The Odyssey: Is Telemachus Strong Or Strong?
Many people have different thoughts regarding the question, “Is Telemachus strong or weak?” Some say he is most diffidently weak due to his lack of assertiveness in the presence of his mother’s sutures while others argue that Athena’s influence on him throughout the book made him strong. Personally, I believe Telemachus is weak. Even though Athena did help him to become a stronger man, that sense of bravery and strength was not originally present within Telemachus.
Not only is Telemachus weak because he doesn’t do anything about his problems with the sutures but also because he is patient. A little bit too patient maybe. This patience can easily be interpreted as a weakness of Telemachus. He is aware that if he goes against the sutures, they could easily kill him but at the same time, he does not want his mother to marry. If she marries then the new husband will be the man of the house instead of himself or his father (if he ever returns.) In the beginning chapters of The Odyssey, Telemachus lacks a lot of self confidence. Even though he is most likely a man in his late twenties or …show more content…
All his life he has heard other people comment on how great and strong of a person his father was but Telemachus was never able to achieve the same greatness as his father. Even his own mother unintentionally ignores her son. Penelope constantly hopes for the return of Odysseus and “worships” his myth of strength and courage. When Telemachus leaves Ithaca for the first time with Athena, he meets Nester. Nester treats Telemachus as an equal instead of as the son of a great, heroic, god like figure. This is a great turning point for Telemachus during his journey. He here begins to find himself on this spiritual journey of his. As Telemachus travels he begins to have his own adventures and stories to tell. He retains more and more of his father’s great qualities and slowly, Telemachus is becoming
Not only is Telemachus weak because he doesn’t do anything about his problems with the sutures but also because he is patient. A little bit too patient maybe. This patience can easily be interpreted as a weakness of Telemachus. He is aware that if he goes against the sutures, they could easily kill him but at the same time, he does not want his mother to marry. If she marries then the new husband will be the man of the house instead of himself or his father (if he ever returns.) In the beginning chapters of The Odyssey, Telemachus lacks a lot of self confidence. Even though he is most likely a man in his late twenties or …show more content…
All his life he has heard other people comment on how great and strong of a person his father was but Telemachus was never able to achieve the same greatness as his father. Even his own mother unintentionally ignores her son. Penelope constantly hopes for the return of Odysseus and “worships” his myth of strength and courage. When Telemachus leaves Ithaca for the first time with Athena, he meets Nester. Nester treats Telemachus as an equal instead of as the son of a great, heroic, god like figure. This is a great turning point for Telemachus during his journey. He here begins to find himself on this spiritual journey of his. As Telemachus travels he begins to have his own adventures and stories to tell. He retains more and more of his father’s great qualities and slowly, Telemachus is becoming