Within the Odyssey, there are many choices that are made that shape the outcome of the story. Each character makes choices, and these choices affect not only themselves, but also each of the other characters within the story. Telemachus is a character who makes both positive and negative choices. In the beginning of the book, Telemachus makes poor choices which leave him in a bad situation, but through his growth and development in the book, Telemachus learns to make strong choices and ultimately saves his family. Throughout the Odyssey, Telemachus develops into a strong and positive character by making the choice to assert his leadership.
As the story opens, Telemachus is in a situation of turmoil. His cowardly behavior and lack of decision-making has allowed his palace to become overrun with suitors since his father’s alleged death. Telemachus’ mother is constantly bombarded with suitors who wish to gain power within the palace. Telemachus urgently wants to force the suitors out of the palace, but he is afraid of the confrontation and fights that would occur if he attempted to do so. During this part of the book, Telemachus is making poor choices because he knows that challenging the suitors is the right thing to do, yet he is afraid to do so. He is acting cowardly and allowing is fear to rule his life and the life of the kingdom. As the Prince, Telemachus should be acting with leadership, assertion, and courage so that he can protect and rule the kingdom. The negative choices that Telemachus is making are allowing for chaos within the palace.
As the story develops, Telemachus begins to make better choices through his guidance by Athena. Athena’s influence on Telemachus is seen almost immediately, through Athena saying to him “Telemachus you'll lack neither courage nor sense from this day on not if your father spirit courses through your veins” (102). She encourages him to take a stand against the madness occurring within the Kingdom and to step into the role of a leader. One example of Telemachus’ newly acquired confidence can be seen when he makes a choice to call a meeting to determine what should be done with the suitors. Telemachus is making a positive choice to put an end to the madness that the suitors are creating within his life. He is acting like the Prince that he is by protecting his wealth, his reputation, and his family.
At the end of the story, Telemachus is demonstrating his ability to make good choices by protecting his family during his fight with the suitors. Telemachus and his father and largely outnumbered by the suitors, yet Telemachus does not hesitate to fight for what he believes in. Telemachus shows bravery, courage, and leadership in his fight against them, and makes a positive choice to stand up for himself and his family and do what is right, even though it is not what is easiest. By the end of the story, Telemachus has grown into a mature and confident man who has learned to make positive choices.
Throughout the story, The Odyssey, Telemachus learns to assert his leadership and make positive choices that protect his family and kingdom. When the story opened, Telemachus was a weak and cowardly man, but through his growth and Athena’s guidance, Telemachus learns to make good choices that allow him to take back his Kingdom. Overall, Telemachus is a character who learns to make strong choices that have a positive effect on himself, his family, and the entire kingdom. His growth and positive choices demonstrate his ability to be a good leader and someday step into the role of King.
Works Cited
Homer, Robert Fagles, Ian McKellen, and Bernard Knox. The Odyssey. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1996.
