Telemachus: The Great Escape

Telemachus, the son of great Odysseus, is definitely one of my favorite characters in The Odyssey. There's just something about his innocence and childlike qualities that make him so easy to relate to. He has reached a point in his life where he needs to learn to stop being a boy and become a man. This point is where most of us are in our lives, and the struggles we face today are similar emotionally to those of Telemachus. Also, unlike the Gods, he has many flaws. Telemachus isn't the bravest of warriors or the most skilled. He can't even keep suitors out of his own house, but that doesn't mean he isn't a great person. It isn't the flaws that define who you are, but the actions you take to manuveur around the flaws and achieve success that does.

I'm quite surprised yet proud of him when he decided to sail off for news of his father. He faces a really tough crowd in Ithaca, and I'm glad that their opinions didn't sway him. I think it was very brave of him to adventure off on his own, even if he does have Athena watching over him. It was his transition from childhood to manhood. Poor Telemachus is burdened with suitors who have plagued his house since he was little and a mother who he has to take care of. It's going to be a dangerous journey that he has embarked on, and for Telemachus, I hope he returns safe and sound.

The song I picked to represent Telemachus is "The Great Escape" by Boys like Girls. It's one of my favorite songs and I think it's a pretty accurate representation of Telemachus' decision to take the journey. There are a lot of lyrics in the song that relate to the troubles Telemachus is going through. Firstly, the chorus: Throw it away/Forget yesterday/We'll make the great escape/We won't hear a word they say/They don't know us anyway/Watch it burn/Let it die/Cause we are finally free tonight, represents Telemachus' escape from Ithaca and his oppressers. He is able to shake off all those criticisms and years of tending to what they want and finally go off in search of his father, something he probably has wanted to do for a long time. Secondly, the verse Tonight will change our lives/It's so good to be by your side/We'll cry/We won't give up the fight, signifies Athena's hand in Telemachus' plan. She was the one who urged him to take the journey and when he felt that he wanted to give up, it was she who stopped him from doing so. Lastly, All of the wasted time/The hours that were left behind/The answers that we'll never find/They don't mean a thing tonight, symbolize the long years of Odysseus' absence. It's been a long time and when Telemachus decides to leave Ithaca in search of his father, he is shedding his doubts in search of answers that he never got. Finally, Telemachus is able to go out on his own and take control of his own life.