The Odyssey

Within the intriguing plots of The Odyssey lay two remarkable journeys.  For Odysseus, it was a journey of the heart; for Telemachus it was one of knowledge and self-discovery. During his quest he learned many customs, rituals and most importantly, testimony of his courageous father that intensified his progressive maturation. Telemachus’ initial destination was Pylos, where he encountered King Nestor.  This was his first time addressing a king, so he was understandably apprehensive before he approached him. Mentor, his companion, said to him: “You must speak to Nestor yourself, and ask him to tell you the whole truth.” When Mentor said this to Telemachus, it became clear that he understood the purpose of Telemachus’ journey, for he could have easily approached  Nestor himself and saved Telemachus the worry. Telemachus confessed to Mentor that he has “no practice in polite speeches.” Fortunately Mentor, who at the time was Athena in disguise, provided Telemachus with the inspiration necessary to confront the elder king. When addressing Nestor, he spoke in a mannerly fashion, and Nestor responded by saying: “You amaze me, young man: when I hear you speak, I might be hearing him, you could not imagine a young man could speak so like him!” Clearly, Telemachus took on some responsibility: he did not back down when Mentor told him to greet Nestor himself; he showed great poise and articulated quite well for a boy his age; and he earned the praise of the wise old king for his efforts.  By proving his worthiness, Nestor told him the story of Agamemnon, a king who was unlawfully murdered by Aigisthos, who married his wife.  Agamemnon’s son, Orestes, returned from Athens years later to avenge his fathers death.  Nestor warned young Telemachus that unless he returned home and sought revenge on the suitors who had barged into his estate and squatted on his land, he may have found himself in the same situation as Orestes once was.  With Nestor’s advice, Telemachus sailed to Lacedaimon in search of King Menelaos. Upon his arrival, Telemachus was greeted with gifts from the king. He accepted them graciously, for he had never been greeted with gifts in his life. When he and Menelaos conversed, Telemachus mentioned how his father respected him a great deal.  The words Telemachus uttered prompted Menelaos to acknowledge his speaking ability, not to mention the likeness to his father.  “My friend, you speak like a man of sense, you are older than your years; your father is just the same, you get it from him.” Telemachus stayed with Menelaos, enjoying his time as a guest to the fullest extent. One morning, Telemachus was summoned by Athena, and was reminded that he must return to his home immediately, for the suitors continue to eat away at his estate.  Menelaos’ insistence that Telemachus stay and feast with him in Lacedaimon before returning to Ithaca confirmed that he was a commendable, god- fearing man. Telemachus's eagerness to avoid this social commitment may seem a breach of social propriety, but, in desiring not to delay his return further, he displayed the concern he had for what awaited him in Ithaca.

Upon his return to Ithaca with his father, Telemachus had emerged as a man. He no longer wondered what the world held for him, for he knew his place was in Ithaca.  Welcoming his disguised father was the first indication of how much he had learned through the course of the story, from his journey to Pylos all the way to Lacedaimon.  Telemachus understood that his father was in disguise for the purpose of his revenge; however, he treated him just as the customs conveyed.  “Sit there now among the gentlemen and drink away!  I will protect you from rudeness and violence, for this is not a public place, but my father’s house, and he got it for me.  So I request you, gentlemen, to control you tongues and your hands, if you wish to avoid quarrel.”  Just as Nestor and Menelaos demonstrated hospitality to their strange guest, Telemachus provides this “beggar” with the same courtesy, which is saying plenty considering at the onset of the story he knew nothing about common diplomacy.  This notion of maturity was pursued further when Telemachus addressed his mother. “My dear mother, no one has a better right than I to give the bow to whom I will, or to refuse it...The bow is a man’s business, and mine in particular, for I am master in this house.”  Earlier in the story, Telemachus would not have addressed his mother in such a bold manner, for he was not as developed a man at the outbreak of the story as he was at the end of it. It was understood that his maturity was furthered by beginning the  journey to find his father, as well as the journey itself to Pylos and Lacedaimon.  Telemachus had clearly matured; but, understand that even though he had matured, he was not a fully matured individual.  A person who is so requires more than just maturity and knowledge in the ways in the world; he also requires emotion, and in this case, compassion.  “Spare him, father, he is innocent, don’t strike him; and let us spare Medon, the marshal, who used to look after me here when I was a little boy.” Telemachus was able to convince his father that not every one of the suitors were equally deserving of such an eternal punishment.  He showed great leniency in sparing Medon; his father recognized this leniency by saying to Medon, “Cheer up, my son has saved your life. So you shall know, and tell other men, that doing well is far better than doing ill.”  Evidently, Odysseus recognized that his son had grown into a great man who will one day be recognized throughout the world.  The reader realized that even though he was compassionate, Telemachus was no less a man.  He had finally flourished into the man he aspired to be from the day he left Ithaca.

 The growth of Telemachus began in Ithaca, continued onwards in Pylos and Lacedaimon, and came full circle upon his return to Ithaca.  Unfortunately, the reader was left wondering what would come of young Telemachus in his future. There was no question as to whether he was mature, only a question of how mature. Comparable to his father? Perhaps, but not just yet.  Unlike Odysseus, he had not experienced life in full, for life is a series of many experiences pieced together to create our existence, and one grows as one experiences.