Telemachus The Odyssey What we know so far Telemachus: ● Has never met his father and has been raised by his mother and the maids ● No male role model to teach him how to be a Prince/King ● He has never fought in a war ● Needs father to give him the throne ● Young Suitors: ● In Ithaca for 4 years ● Feast all the time→ eating and drinking Odysseus’ food and wine ● They want to marry Penelope so they can become King ● Greedy ● Selfish ● Rude/Disrespectful ● Have “right” to be in Ithaca Telemachus’ speech ● Tells everyone that what suitors are doing is wrong ○ “plaguing my mother” ○ “insolent suitors” ● Tells them that they have to leave his palace ● Tells them to go feast somewhere else and eat their own food ● Realizes that he does not have the power to stop them ○ “I’d swing to attack if I had the power in me” ● Tells suitors that they should be ashamed of themselves for what they are doing ● Says that they should all fear the gods- they also see that this is wrong ● Reminds everyone that Odysseus never did anything against them Suitors’ Response ● They blame Penelope for what they are doing ○ she has been leading them on ○ she has been promising to choose for years ○ bring up the weaving trick ● They ask Telemachus to send mom back to her father’s house and have him choose new husband ● They refuse to leave- they have the right to be here ● They will continue to do as they are doing until she chooses ● They believe Odysseus is dead ● They believe that they can defeat him even if he shows up ● They do not fear Telemachus ○ “who is there to fear, surely not Telemachus” Telemachus’ character How is Telemachus presented? ● Trusts gods will help him→ warns ● Good son→ wants to help his suitors about this mother ● Knows situation is wrong (good ● Wants to get rid of the suitors→ morals) tells them to leave ● Loves and respects his mother ● Sees that he has no power ○ will not send her away (understands his position) ● Protected by Athena ○ calls himself “inept”-- does not know how to fight ● Strong in character→ tries to do the right thing ● Brave→ willing to speak to and does not back down to suitors (Antinous) Telemachus’ character How is Telemachus presented? ● Brave→ Agrees to go on the ● Frustrated→ cries in front of journey to look for Ody alone suitors→ makes him look weak ● Skeptical→ does not think his ● Young→ not enough experience father is alive to go against group like suitors ● Wants to mature and learn→ ● Is not a “man” yet journey to Sparta and Pylos ● Respects gods→ follows Athena’ ● Respects others above him→ s orders Menelaus and Nestor ● Does not know how to be ● Loves his father King/Prince ● Misses his father ● Not a leader ● Risk taker→ goes on the journey ● Not intimidating→ suitors refuse ● Smart→ follows Athena’s plan to leave Telemachus’ character How do the suitors see Telemachus? ● Immature ● Weak→ Do not leave when he ● Not a leader/Prince/ King→ see tells them to him as powerless ● Do not have respect for him→ ● An obstacle→ they want to kill they mock him him to push Penelope to marry ● They think he is beneath them→ ● Not as a “man” → they see him they get angry when he tells as a boy them to leave and when he ● Unskilled→ he has never fought, leaves without asking permission they have ● Powerless→ they are not afraid ● They are not afraid of him→ they of him, want to kill him plot against him in the open ● Young ● Not as good as his father Purpose of Journey Why does Athena send Telemachus ● Help him earn a good on the Journey? reputation→ other Kingdoms will ● Find news about Odysseus see what he is doing ● Find Odysseus ● Help him gain power→ ● Get him away from suitors→ successfully leading the trip protect him ● Gain experience ● Help him grow up→ do things on ● Challenge him his own ● Make him stronger→ emotionally ● Help him mature and physically ● Help him become a leader ● See the world ● Help him gain respect.