begins to take responsibility as head of the house in his father's absence.

Athena has come to inspire Telemachus to go in search of his father; this also includes helping him get his act together. Although he is a good host, Telemachus' process of maturation has been delayed because he has no real example of how a real man should conduct himself. But this timely visit from Athena has helped to start his journey to manhood, eventually making him a suitable successor to his father. Before the arrival of Athena, prompting him to take specific actions, Telemachus could be considered a child. John Heath, professor of the classics at Santa Clara University, states, “Children are pitiable, weak, fearful, foolish, ignorant, careless of war, and incapable of distinguishing between words and things. Children clearly have no authority, but this impotency is connected not merely to their physical weakness and political subservience, but also closely to their lack of forceful speech and their inability to put words into action” (131-132). This statement shows the importance of Athena's visit to push Telemachus out of this childish state. Athena has picked up on his lack of initiative and must get him to a point where he “works for himself” and “becomes a doer of deeds,' not allowing himself to be pushed around (Smith 28). She must help him find a purpose, and in turn, this purpose will help pave a path for his journey to manhood. To achieve this epithet of manhood, there must be a plan, and since Telemachus is not capable of devising one, Athena presents one to him. This plan involves specific tasks that Telemachus must complete to further him on this journey. Each task prepares him for the other and builds and strengthens his much-needed manhood.

The first of these tasks involves addressing the suitors. These men for years have plagued the house of Odysseus; ever since he was suspected to be dead, they hung around his courtyard, eating away at his food and belongings like termites. And Telemachus, being the child he was, was incapable of doing anything about it. And his mother Penelope suffered as well because the suitors continuously tormented her with the issue of remarrying. But now it was time for some changes. This visit from Athena can be seen to take immediate effect on Telemachus. He begins to take up responsibility by speaking up. For the past twenty years, Telemachus has always responded to speech, but for the first time, he is the one initiating the conversation. He does so when he tells his mother to go to her room and tend to her affairs (409-414). Here he is taking his first rough stab at growing up, and this may have been the easiest way to do so by placing himself above women. In a patriarchal society, this was common, but it was not typical for Telemachus. Homer clearly shows this through the reaction of his mother. She is in disbelief that Telemachus has spoken to her in such a manner, as he has never done so before. However, she still obeys. The act of obedience to Telemachus' order must have helped to boost his confidence because next, he addresses the suitors.

For the first time in twenty years, he calls an assembly. He condemns the suitors for their behavior and warns them that they will eventually meet their demise. Again Homer uses the reaction of the suitors to emphasize the change in Telemachus' actions. It is here that he also shows the first likeness to his father. His crafty speech is much like that of Odysseus’, and the fact that he does not reveal that he was visited by Athena and avoids response to any inquiries about her identity shows the likeness to his father. In this speech to the suitors, he claims the palace and its belongings to be his (430-438). This action is also another attempt at proving his maturity. By 'reclaiming' his possessions, he makes it known to the suitors that he is no longer going to stand around while they eat away at what is his. Smith states that a critical task of Athena is to boost Telemachus' self-confidence, and she achieves this in a clever way. She compliments his masculine features and likens them to that of his father (240-242). “In order to convince him to act like a man, she must first convince him that, physically, he is a man.'(27) And what better way to do this than compare him to the ideal image of a man, Odysseus. By boosting his confidence, she paves the way for him to begin to speak up. This is an essential step for him as not only will he learn how to speak, but he will now learn the importance of putting words into action. His confidence is also enhanced by the response from some of the elders present in the assembly he has called. As put by Smith, “because of Telemachus‘s efforts to call such an assembly, and considerably more so because of his parentage, he is treated with great respect at the assembly—at least by the elders: ― ‘he sat in his father’s seat, and the elders made way’ (14)” (32). By acting like a man, he is shown respect, although not by all, the little respect he did receive is enough to boost his confidence and show him the results of his actions.

