What Role Does Telemachus Play In The Odyssey

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Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey is very much centered around Odysseus and his twenty-year long journey home, but the story of his son Telemachus is also of great importance. The Odyssey starts in medias res, which means "in the middle of things," and the first four books of the epic focus mainly on him. Telemachus is important to The Odyssey not only to let readers know the goal of the poem, but also because of his growth throughout the epic and the role he plays in the end at assisting his father in killing the suitors. In the beginning of the poem, the goddess Athena goes and becomes a guardian figure to Telemachus to help guide him throughout his journey to find his father. Beginning at Odysseus' home with his son creates dramatic tension which binds the whole epic poem together. This is important because it lets readers know the goal for Odysseus: his home, or in other words, his nostos. It also informs readers on the dire situation in Ithaca. Penelope’s suitors are slowly draining the family of money and food and will not leave, despite the fact that she does not want to remarry. It is time for Telemachus to take some action. Surely, Odysseus needs to come home, but he can’t come back to an immature boy who should be a respectable Greek man …show more content…
He addresses the suitors and speaks of their injustice to him and his mother. There Telemachus shows he still has some growing up to do emotionally. “He spoke in anger, bursting into tears as he threw the scepter onto the ground. The crowd was motionless with pity” (Homer 190). Telemachus is behaving like a toddler and having a temper tantrum. Not only that, but the crowd pities him. Thus, they see him as a child, not as a man deserving of respect. But through his journey he changes. After the emotional talk with Menelaus, aside from reuniting with his father, Homer does not mention Telemachus crying

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