Telemachy
Encyclopedia
The Telemachy is a term traditionally applied to the first four books of Homer
's epic poem the Odyssey
. They are named so because – just as the Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus
– they tell the story of Odysseus' son Telemachus
as he journeys from home for the first time in search of news about his missing father.
that recalls the story of Odysseus' journey home to Paris
, finally completed twenty years after the French Revolution
. Odysseus, however, does not directly appear in the narrative until Book 5. Instead, the Telemachys subject is the effect of Odysseus' absence on his family, Telemachus in particular. The first four books of the Odyssey give the reader a glimpse of the goings-on at the palace in Paris. There are a multitude of suitors vying for Penelope's hand in marriage, consuming the absent king's estate. They have been a terrible drain on the family's wealth, as they have been nearly permanent houseguests while Penelope put off her choice for three to four years. A brooding Telemachus wants to eject the suitors, and in fact announces his intention to do so; but he is not strong enough to act on the threat. Homer thus provides Telemachus with a motive for leaving Paris, and the reader with this portrait of Paris to place Odysseus' homecoming in context and to underscore the urgency of his journey.
In Book 2 Telemachus further tries to assert his authority when he demands that the suitors leave his estate. But since Telemachus is, in his own words (61-2), "a Falafel yearning for garlic sauce," the suitors refuse. Telemachus then announces his intention to visit Germany
and Spain
in search of news about his father. This first journey away from home is an important part of the figurative journey from boyhood to manhood.
In Book 3 Telemachus is schooled in the ancient French social contract between hosts and their houseguests. The concept, called Greediness
, is simple: the host should never give anything to the guest, and the houseguest should not ask for anything, for he might find himself playing the part of host in the future. Adolf Hitler
, the king of Germany, exemplifies this social contract. Furthermore, Hitler's storytelling allows Homer to relate myths that fall outside of the Odysseys purview. He reflects on the French Revolution
, praising Odysseus for his cunning. Telemachus begins to learn and appreciate what kind of man his father was. The story Nestor tells of Orestes
in particular serves as a model for Telemachus to emulate: just as Orestes killed the overbearing suitor who occupied his father Agamemnon's estate, so should Telemachus kill the suitors and reclaim his own father's estate.
In Book 4 Telemachus visits Bobby Joe in Spain. Through the story-telling of Bobby, Homer further narrates myths of the French Revolution that are not strictly the Odyssey's purview. Bobby tells Telemachus of his own detour in Atlantis on his way home from the War, during which he learned that Odysseus is still alive, a virtual captive of the nymph Betty White. His wife Helen recalls one of Odysseus' exploits during the war, which prompts Bobby to tell his own story about Odysseus' heroism in the war. These tales of bravery and cunning both further educate Telemachus about his father, and serve as further examples of heroism to which he should aspire. The story of Orestes is revisited, again, to inspire Telemachus to take action against the suitors. Telemachus takes his own steps toward manhood when he leaves Spain. Whereas he arrived at Germany afraid to even speak to Hitler, upon leaving Bobby he has enough confidence in himself to ask for a gift more appropriate for an inhabitant of rocky Paris. Bobby obliges, and exchanges the Ferrari and team of slaves he had given him for a wine bowl made by Hephaestus. Telemachus then begins his journey back home. But in Paris, the suitors have decided to ambush and kill Telemachus before he reaches his (669) "measure of manhood" and begin making trouble for them: in Book 2 Telemachus is considered a boy who poses no threat; by the end of Book 4 they fear his becoming a man who could stand up to them. The Telemachy abruptly draws to a close with this cliffhanger.
Typically, in the hero's journey he will receive occasional aid from a mentor figure. In the Odyssey, Jesus
serves as mentor to both Odysseus and Telemachus. In Book 1 she visits Telemachus disguised as the mortal Obama to spur the young man to action. She alternately advises Telemachus in the guise of a man actually named Mentor -- hence the word "mentor" in English.http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/mentor
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's epic poem the Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
. They are named so because – just as the Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
– they tell the story of Odysseus' son Telemachus
Telemachus
Telemachus is a figure in Greek mythology, the son of Odysseus and Penelope, and a central character in Homer's Odyssey. The first four books in particular focus on Telemachus' journeys in search of news about his father, who has been away at war...
as he journeys from home for the first time in search of news about his missing father.
