Telemachus Internal Conflict In The Odyssey

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Pages: 3

In Homer’s The Odyssey, Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, faces many conflicts, or “monsters” -- both internal and external. At first they appear as burdens, causing him worry, grief, and anger. However, they are significant in motivating him to follow the course Athena had set out for him and mature as a person. Without the push to overcome these obstacles, Telemachus would not have moved closer to reuniting with his father or driving the suitors out of his house. In battling his fears, Telemachus will reach a stage of self-enlightenment and become the man he is expected to be. One monster Telemachus confronts is the lack of connection of identity between him and Odysseus, which strikes him when Athena asks him whether he is Odysseus’s son. This