The theme of wanting greatly to return home is present a lot in Book 15.
"Telemachus rushed to pull a shimmering tunic on, over his broad shoulders threw his flaring cape and the young prince, son of King Odysseus, strode out to meet his host: "Menelaus, royal son of Atreus, captain of armies, let me go back to my own country now. The heart inside me longs for home at last," (15. 67-72).
This is when Telemachus is advised by Athena to return home as quickly as possible. Since she has done such good things for him in the past, Telemachus wants to follow her orders. He and Pisistratus want to leave Menelaus's palace immediately, even though it may not be socially acceptable.
"Climb aboard now-fast! Muster all your men before I get home and break the news to father. With that man's overbearing spirit-I know it, know it all too well-he'll never let you go, he'll come down here and summon you himself. He won't return without you, believe me-in any case he'll fly into a rage," (15. 232-239).
This is an example of the theme when Telemachus states that he has no time to visit Nestor. Pisistratus understands this, because he knows that Telemachus still has a journey ahead of him to return home to Ithaca.
After I read this book, I immediately thought of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy is similar to Telemachus because even after she experienced so many new and exciting things in Oz, she truly did miss her family and she knew that she really belonged back in Kansas. Dorothy says a tearful goodbye to her friends and then follows Glinda's instructions, closing her eyes, tapping her heels together three times, and exclaiming "There's no place like home."
Will I Ever Make it Home ~ Ingram Hill
I woke up from my sleep to the sound of that voice
From the words that I heard I had no choice
They told me that I had to turn around
My assurance slowly faded down
And I wonder
Will I ever make it home
Will I ever leave the ground
Leave this place so far behind
But there is no turning back
Will I ever make it home
Get to where I wanna be
Find the one to wait for me
To the place where I belong
Will I ever make it home
The plans that I had were quickly destroyed
The problem was one I couldn't avoid
They welcomed me to stay overnight
I'm too tired to complain so I just might
And I wonder
Will I ever make it home
To the place I recognize
Far from here and where I've been
And all the things that I've been shown
Will I ever make it home
Can they keep me here for good
Where I hardly know a soul
And my fear keeps going on
Will I ever make it home
My weariness keeps growing inside
My patience is starting to subside
And I hope I'll be there soon
It can't be long or I'll fall through
Ohhh...
I get up and start to think I'll never get back
I'm ready and waiting to hear them
Everythings alright and I can go
I'll thank that girl that I don't know
Do they miss the way I look?
Do they miss the way I touch?
Do they know just how I feel?
Oh I wish they really could
And I'll hope they ain't home
And I'll make it through the night
Can you hear me when I'm gone?
Will I ever make it home
Will I ever make it home
Will I every leave the ground
Leave this place so far behind
'til there is no turning back
Will I ever make it home
Will they keep me here for good
Where I hardly know a soul
And my fear keeps going on
Will I ever make it home..
I also connected Book 15 to this song. It really represents pushing aside all fears to be able to get back to the way things were. The singer is expressing the universal theme of home and how the world is a big and scary place. He misses his loved ones and he wants to get back to a place he recognizes.
GUIDING QUESTION
From the words that I heard I had no choice
They told me that I had to turn around
My assurance slowly faded down
And I wonder
Will I ever make it home
Will I ever leave the ground
Leave this place so far behind
But there is no turning back
Will I ever make it home
Get to where I wanna be
Find the one to wait for me
To the place where I belong
Will I ever make it home
The plans that I had were quickly destroyed
The problem was one I couldn't avoid
They welcomed me to stay overnight
I'm too tired to complain so I just might
And I wonder
Will I ever make it home
To the place I recognize
Far from here and where I've been
And all the things that I've been shown
Will I ever make it home
Can they keep me here for good
Where I hardly know a soul
And my fear keeps going on
Will I ever make it home
My weariness keeps growing inside
My patience is starting to subside
And I hope I'll be there soon
It can't be long or I'll fall through
Ohhh...
I get up and start to think I'll never get back
I'm ready and waiting to hear them
Everythings alright and I can go
I'll thank that girl that I don't know
Do they miss the way I look?
Do they miss the way I touch?
Do they know just how I feel?