According to Smith, it is crucial that Telemachus heals about his father from those who have traveled with him (38). In order for Telemachus to do so, he must embark on a physical journey to Pylos and then to Sparta. By embarking on this journey, Telemachus will also learn “how to properly behave in Homeric society and how to function as a guest in the court of another” (38). Learning the latter will also complete ‘the circle of Xenia’ in that he will learn how to be a better host but also learn the equal importance of being a guest. Although he has had a confidence boost, Telemachus is still incapable of doing certain things. Hence Athena steps in once again. This time disguised as Mentor and for a bit as Telemachus, she secures him a boat and assembles him a crew (422-427). The beginning of the trip is where Athena’s help will be the most, but as the journey continues, her direct assistance will become less. However, before she sends Telemachus off, she gives him one last confidence boost, disguised as Mentor. In this small charge, she assures him he is the son of Odysseus and tells him that because of this, his voyage will be a success. She provides him with hope. And most importantly, she provides him with the assurance that the suitors will meet the end that they deserve (302-317).

This charge is important because, with this new confidence, Telemachus can adequately address his crew and feel comfortable doing so. He can also focus on the immediate task at hand, finding out about his father and how to locate him, he won’t be distracted by the thought of getting back at the suitors, leaving that issue for the appropriate time. Smith makes an important point that this journey Telemachus will embark on serves as a rite of passage. In Homeric society, it was believed that fathers sending their young sons away from home to complete a masculine task on his own would allow him to learn and acquire essential skills for manhood. The fact that Athena sends Telemachus on this journey is a further representation of her fulfilling her role as his absent father (38-39).

On his voyage to Pylos, Telemachus learns many valuable lessons through the example Nestor sets in the way he conducts his life. Telemachus, upon arrival, is able to observe a household that is in order, a sharp contrast to what he is used to back home in Ithaca. When he arrives in Pylos Nestor, and his people are making a sacrifice to the god Poseidon, being that he is the god of the sea, anyone venturing by sea must acknowledge his power. Nestor recounts to Telemachus that it was through repeated sacrifice to Poseidon that he was able to make it safely home. Telemachus learns the importance of reverence to the gods. After hearing stories of his father from Nestor, Telemachus journeys further to Sparta, where he re-encounters a prime example of hospitality. His lineage is also confirmed once more when Helen and Menelaus recognize him as Odysseus’ son. Again Telemachus is told stories of his father, but not of these stories are able to help him find his father.

After some time, Athena hints to Telemachus its time to go home, and he attempts to do so with great haste. He wakes up Peisistratus in the middle of the night and suggests that they sneak out of Menelaus’ palace and head back to the ship. But, Peisistratus knowing better advises that they wait till morning to receive the proper send-off from their host. This incident shows that Telemachus still has some learning to do as this action could have damaged his reputation as a guest. However, he redeems himself by showing that he still has improved. After telling Menelaus he has to return home, Menelaus invites him to stay a bit longer to eat. But Telemachus remains firm; he insists to his host that he must return home at once because there is no one there to oversee its affairs (50-61). This trip that Telemachus embarks is one of his most valuable learning experiences. He is able to get a clear view of how a man is to operate when traveling away from home. He learns how to conduct himself as a guest properly and how to be a better host. He makes mistakes while he is there and almost destroys his reputation but has taken away many valued lessons from this experience.

Telemachus’ return to Ithaca is significant. It is upon his arrival he will be able to portray his growth to the people of Ithaca, the suitors, his mother, and, most importantly, his father. The change in Telemachus is visible when he returns; he is more assertive and confident. He speaks up, giving clear instructions to Eumaeus. Another instance of this is in conversation with his mother. Penelope scolds Telemachus and accuses him of still behaving like a child (241-256). But Telemachus’ response proves the exact opposite, “I am not surprised, my dear mother, at your displeasure,’ replied Telemachus, ‘I understand all about it and know when things are not as they should be, which I could not do when I was younger; I cannot, however, behave with perfect propriety at all times. First one and then another of these wicked people here keeps driving me out of my mind, and I have no one to stand by me”(257-262). As put by John Heath, “this is a wonderfully mature response. He acknowledges that Penelope is right—the rules of hospitality have been broken. And he wants her to know that now, unlike before, he is very much aware of what is going on. By denying his epithet, he takes one more step towards earning it. Ironically, his very control of language has brought him closer than ever to the actual maturity he here claims to be lacking” (148). Telemachus is now clearly able to control his speech, “using language effectively to accomplish what he once thought impossible” (149).

