The Odssey: Better Men

During his journeys Odysseus often makes the mistake of staying to boast to his enemies but learns that doing so gives his opposition a chance to seek retribution against him. After leaving Troy, Odysseus attacks the land of the Kikones. Instead of leaving after his victory, he stays to celebrate until a force is rallied against him and he must flee with many casualties. Afterwards Odysseus and his crew land on the island of the Kyklopes. They are attacked and some of his men are eaten by Polyphemus. After intoxicating the great Kyklopes, Odysseus and his men blind the monster with a heated spear. The men could have made an escape without incident but Odysseus mocked Polyphemus and shouted out his true identity, when before Odysseus had told him that his name was "Nohbdy." With this new information Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon to have Odysseus and his men punished. Hav

The poem opens at the end of Odysseus's struggle to get home, with Telemakhos, “a wonderful portrait of a son who has grown up among women, without a father's influence” (Green 30) dreaming of Odysseus return home. “At first Telemakhos is a disheartened young man trying to be hospitable in a house where it is impossible” (Weigel). When the grey-eyed goddess Athena, daughter of Zeus, visited Telemakhos disguised as “Mentor”, she inquired about news of his father. Telemakhos responded with the belief of his father’s death to be unknown. This was a burden on Telemakhos, because he had received no word or sign of his father, and therefore could not take glory in his death. To accompany this pain, Telemakhos claimed the gods had laid other burdens on him as well, such as all the lands young suitors courting his mother Penelope and consuming all the family’s food and wine. After Athena convinces him to go search for news of his father, Telemakhos hopes are lifted and he becomes more involved in his family’s affairs. He begins by demanding that the suitors leave his home. He calls everyone to an assembly and exposes the suitors for their indecency, hoping to gain the crowds sympathy and support. Athena then gathers a crew together and with Telemakhos, they secretly set sail to Pylos in search of Odysseus. When Telemakhos speaks with Nestor of Pylos, he receives no news of his fathers whereabouts, but Nestor tells him of what a great man Odysseus was and how well Telemakhos’s manner of speech resembled that of his father. This is how Telemakhos’s pride in Odysseus began to grow, helping him become more secure in himself. Nestor then sends Telemakhos accompanied by his son Peisistratos, to visit Menalaus in Sparta to hear news of his father. Menalaus tells Telemakhos about his adventures on his way home from Troy. He speaks of his grief for those he lost in war, and the emptiness he feels from the absence of Odysseus. Telemakhos became overwhelmed by this and began to weep into his cloak. After recognizing Telemakhos, Menalaus tells him of how much he admired Odysseus and tells of all the things he would have done for his father to keep him as company. He tells him Odysseus was a great man. He speaks about being inside the Trojan horse with Odysseus and how Odysseus saved them all by clasping Antiklos mouth shut with his mighty hands. This also helped Telemakhos become more secure in his father and in himself. Menalaus tells Telemakhos about the news of Odysseus he received from Proteus in Egypt. Proteus said Odysseus was still alive and was being

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