Another reason for Homer to start the odyssey in this way is to introduce Telemachus. Even though Telemachus has never met his father he still longs for his return. He has been told from many others that once knew Odysseus of what a great warrior and a respected king he was.
The suitors represent temptation for Penelope who will soon have to choose one of them to marry. Penelope and Telemachus are civil and hostile to the suitors showing them hospitality and generosity in their own home. The suitors do not show any respect for Penelope and Telemachus but treat them as if they were of lower class. It is clear how different the suitors are to Telemachus for when Athena appears in disguise at the palace the suitors do not even notice her presence but carry on drinking wine and preparing their meal. It is Telemachus who first sees Athena and straight away acts like a gentle man and brings her in showing her hospitality. Telemachus shows Athena hospitality in addressing her by ‘friend’ and does not even ask who she is but insists that she should eat first. Telemachus is said to be ashamed that the stranger should be kept waiting. He is obviously ashamed of the suitors’ insolent behaviour.
Homer emphasises the rudeness and ill-mannered behaviour of the Suitors using phrases such as ‘swaggering’. This gives the impression that they are drunk and being drunk in front of a visitor is extremely discourteous. The suitors show the aspect of being hubris because them think of them selves as better people them they are.
Homer begins the Odyssey at the site of Ithaca. This is ironic as Ithaca is the home land of Odysseus and where is long enduring voyage will end. By introducing Ithaca so soon in the story the reader is able to relate to why Odysseus is longing to go home so much. We are introduced to his l wife the beautiful Penelope who is still clinging on to her last bit of hope and we are introduced to his son the thoughtful Telemachus who has now grown into a young, strong hostile man. Odysseus has been gone for nearly 20 years and has not seen is son since he was just a baby. In Odysseus heroic travels he is face with many temptations such as Calypso who offers his immortality if he stays with her, Nausicca: a beautiful princess who falls in love with Odysseus and wants him to marry her. But Odysseus shows his deep love for his family by leaving all this temptation behind and carrying on his journey home to Ithaca.
By beginning the Odyssey in this way we are shown the background and home land of Odysseus. We are made known of his wealth and respect. The respect given to Odysseus is emphasised using the characters Nestor and Menalaus. Both old friends of Odysseus, who fought with him in the Trojan War. Nestor has an important role because he is the one who speaks to Telemachus of his father’s glory and honour, praising Odysseus. The reason why Telemachus goes to Nestor in the first place is because he is loosing faith in the thought of his father still being alive and Nestor was with him in the war at Troy. Telemachus hopes to find out more of his fathers disappearance and learn more about him as a person and a warrior. The Odysseys has no actual account of the War at Troy, therefore the only war the reader hears of it is throught the words of men who fought and survived. These warriors include both Nestor and Menalaus. This is important because their accounts of the war are obviously going to be over exaggerated to empahsive their greatness and how heroic they were. They will probably also miss out the not so brave parts to make themselves sound even more victorious. In there telling of the story they will also boost up the ego of their close friend Odysseus painting a heroic fighter in the readers mind and Telemachus’s.
We learn about how important it to warriors like Odysseus, to be remembered for their heroic triumph. This is why wars are so important because most of the time they are not fighting for their country but for them selves. Odysseus is a good role model for his son because he is always striving to do his best. We learn this from Menalaus who talks to Telemachus about the great men he fought with who were killed in battle. Menaluaus is an extremely wealthy man, ‘The whole place gleams with bronze and gold, amber and silver and ivory’. Telemachus is gob smacked at the quanity of treasures and compares Menalaus’s home to the court of Zeus on Olympus. Telemachus is wealthy himself and for him to be blown back by another mans riches really emphasises just how rich Menalaus is. Although, Menalaus quotes that he would,’ give a third of his former estate, if those friends of mine were still alive.. But for all the Achacans who strove at troy it was Odysseus who strove the hardest and achieved the most’.
Nestor talks of how much Telemachus resembles his father Odysseus in the way he talks and his charming looks. There is also a similarity between the two as Athena is showing the same affection to Telemachus as she once did for Odysseus helping him by putting courage into his heart when talking to Nestor. Although there is also a contrast in that Telemachus does not stand up to the suitors and tell them to leave like Odysseus would do but allows them to walk all over him and his mother.