The contest of the axes is one of the most significant events for Telemachus as he has the opportunity to showcase his growth in an unusual way. Inspired by Athena, Penelope calls a contest declaring that whoever is able to string Odysseus’ bow and shoot it through the arrows is the person she will marry (78-92). Again Telemachus speaks up and takes charge after seeing that no one would set up the axes. He pushes for the contest to begin and even announces that he will participate (116-134). Here Telemachus continues to display his growth and maturity. Without having ever seen the axes, he sets them up properly, to the amazement of all (Heath 150). Next, Telemachus proves himself to his father, three times he fails to string the bow. In failing to sting the bow in three attempts, Homer uses this to represent Telemachus’ journey to manhood. He has made many mistakes but also significant efforts to advance on his journey and earn his epithet. On the fourth try, Homer tells us that he would have succeeded, but Odysseus secretly signals to him not to. Odysseus’ signal to Telemachus, although it was meant as a gesture of disapproval to his immediate actions can also be seen as a signal of approval that he no longer has to fight to prove himself as a man, he has done enough to prove that he is worthy of the title. Telemachus' actions after his father's signal show his maturity and are more proof that he deserves to be called a man now. Denying his urges to prove himself to everyone, he heeds his father’s instruction and sets the bow aside. At this point in the text, it is clear that Athena’s help is little to none, for she has accomplished her goal. Telemachus is now a man. He is now able to manipulate his speech and put his words into action. He has been able to form a reputation for himself that he can easily build on, and through this, he commands respect as a man.

At the beginning of the poem, Telemachus was a child; he was ignorant and incapable of performing as a man should. It was only through Athena’s intervention that Telemachus was able to gradually mature and reach the point of manhood. As the poem comes to an end, Odysseus lets his wife know that he must soon set out again and will meet his death at sea (282-287). This requires Telemachus to have matured, and be capable of taking over, which by the end of the poem he has. He is now ready to properly rule Ithaca as the prince he is when Odysseus sets out on his final voyage. Smith puts it perfectly, “Power will continue to be passed down through Odysseus‘s line. His family will retain preeminent status on Ithaca.”(75)

References

1.Homer.The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Viking, 1996. Print.

2.Heath, John. “TELEMACHUS PEPNUMENOS: GROWING INTO AN EPITHET,' Department of Classics, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Mnemosyne. Vol. 54, Issue 2, Mar. 2001, p129-157. 29p DOI: 10.1163/15685250151099391

3.Murrin, Michael, “Athena and Telemachus,' University of Chicago, Department of English. International Journal of the Classical Tradition, Vol. 13, No. 4, 2007, pg. 499–514. 17p DOI: 10.1007/BF02923022

4.Clark, Matthew, “WAS TELEMACHUS RUDE TO HIS MOTHER?” University of Chicago, Classical Philology; Vol. 96 Issue 4, Oct. 2001, p335, 20p DOI: 10.1086/449555

5.Smith, William, “No Longer Νήπηνο: The Maturation of Telemachus in Homer‘s Odyssey,' Tufts University May 2010, UMI Publications https://courseworkbank.info/coursework/University/Classics/Hisch-2010-No-Longer-%CE%9D%CE%AE%CF%80%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82-The-Maturation-of-Telemachos-in-Homer%E2%80%98s-Odyssey.pdf

6.Millar, C. M. H. and Carmichael, J. W. S., “The Growth of Telemachus,' Greece & Rome, Vol. 1, No. 2, Jun. 1954, pp. 58-64 JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/641054

7.J. V. Morrison, “A Companion to Homer's Odyssey,' Greenwood Press. 2003

8.Stevenson, C. Daniel, “The Odyssey by Homer”, The Internet Classics Archive, Accessed 10 January, 2020 http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.18.xviii.html