Coming of Age: Telemakhos in the Odyssey

Coming of Age: Telemakhos in "The Odyssey"

We often hear the line, "Like father, like son" and Homer's "The Odyssey" gives us an opportunity to see how this line can actually work in life. With a father like Odysseus, one might feel a bit of intimidation and insecurity, so it is understandable that Telemakhos might have a rough time being his son. In such a scenario, a weak individual might never reach his or her full potential because the idea of a great father becomes a burden rather than an inspiration. Telemakhos struggles a bit with who he is at the beginning of the story but by the end, he is confident in who he is and much of this comes from his ability to be open to opportunities that allow him to learn and grow. He does not have time to be bitter nor does he waste time worrying about not being Odysseus -- he simply decides that he is who he is and his future and fate is up to him. His journey is similar to his father's in the sense that he learns from it. Telemakhos does not ever reach the same stature as his father, but he does earn respect by the end of the story, claiming his own right as an individual.

Odysseus is a formidable hero to which to be compared. He allows his experience to shape him into a strong individual. It seems with each adventure, he evolves. Early in the story, he is prone to act before he thinks, as we see with Poseidon. By the end of the tale, he weighs the consequences of his actions. While posing as a strange beggar, he reaches maturity, waiting until the time is right to act upon the other suitors. He is careful and confident by this point in the story and this makes him a more likable character. His journey to the underworld caused him to face many issues in his past and this enabled him to seek forgiveness and move toward enlightenment. He also learns to focus before battle. He does not allow himself to become distracted by things that might cause him to make a bad decision. Always a hero, he earns more respect with every situation he handles with caution and care. He defeats danger, restoring peace to those Ithaca. He reveals his honor when he says, "Men hold me/formidable for guile in peace and war: / this fame has gone abroad to the sky's rim" (Homer IX.19-21). Odysseus is proud and has every right to be. His lessons teach him that almost everything comes down to who is for him and who is against him. It does not need to be much more complicated than that and with this line of thinking, Odysseus becomes successful.

Telemakhos can never truly be compared to his father and perhaps one of the most challenging ideas for him was realizing he could never reach his father's status or character. However, he does come to earn his own respect by the end of the tale. The people he encounters influence him greatly. Menelaus and Nestor are two characters that shape Telemakhos. When he speaks to King Nestor, he expresses no fear or hesitation when he tells him if he can tell him about his father's death, "I beg you-if ever my father, lord Odysseus, pledged you his word and made it good in action once on the fields of Troy where you Achaeans suffered, remember his story now, tell me the truth" ( III. 109-112). In this scene, Telemakhos expresses his sentiments clearly and we see his character beginning to change and mature. Nestor compliments him on his articulation and says, "no youngster could ever speak like him" (III.140). It is also worth noting that Telemakhos' knowledge of his father's greatness influences his growth. He knows his father was a hero and Menelaus' stories about Odysseus inspire him to be the best he can be. Nestor tells Telemakhos that his father was better than the Spartans at everything and this gives him hope that he can be the same kind of leader. He takes this hope and does the right thing with it, cultivating it rather than burying it.

Telemakhos is inspired early on to set forth on a journey to find information regarding his father. He declares that the suitor's are destroying his life and moves forward with a vengeance. During the first books of "The Odyssey," he gains incredible experience after landing on Sparta. Watching Menelaus at work allows him to see how successful men live and rule. Homer notes how the people feast "within the grand, high-roofed palace" (IV.18-20) and all Menelaus' family and friends revel in warmth. Telemakhos learns from this experience as he watches Menelaus rule with a stern hand and still enjoy the appreciation of his people. He remembers what Menelaus does and when the time is right in his life, implements the same techniques successfully. When Telemakhos decides to follow Athena's instruction and return to Ithaca, we see how he has matured. He tells her he will move forward with "no fear" (XV.169) and even wishes his father could see the event unfold. He proves to be mature while a Menelaus' home and even shows his character when he refuses Menelaus' offer.

We see Telemakhos' character reach his full potential when he witnesses his mother's behavior at Odysseus' return. When she does not act the way he believes she should at his arrival, he scolds her, saying:

Mother,

Cruel mother, do you feel nothing.

Drawing yourself apart this way from Father?

Will you not with him and talk and question him?

What other woman could remain so cold?

Who shuns her lord. . .

Your heart is hard as flint and never changes" (XXIII.97-104).

His reaction displays a significant change in attitude. At one point, Telemakhos only wanted his mother happy, whatever the cost. He honored her and would have supported her every move regardless. This scene allows us to see that he has inherited some of his father's good sense. We see his maturity when he seems to become aware of the fact that his mother is not perfect by any means. He does not see her through rose-colored glasses and this pivotal point reassures readers of his ability to step up, see things for what they are, and be a man.

Another significant event in the story that demonstrates Telemakhos' maturity is his encounter with Eurymachus. The battle he encounters after Odysseus' return is intense because it gives the young man an opportunity to fight with his father. In this scene, Telemakhos kills Eurymachus with his spear. Eurymachus was problematic for Telemakhos and this act served as a great release for him. It demonstrates that Telemakhos can now avenge those that never took him seriously. This can be seen as his coming-of-age moment in the story; a pivotal point where the boy becomes a man able to fight when he needs to fight and serve retribution when it is necessary. When Odysseus returns, Telemakhos stands ready to fight alongside his father. He tells him he is "ready to follow you and fight. I say / for what our strengths avails, we have the courage" (XXIII.129-30). They are fighting to restore honor to their home and as father and son, this is a monumental occasion. This is about as much as a father and a son could ever hope for in their lives.