...Telemachus changes throughout the book by becoming stronger, less timid, and more like his father in wits and courage. He becomes worthy of the throne and is not only able to astonish the suitors of Odysseus’ wife, but he is also able to make his father proud. Odysseus, upon revealing himself to Telemachus says “Athena’s inspiration spurred me here, so we could plan the slaughter of our foes”(Homer 346). This is important because it shows that Telemachus is included in the planning. Generally, in ancient Greece, the seasoned warriors and wise men are the ones that help with the planning, so the fact that Telemachus is involved in this important task shows that Telemachus can be considered a warrior. Telemachus being included in the planning...
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...The first four chapters of The Odyssey are about the situation at Ithica without Odysseus, so the first four chapters focus on Telemachus. The situation at Ithica is not good without Odysseus since suitors feast at Odysseus' expense as well as try to court Penelope, Odysseus’s wife. Due to the troubling situation, Athena guides Telemachus to mature by sending him on a journey to find out about his father Odysseus, this way Telemachus can earn his fame by stopping the suitors. During Telemachus’ journey, he encounters Nestor, the king of Pylos. Nestor was a good friend of Odysseus so he could share information about Odysseus with Telemachus, who knew nothing about his father. However, to talk to Nestor Telemachus must first approach him, for...
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...Athena wants Telemachus to find out what happened to his father in order to move on, and take care of Ithaca. She encourages him to go on the journey by appealing to his need for closure, justice, and his father. Athena portrays Mentȇs (an old friend of Odysseus’) to tell him of his father. She chooses to be his father’s dear friend because he is a trustworthy and honorable man. She speaks through him so that Telemachus knows his father is still alive as in Homer’s words here. “But never in this world is Odysseus dead-- only detained somewhere on the wide sea, upon some island, with wild islanders; savages, they must be, to hold him captive.” (7) She is trying to inform him that Odysseus is not dead, but caught up somewhere. Athena needs him...
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...Father-Son Relationship in The Odyssey The Odyssey introduces the theme of father-son relationships to exemplify how influential fathers were at the time. Fathers act as role models to their sons and can determine their actions even if there is a physical and psychological space and difference between them, like Odysseus and Telemachus. The reader is able to gain greater insight into the nature of ancient Greek society by analysing these father-son relationships for their complexities and circumstances of their familial ties. With each father-son relationship shown, Homer offers a unique perspective about the roles that were available to both father and son. Book 1-4 Throughout the Telemachia, we learn that Telemachus has been forced to grow up without the influence of his father and has been directly affected by Odysseus’ absence. When he confides in Athena under the guise of Mentor, he proclaims that he does not have solid proof that he is in fact Odysseus’s son and doubts that he is still alive. However, the dialogue between both Athena and Telemachus initiates Telemachus’ spiritual development. So, when the pre-economy of Odysseus and Telemachus re-uniting is fulfilled – Telemachus will be in the position to assist his father in killing the suitors and to restore the natural order in the Ithacan society. Telemachus first asserts his male privilege by ordering Penelope from the public rooms of the palace, indicating to the suitors of his intention to assert his claim...
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...to share the love and journey with. Odysseus and Penelope’s strong and powerful relationship was no different when it came to a pure representation of love. Their relationship stayed strong throughout all the hardships they both faced. Odysseus was gone on a journey for over two decades,...
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...As we are coming to the end of the Odyssey, Homer explains to the reader how Odyssey reestablishes his relationships with his son and wife. Because Odysseus left on a journey when Telemachus was just a baby, Telemachus’ relationship with his father almost does not exist until Odysseus returns home. It is clear that Telemachus has a lot of love and dedication for his father as he is overjoyed to see his father. He cried for a long time. Odyssey, on the other hand, seems calm and has a much more serious reaction when meeting his son for the first time in quite a while. The idea of a father and son relationships in general is an important concept in The Odyssey. We can see that Telemachus grows from a powerless child who will not take responsibility...
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...Thus, Odysseus devalues his own wife in order to compliment another woman, which reveals how disloyal of a husband Odysseus really is. In addition, the second quotation captures Odysseus in his infidelity, as he is now sleeping with Calypso, behind Penelope’s back. When Odysseus and Calypso “long in each other’s arms” and “lost themselves in love”, it reveals the adultery and the disloyalty of Odysseus towards Penelope, as he entwines himself in an affair with Calypso. Another example would be Odysseus’s involvement with Circe, the nymph or Aeaea, whom Odysseus made love to. According to the text, it states: Straightaway she began to swear the oath that I required–never, she’d never do me harm–and when she’d finished, then, at last,...
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...just like Telemachus helped his father, Odysseus. Father son relationships in the Odyssey are used for helping each other. Telemachus helped his father take his palace back and ridded of suitors. Homer states, “Telemachus, true son of Odysseus belted his sword on, clapped hand to his spear and with a clink and glitter of keen bronze stood by his...
