Sunday, May 15, 2011
Is Telemachus Ready?
Upon hearing his father's plan to gain revenge upon the suitors, Telemachus boasts, "Soon enough, father, . . . /you'll sense the courage inside me that I know-- / I'm hardly a flighty, weak-willed boy these days." (16.342-4). Is he correct? What reason do we have that he is prepared for this confrontation? What have we seen regarding his courage? His cunning? His ability to fight?
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I do believe in fact that Telemachus has matured enough to fight alongside his father to eradicate the suitors. In book 1, before Athena came to Ithaca to inspire Telemachus, he went about his daily business, not paying any attention to the suitors that constantly courted his mother. During her visit, Athena tells him, “Then, once you’ve sealed those matters, seen them through, think hard, reach down deep in your heart and soul for a way to kill these suitors in your house, by stealth or in open combat. You must not cling to your boyhood any longer – it’s time you were a man” (1. 336-342). Telemachus takes this advice to heart and immediately calls an assembly to confront the suitors at the beginning of book two. At the assembly, Telemachus spoke with strength about the issue with the suitors and they “all bit their lips, amazed the prince could speak with so much daring” (1. 438-439). This shows that even the suitors, who have spent much time around Telemachus since Odysseus has been at war, have noticed a sudden change in the boy’s maturity.
ReplyDeleteAfter spending so much time around the revolting suitors, Telemachus begins to get more agitated with their careless behavior. He becomes fed up with their greed and selflessness. When Odysseus returned home from Ithaca after 20 long years, Telemachus is satisfied with his father’s plan to murder his mother’s suitors. He is excited because he can finally get his revenge on the suitors for their foul behavior and mockery towards him. I think this proves that Telemachus is ready to fight the suitors because, when he was younger, he was too afraid to even speak to the suitors, now after he has matured, he has courage to fight the suitors off to win his house and his mother back.
are you reading the robert fagles translation?
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