This essay examines the character development of Odysseus and Telemachus in Homer's Odyssey, arguing that both figures stand apart from the largely static heroes of Greek mythology. The paper traces Odysseus' transformation from the brazen warrior of the Iliad into a humbled, self-aware man shaped by suffering, divine interference, and his own costly mistakes. It also follows Telemachus' coming-of-age journey, guided by Athena, from an uncertain boy into a capable young leader. While both characters reflect the ideals ancient Greek culture prized in men and heroes, the essay contends that Telemachus, by the poem's end, represents a less seasoned version of his father — promising but not yet equal.
Homeric heroes exhibit the fundamental values and qualities that ancient Greek culture esteemed. This is doubtlessly true of Achilles in the Iliad, Odysseus in the Odyssey, and even Odysseus' son Telemachus. Yet another pervasive theme in mythology is that characters rarely evolve, or are changed very little by their experiences — this is certainly the case with Achilles, Penelope, Poseidon, Athena, and Agamemnon. All of these characters are quite interesting and complex, but their identities seem to be limited by a fixed set of unchanging characteristics.
From this standpoint, it is clear that Odysseus and Telemachus break this mold. Odysseus takes up the identity he carried in the Iliad — he is strong, brave, cunning, bold, a decisive leader, and a man in pursuit of glory. Although he certainly possesses these same traits by the end of the poem, he has been humbled by his trials and is notably less brazen. Telemachus, analogously, undergoes a transition best understood as a progression from boyhood into manhood. Nevertheless, both characters exemplify the type of persona that Greek men and heroes were meant to strive for. Considering this, Telemachus, by the end of the Odyssey, is something like a less seasoned version of his father.
Odysseus is a peculiar mix of heroic and intellectual qualities that make him seem both human and supernatural. The Odysseus portrayed in the Iliad somewhat contrasts the Odysseus we encounter in the Odyssey. In the former, he is represented as a man of conviction, possessing significant military genius and guile as well as persuasive capability. In the latter, however, some of his more ignoble traits are revealed: he is a braggart, he nearly dishonorably uses poisoned arrows, and he shows conceit in his victory over the Cyclops. It is sometimes difficult to reconcile this man with the one who willingly gives up eternal life for the mortal condition and the chance to return to his wife. Largely, the difficulties in understanding Odysseus' moral position stem from his immense experience and cleverness, which make him at once entirely mortal and fantastically larger than life.
Perhaps this is the underlying reason why the Odyssey has become so much more popular in American classrooms than the Iliad: Odysseus is mortal, he is human, he is flawed, and he changes. This contrast is almost openly stated when Odysseus encounters Achilles' ghost in the Odyssey. Achilles says, "I would rather serve as a hired laborer in the field of another, a man without his own portion who has a meager livelihood, than be lord over the dead corpses" (Odyssey, 11.489–91). Thus, the theme of human action is made explicit. Even though the paths of both Odysseus and Achilles are greatly influenced by divine spirits, mortal lives depend entirely upon what is accomplished before death. The ultimate goals of both heroes therefore carry enormous weight, for they represent essentially the only chance either man will have to leave an impression upon the world. It is significant that Odysseus is not permitted to experience immortality; the only way he can become timeless is by performing deeds so great and memorable that they live on in epic verse.
Still, Odysseus is portrayed as a pious man — someone who appreciates the power of the gods and does not willfully act to defy them. Athena points to Odysseus' piety when she pleads to Zeus on his behalf (Odyssey, 1.60–2, 65–6). Although his piety is genuine, it fails to ensure him a happy or unhindered life. The relationship between Homer's heroes and the gods is thus a tenuous one; a hero may have the favor or wrath of the gods for reasons entirely outside his control, and may find himself in situations where he cannot in good conscience heed divine warnings. Despite his piety, Athena's true motivation for siding with Odysseus stems from the similarity she perceives between their characters. Essentially, Odysseus is subject to the whims of the divinities just as all of mankind is.
"Curiosity and pride bring Odysseus grief"
"Athena guides Telemachus toward manhood"
"Telemachus capable but not yet Odysseus' equal"
Although the ingredients that make a good hero seem somewhat static within mythology, Odysseus and Telemachus are not static. They refine their already promising identities through experience, and this, above all else, makes them two of the most fascinating characters that Homer ever created.
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