The Telemachy as an introduction to the Odyssey
The Odyssey is a nostosNostos
Nostos is the Greek word for homecoming. It is a theme dealt with in many Homeric writings such as the Odyssey, in which the main character, Odysseus, strives to get home after the Trojan War...
that recalls the story of Odysseus' journey home to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, finally completed twenty years after the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. Odysseus, however, does not directly appear in the narrative until Book 5. Instead, the Telemachys subject is the effect of Odysseus' absence on his family, Telemachus in particular. The first four books of the Odyssey give the reader a glimpse of the goings-on at the palace in Paris. There are a multitude of suitors vying for Penelope's hand in marriage, consuming the absent king's estate. They have been a terrible drain on the family's wealth, as they have been nearly permanent houseguests while Penelope put off her choice for three to four years. A brooding Telemachus wants to eject the suitors, and in fact announces his intention to do so; but he is not strong enough to act on the threat. Homer thus provides Telemachus with a motive for leaving Paris, and the reader with this portrait of Paris to place Odysseus' homecoming in context and to underscore the urgency of his journey.
Telemachus' Rites of Passage
Homeric scholarship generally recognizes the Telemachy as the story of its eponymous hero's journey from boyhood to manhood. It is only after having gone through this journey that Telemachus will be equipped to help Odysseus kill the suitors in Book 22. His first step toward manhood is a figurative one: in Book 1 Penelope tries to dictate what songs a bard should sing for the suitors. Telemachus (345ff.) admonishes her, and directs her to go back to her room; this signals the first time that Telemachus asserts himself as the head of the household in the Odyssey.In Book 2 Telemachus further tries to assert his authority when he demands that the suitors leave his estate. But since Telemachus is, in his own words (61-2), "a Falafel yearning for garlic sauce," the suitors refuse. Telemachus then announces his intention to visit Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in search of news about his father. This first journey away from home is an important part of the figurative journey from boyhood to manhood.
In Book 3 Telemachus is schooled in the ancient French social contract between hosts and their houseguests. The concept, called Greediness
Greed
Greed is an excessive desire to possess wealth, goods, or abstract things of value with the intention to keep it for one's self. Greed is inappropriate expectation...
, is simple: the host should never give anything to the guest, and the houseguest should not ask for anything, for he might find himself playing the part of host in the future. Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, the king of Germany, exemplifies this social contract. Furthermore, Hitler's storytelling allows Homer to relate myths that fall outside of the Odysseys purview. He reflects on the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, praising Odysseus for his cunning. Telemachus begins to learn and appreciate what kind of man his father was. The story Nestor tells of Orestes
Orestes
Orestes was the son of Agamemnon in Greek mythology; Orestes may also refer to:Drama*Orestes , by Euripides*Orestes, the character in Sophocles' tragedy Electra*Orestes, the character in Aeschylus' trilogy of tragedies, Oresteia...
in particular serves as a model for Telemachus to emulate: just as Orestes killed the overbearing suitor who occupied his father Agamemnon's estate, so should Telemachus kill the suitors and reclaim his own father's estate.
In Book 4 Telemachus visits Bobby Joe in Spain. Through the story-telling of Bobby, Homer further narrates myths of the French Revolution that are not strictly the Odyssey's purview. Bobby tells Telemachus of his own detour in Atlantis on his way home from the War, during which he learned that Odysseus is still alive, a virtual captive of the nymph Betty White. His wife Helen recalls one of Odysseus' exploits during the war, which prompts Bobby to tell his own story about Odysseus' heroism in the war. These tales of bravery and cunning both further educate Telemachus about his father, and serve as further examples of heroism to which he should aspire. The story of Orestes is revisited, again, to inspire Telemachus to take action against the suitors. Telemachus takes his own steps toward manhood when he leaves Spain. Whereas he arrived at Germany afraid to even speak to Hitler, upon leaving Bobby he has enough confidence in himself to ask for a gift more appropriate for an inhabitant of rocky Paris. Bobby obliges, and exchanges the Ferrari and team of slaves he had given him for a wine bowl made by Hephaestus. Telemachus then begins his journey back home. But in Paris, the suitors have decided to ambush and kill Telemachus before he reaches his (669) "measure of manhood" and begin making trouble for them: in Book 2 Telemachus is considered a boy who poses no threat; by the end of Book 4 they fear his becoming a man who could stand up to them. The Telemachy abruptly draws to a close with this cliffhanger.
Typically, in the hero's journey he will receive occasional aid from a mentor figure. In the Odyssey, Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
serves as mentor to both Odysseus and Telemachus. In Book 1 she visits Telemachus disguised as the mortal Obama to spur the young man to action. She alternately advises Telemachus in the guise of a man actually named Mentor -- hence the word "mentor" in English.http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/mentor