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...major driving force for Odysseus throughout his journey back home. In “The Odyssey”, the bond of love between Odysseus and his wife Penelope is very strong. When Calypso gives Odysseus the choice to be protected from future foes and immortality by staying with her, Odysseus refuses. This proves that even the most desirable temptations can’t stop Odysseus from returning home to his wife and his family. Also, when Odysseus is reunited with Penelope, Penelope isn’t sure it’s him so she tests him about the moving the wedding bed. Odysseus says it can’t be moved since it was a tree in the ground and can’t be moved. This proves that not only the cleverness of Penelope but they are guided together by their incredible wits. They were made for each other and there’s nothing that could of broke them apart. Penelope also exhibits the same kind of love towards Odysseus. While everybody else thinks Odysseus is dead, Penelope doesn’t give up hope that he’s still alive. At home, she stays loyal to Odysseus by delaying her marriage to the suitors that are trying to court her. By constantly delaying her remarriage plans to the suitors, she’s risking her own safety and the safety of her son Telemachus. Penelope refuses to marry anybody else with the thought of Odysseus still being alive and proves that her love for him is intensely strong and cannot be broken. While the husband and wife relationship is very strong. The Father/Son relationship between Odysseus and Telemachus is also incredibly strong...
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...and Polyphemus (the Cyclops), Telemachus, Nestor, and Menelaus, as well as Calypso and Circe....
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...Humans and Gods and Goddesses in Ancient Greek live separate lives; however, a Goddess Athena comes down for mount Olympus to help Odysseus and Telemachus in disguise. Athena comes to Ithaca seeking to aid Telemachus and his Mother deal with is lost father and the suitors that are coming to his house. While Telemachus is speaking to Athena in disguise he comes to a point where he accepts that he has an issue with his father lost at sea. Telemachus responds, “ Then all united Achaea would have raised a tomb/… But now the whirlwinds have ripped him away, no fame for him! He lost and gone now- out of sight, out of mind- and I…/ He’s left me tears and grief” (1. 278-284) Telemachus states "out of mind" because it has been so many years since he...
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...Penelope is Odysseus’s wife. Odysseus is Penelope’s husband. They are similar and different in many ways. Penelope is also a daughter of Icarius of Sparta and the nymph Periboea and the mother of Telemachus. Odysseus is also the father of Telemachus, and the son of Laertes and Anticleia, and as well a knight who was apart of the Trojan War. Periboea hid her infant daughter as soon as she was born, knowing that Icarius had wanted a son. As soon as Icarius discovered the baby girl, he threw her into the sea to drown. However, a family of ducks rescued her. Seeing this as an omen, Icarius named the child Penelope (after the Greek word for "duck") and raised her as his favorite child. When Penelope reached womanhood, Odysseus asked for her hand in marriage. Although to part...
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...Through The Odyssey, the theme of hospitality is extremely important. In Grecian culture, being is a good host is highly valued and expected by guests. Hospitality was one of Zeus’s ground rules of ancient society. It is a crime against Zeus to commit an offense against a host or guest. Hospitality is an honorable characteristic. It was believed that not being hospitable would result in punishment from the gods. Throughout the Odyssey, three distinct events show the importance of hospitality during the Homer era. The first is Odysseus and the Phaeacian’s who are honorable hosts. The next is the suitors occupying Odysseus’s house, who are shown as horrible guests. Lastly, Odysseus is the guest of Polyphemus, who is an awful host. By comparing and contrasting these three events, one can show the importance of hospitality. The fear of Zeus compels the characters...
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...Homer writes the theme of loyalty heavily into the Odyssey as demonstrated by the relationship that is had between Telemachus and his father, Odysseus. The prince, who does not have much of a memory of his father, is still determined to find information on what had happened to Odysseus and making sure the former king “’won’t be far from loved ones any longer’” (2: 183). The only knowledge the prince has about his father is what he’s been told by others and he firmly believes what they say and misses the man he has never known. He is loyal to his father by making attempts to bring him home to rid the palace of the suitors that plague it and to once again, be with Penelope. He praises the way his father ruled over the people like “’a father...
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...The feeling when something someone loves is snatched from them uncontrollably is a terrible one. In The Odyssey, Odysseus is stranded far from home after a war. His wife and son were both left alone, and men begin to try to take her hand in marriage, presuming Odysseus dead or unable to return. When he finds out the lengths to which they would go to steal his wife from him, he mercilessly murders everyone involved in their plans. While this would be absolutely unacceptable today, I feel Odysseus may have been somewhat justified in his actions back then. First of all, to have people try to steal from him because of circumstances beyond his grasp must have been devastating, his wife was one of the few things he could cherish and love, and I would presume that any plot involving the murder of you or someone you love would be enough to enrage you quite substantially....
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