Odysseus And Telemachus Relationship

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Recommended: Analysis of the Odyssey by Homer

Imagine living a life where you’re treated as an object by perfect strangers and you spend every day missing the love of your life who has been gone for 20 years, all while raising a son by yourself. In Homer’s beautiful poem, The Odyssey readers are introduced to Queen Penelope, wife of Odysseus, mother of Telemachus and fearless leader of Ithaca. On the day of Telemachus’s birth Odysseus went to fight in the Trojan war and did not come back for 20 years, leaving Penelope to raise their son all alone. Penelope not only had to deal with being a single mother but also had to face hundreds of men who arrogantly bombarded her home in hopes of taking her hand in marriage while Odysseus was away. Similar to single mothers today, Penelope was able …show more content…

Growing up Telemachus saw his mother struggle and all he wanted to do was be able to protect her and after his long and extensive journey he was able to. “For my mother, against her will, is beset by suitors, own sons to the men who are greatest hereabouts” (Homes book 2). When Telemachus was growing up, Penelope had to be fearless in order to keep her son safe but he could tell that his mother felt helpless. Penelope spent everyday up in her room weaving a death quilt for Odysseus’s mother but every night she undid all of he work so that the next day she would have a reason to not come down and greet the suitors. Telemachus wanted to become a better man for his mother while he was away, so that when he came back he would be able to take over as king and take take care of his mother. Telemachus wanted to save his mother and he did just that when he teamed up with Odysseus and together they attacked the suitors. When Telemachus was away on his journey, Penelope fell into a meaningless cycle of doing the same routine everyday so that she could avoid the suitors, causing the Queen to become sad. “Being a single parent and working full-time, it’s hard to find time to do anything other than just take care of the necessities of life” (Foerstner 3). Penelope had to deal with ruling Ithaca by herself and avoiding the suitors while Telemachus was gone, she only had the time and patience to take care of certain things. When Telemachus returned and he discovered Odysseus was back in Ithaca, he kept it a secret from Penelope in order to keep her safe, and with Telemachus back in town Penelope was able to put the suitors up to some tests. When she was alone, she only had time to deal with the bare necessities of life, but with Telemachus around she was able to put the suitors in their place. Penelope had always been able

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