Telemachus: A Rising Leader?

The royal prince of Ithaca, Telemachus, has set foot on a journey to find his long lost father, Odysseus, the king. After Odysseus left his homeland to fight in the Trojan War, his son Telemachus has grown up as a fatherless boy with his mother, queen Penelope. During the early stages of his childhood, Telemachus was unaware of who his father is, as Odysseus ventured off on his journey when Telemachus was very young. Throughout Telemachus’ life, he has been questioning the identity of his father, and whether or not he is still alive. Telemachus once talked with Athena about Odysseus, who at the time was disguised as Mentes, and said to her “Mother has always told me I’m his son, it’s true, but I am not so certain. Who, on his own, has ever really known who gave him life?” (84). Telemachus and his mother, Penelope, have been struggling with the many suitors who raid their household and are set on winning the heart of the queen.

Many of the suitors believe that Odysseus is long lost and dead, which is why they remain in the palace for so long. Telemachus himself believed that his father was dead, saying “the day of his return will never dawn” (83). After years of grieving, it seems as though Telemachus has lost hope in his father, but has done nothing since to stop the suitors and regain rule in the kingdom.

This past week, Athena, disguised as Mentes, encouraged Telemachus to search for news of Odysseus. With Athena’s guidance, Telemachus was able to sail to Pylos and then to Sparta, trying to gain any information he could. Will he find the news he is looking for? Will news of Odysseus, dead or alive, reach the shores of Ithaca? Will Telemachus continue to “cling to his boyhood” (87) or will he be a man and take on the challenge of finding his father? Athena explained to Telemachus that if he hears Odysseus is alive, he must wait patiently for his return. However, she also said that if he is dead, that Telemachus should return to Ithaca for a burial, and then “give [his] mother to another husband” (87). This begs the question: What will happen if Penelope remarries? With Odysseus gone, who will rule?

As Telemachus is unable to take the throne with a new stepfather, is it safe to say that Odysseus’ reign will be overthrown? Athena had said to Telemachus, “it’s time that [he] was a man” (87), but will his voyage transform him into the leader we need him to be? Meanwhile with the suitors, things keep getting worse and worse for queen Penelope, as she “neither rejects a marriage she despises, nor can she bear to bring the courting to an end” (85). As both mother and son are forced to deal with the brazen suitors, the kingdom has undergone some major changes since Odysseus has left. When Telemachus returns, will he bring the chaos to an end, or will the gruesome scheming of the suitors persist? We’ll find out soon enough, once our prince Telemachus returns home with the destined news for Ithaca.

#conflict #leaders #prince #Telemachus #son #CoverStory