Tracking Telemachus’ Transformation Through Others

Tracking Telemachus’ Transformation Through the Words and Actions of Others When most people recall The Odyssey, one of Homer’s epics, they think of Odysseus and his journey home. Few people immediately remember Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, though he goes through a journey almost as trying as Odysseus’. At the beginning of his adventure, Telemachus is 19 and he has never met his father. No one is willing to teach him what is expected of him so he grows up not knowing how to fight in the fields, sail around the world, or debate in the forum. Other people think of him as weak and cowardly, but he grows tired of living in ignorance under scorn. Under the guidance of Athena, Telemachus decides to fight back against his situation, grow up, and find his father. Homer guides the reader through this transformation of Telemachus into the true son of Odysseus by the way he has others respond to Telemachus’ actions, by having other characters describe Telemachus, and by granting Telemachus divine intervention from Mt. Olympus.
Homer uses other characters’ responses to Telemachus’ actions to illustrate how he transforms throughout the epic. While at home surrounded by his mother’s suitors, Telemachus sits alone crying, his “heart obsessed with grief,” (1.133) while the suitors “[amuse] themselves with rolling dice”(1.125). The suitors do not care in the slightest what Telemachus does because they do not believe him to be a threat to them. Since they perceive him as weak and do not think Telemachus could stop them even if he wanted to, the suitors are happy to leave him crying if it keeps him out of their way. After Athena inspires Telemachus to call a general assembly, the men of Ithaca begin to respect him. As he goes to take his father’s seat in the forum the “elders [make] way”(2.14) allowing him to sit in the seat of the king. As Achaean xenia places the elders as the most respected members of any community, Homer uses their movement for Telemachus to symbolize the respect he has already earned from his community. Later, Antinous and Eurymachus, the two ringleaders of the suitors, hear of Telemachus’ trip to Sparta and Pylos, call all of the suitors together, and create a plan to “waylay [Telemachus] from ambush”(4.754). Within the span of a few days, the suitors’ vision of Telemachus transforms from viewing him as a weak, cowardly boy to perceiving him as a real threat, a threat so large they plot to assassinate him. By changing the suitors’ vision of Telemachus, Homer adjusts the reader’s impression of Telemachus to his new more exalted state.
Homer also uses other characters’ descriptions of Telemachus to reveal his characteristics and his transformation into the true son of Odysseus. When Telemachus calls the men of Ithaca to assembly, Eurymachus advises them not to “’incite the boy to riot’”(2.212) because he would kill both Telemachus and those who rile him up. Eurymachus then asks the assembly “’Who’s there to fear? I ask you. / Surely not Telemachus, with all his tireless threats’”(2.221-222). Homer uses Eurymachus’ description to highlight the suitors’ belief that Telemachus is weak, young, and harmless and they do not hesitate to abuse him because of it. Although Homer starts the epic with Telemachus being truly weak and cowardly, Telemachus soon grows into both his father’s looks and metis. Homer foreshadows this transformation with Athena’s description. When Athena first sees Telemachus she tells him he that he has an “’uncanny resemblance’”(1.241) to his father. Though this line is unimportant to the plot, Homer uses it to show how Telemachus has begun to grow into and is worthy of his title as the King of Ithaca. A few days later, when Telemachus visits Menelaus in Sparta, Homer has Menelaus’ wife Helen similarly describe Telemachus’ transformation by noting to him that she has “’never seen such a likeness, / neither in man nor woman’”(4.156-7). Helen’s ability to recognize him as the son of Odysseus despite never meeting Telemachus before reveals how he has grown into a man as great as his father. On top of their physical similarities, Telemachus has begun to develop the metis, wisdom, of his father. Although Homer has Telemachus break down while speaking to the assembly, Homer makes sure he gains the attention of the elders first. “Telemachus [strides] in” with “a bronze spear in his grip” and “ two sleek hounds ... trotting by his heels”(2.10-11). By this description alone, Homer imbues Telemachus with power. The spear, hounds, and Telemachus’ stride all symbolize power and are fitting for the changed Telemachus. This portrayal evidences Telemachus’ new found desire and likely ability to fight back against the suitors. Homer furthers the transformation of Telemachus by granting him special attention from the gods. Athena goes to help Telemachus disguised as an old friend of Odysseus, Mentes. She advises Telemachus to “’summon the island’s lords to full assembly’”(2.315) and to “’tell the suitors to scatter’”(2.317). By inserting Athena’s divine intervention, Homer inspires Telemachus to finally resist the overwhelming plague of the suitors. She is the beacon of hope for Telemachus, telling him what he needs to hear and assuring him that his father lives. Though Athena helps Telemachus the most, she is not the only god who aids Telemachus. She appeals to all of the gods on Mount Olympus to assist Telemachus and Zeus approves of her plan to “’go down to Ithaca and rouse [Odysseus’] son to a braver pitch’”(1.104-105). The gods do not stir themselves over unimportant men, so by inserting divine intervention Homer reveals not only that the gods plan to help Telemachus but also that Telemachus is destined for something great.