Joseph AsanDr. RosieneCivilization 109/28/2014The Character Development of Telemachus in the Odyssey Telemachus does not know his father when the Odyssey begins when he was a child when his father left for Troy. As he matures, he devotes several books to his father's study and is entirely devoted to his mother and the maintenance of his father's estate. He, however, is uncertain how to protect his mother and her estate from the suitors whose real plans he has recently discovered. Meeting Athena was a turning point for him as she educated him on the ways of a young Greek prince. After a meeting with Athena, he becomes more responsible, assertive and courageous and able to confront suitors about their intentions and abuses. Initially, he found it difficult to be close and friendly with his mentor Athena, but he is cheerful and lively in Athena's eyes. Theoclamenus the soothsayer. Just like his father Odysseus, he possesses the vital qualities and skills of a successful leader. These attributes include boldness, cunning, judgment, confidence, and friendliness. Although the suitors had dug a trench along the road that he would use on his journey back to Ithaca, Athena informed him of the trap. Athena also suggests to him that perhaps his father was still alive but held hostage by the goddess. Faith and hope with unshakable determination particularly appeal to him and he describes Telemachus' life as an adult. Athena, the Great God, and Odysseus, her courageous father, have what it takes to defeat the suitors once and for all. His cunning was demonstrated when he managed to get his mother out of the line of fire during the fire with the suitors in the great hall. His father was happy that Telemachus had become a man who could be important to him even in combat. As he stood alone against many suitors and fought diligently and victoriously, he earned both his father's trust and respect. Although he is now quite grown up, he makes stupid mistakes that people of his father's caliber will never make and this shows that Telemachus is not yet like his father, but is on his way to becoming one. For example, he accidentally leaves the weapons cache open, a careless mistake that allows the suitors to arm themselves