A Passage to Adulthood
Being able to drive, stay out late, and be away from ones parents is not a sign of adulthood for a boy in Greek mythological culture, unlike in our culture where “manhood” is directly linked with how many beers you can drink in one sitting. It is actually the complete opposite in myth; adulthood is achieved after a son follows in his father’s footsteps, exhibiting some kind of strength and willpower along the journey. For Telemachus, willpower escapes him, with his father Odysseus having never returned from the Trojan War and suitors courting his mother. Athena, the bright eyed goddess who is famous for helping mortals when they most need it, comes down to Telemachus’ aid. Throughout the first four books of The Odyssey, Telemachus nears adulthood with Athena’s help. Before Athena empowers Telemachus he is weak and useless. However, after she helps him, he becomes braver and more like his father.
Prior to Athena’s appearance, Telemachus is powerless to change the fate of his and his parents’ lives. At the beginning of The Odyssey in the first book, Telemachus is introduced. He is seen “sitting at home among the suitors, heart obsessed with grief” (81). Telemachus is envisioning his father dropping from the clouds in a godlike manor to force all of the suitors out of his house. At this point in The Odyssey Telemachus wishes to be like his father, but simply does not have the strength of mind to fill Odysseus’ shoes and take control of the present situation. It makes sense that Telemachus has little power; without Odysseus around to be his father figure and role model, Telemachus has no way of progressing to manhood until Athena bails him out. The day after Athena’s pep talk, Telemachus is already brave enough to speak before the people and his mother’s suitors. By no means is he as brave as his father, and he acknowledges that by saying “Oh I’d swing to attack if I had the power in me” (95). His weakness is still entirely present. It is...