Man or Boy?

A detailed Summary of Man or Boy?


Many boys who grow up without a father lack the direction and insight gained only through having a masculine role model. Such a boy is introduced in Homers' epic tale The Odyssey as Telemakhos, Odysseus' son. In the beginning of the story, Homer portrays Telemakhos as a timid and passive person who has not the strength to run out the suitors who have taken over his house. However, in Book XXI lines 358-378 the reader may note a dramatic change in Telemakhos' attitude as he begins to take on the responsibilities of a man. Through this short passage one realizes that Odysseus' son is now willing to stand up for himself and thus take a stand against the suitors.

Beginning at line 360, Telemakhos makes a statement directed towards his mother that "no man here has more authority than I do." With these lines Telemakhos is interrupting h


There may be another reason for Telemakhos' change of heart though. At the start of the story Homer paints the picture of him "sitting there unhappy among the suitors, a boy, daydreaming" (Book I line 140). Though the reader is unsure of how long the boy has been unhappy, one can infer that Telemakhos does not decide to rid of the suitors until Athena prompts him to do so. When he decided to take her advice and find word of his father overseas, Odysseus' son made his first attempt to take responsibility for his land.

Up until this point Odysseus' son has not spoken outwardly in an authoritative manner. Therefore, Telemakhos indirectly shows the suitors how he has become more powerful by speaking to his mother in front of them in a strict manner. Then in lines 367-368 he goes on to say that he will settle all disputes concerning the bow for he is the master there and

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 588
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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