In the book Meadowlands, by Louise Gluck, Telemachus is the son of the two main characters. In his monologues he is looking back on his childhood and his separating parents. There does not seem to be anything particularly unusual about him. He does appear to have an amazing ability to overcome a somewhat difficult situation for a child and come out better for it. Based on his monologues, he seems to be a normal, well adjusted, nice guy. .
Telemachus is a smart guy. Even as a child he was very perceptive. This is best seen in his first, short, monologue.
When I was a child looking.
at my parents" lives, you know.
what I thought? I thought.
heartbreaking. Now I think.
heartbreaking, but also.
insane. Also.
very funny.
The fact that he perceives the same thing as a child that he does as an adult shows his early intelligence. As an adult he can now analyze his experiences as a child and gain a better understanding of who his parents, and himself, really are. "which in his self-/ absorption he mistook/ for tribute though it was in fact/ a species of rage- This passage shows that as an adult he realized that the patience his mother showed when he was growing up was actually her being angry. His intelligence is also conveyed through humor and sarcasm. For example, when trying to decide what he would put on his parents tomb, he can't decide between "husband and wife" and "opposing forces". In the same monologue he appears to be acting as a parent to his parents. This shows that he does not just take what they say and what want at face value just because they are his parents. He analyzes it and decides what he thinks is best. .
Telemachus is also a very kind, good person. In his monologue, "Telemachus" Burden", he shows uncommon kindness towards his mother. "when/ I tried to console her, / to relieve her misery, she/ rejected me." For many children, having an upset parent makes them uncomfortable as well.