Oh I wish they really could
And I'll hope they ain't home
And I'll make it through the night
Can you hear me when I'm gone?
Will I ever make it home
Will I ever make it home
Will I every leave the ground
Leave this place so far behind
'til there is no turning back
Will I ever make it home
Will they keep me here for good
Where I hardly know a soul
And my fear keeps going on
Will I ever make it home..
I also connected Book 15 to this song. It really represents pushing aside all fears to be able to get back to the way things were. The singer is expressing the universal theme of home and how the world is a big and scary place. He misses his loved ones and he wants to get back to a place he recognizes.
GUIDING QUESTION
1. Overall, do you think Telemachus benefited from his journey? Did he change and become a better man? Explain.
I love the connection that you made to the Wizard of Oz. I think that both Dorothy and Telemachus had built up a feeling of peril after being away from home so long. They are both childish and can't stand up for themselves, which is why Dorothy relies on the good witch, the scarecrow, and all of the other characters to get where she is heading and Telemachus relies on Athena.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't think that Telemachus benefitted from his travels. It seemed as though Athena had set him up to rebel and escape to find his father and then at some point into his journey, Athena changes her mind and tells him how desperately he needs to get back home. Telemachus' driving force for this journey it seemed was based on Athena's assistance, which makes his experiences along the way limited. Telemachu's doesn't even attempt to fight Athena and tell her his true feelings and how he wants to continue on with the father trek. He didn't gain anything from his journey, he possibly even lost potential time he could have used to fight against the suitors and stopping them from going up against Penelope.
I also love how you connected book 15 to the Wizard of Oz! But for different reasons than Michael. I like the connection because in the movie, Dorothy depends on Galinda's guidance to get her through her journey through the land of Oz. Similarly, Telemachus and Odysseus depend on Athena's help and guidance throughout the poem. I do not think they were being childish when they accepted the help, I actually believe that it takes a bigger man to accept help when they need it than to act like they are fine and struggle. So, I do believe that Telemachus grew from his journey. Beforehand, he sat around and just wined at the fact that there were suitors trying to court his mother, and that his father has not returned home. Now, he has taken matters into his own hands and he is finally making a stand.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the connections to the Wizard of Oz, I agree more with Megan because of the similarities between Galinda and Athena. Telemachus needed a wake up call from his house and so did Dorothy. They were both forced to go on a journey where they both learned of independence and self-will. While one might argue that Athena guided Telemachus, it is clear in the story that Athena started to take less role in Telemachus' actions.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I believe that Telemachus has become a better man by traveling and learning of his heritage as well as the position he must take within his own kingdom. By visiting Nestor and Menelaus, Telemachus had certain models to look forward to before he realizes that his own father is alive. When Telemachus saw the authority of other kings, I'm sure he gained more insightful knowledge to lead his own kingdom.
I definitely think he changed as a person. In the beginning, we all kind of agreed that Telemachus wasn't a man yet and that he needed help from the God's but after his journey... I don't know. I feel as if he became stronger, both physically and mentally. I think he has altered himself from that scared, weak guy to this confident, and stronger man. He set a journey for himself and he saw it through. he didn't quit in the middle and go back.
ReplyDeleteBut as for your connection to the Wizard of Oz, I loved it! And I agree with Megan that Athena served as the Galinda in the Wizard of Oz.
The song you chose by Ingram Hill is almost word for word Telemachus' story, probably could not find a song more related. It mentions over and over again the lyric, "will I ever make it home," so much so that by the end of reading it we can feel the desperation in Hill's voice, much like the desperation we feel in reading Telemachus' and Odysseus stories about their journeys home.
ReplyDeleteI find that even if the book ends with Telemachus having to give his mother to one of the suitors or never reuniting with Odysseus, there is no way he went through everything that he had without learning something. Everything he has been through has forced him to develop in some way, whether that growth occurred by leading his crew across the seas, standing up to the suitors and saying what he really thinks, or fighting a one-eyed giant on its own turf. If nothing at all, Telemachus will take these experiences away with him.
I definitely think that Telemachus has matured throughout his journey to search for his father. Before leaving to search for him, Telemachus was a young man who frightened to do anything about the suitors and when he came back he was strong, confident and determined to set things right. I think an example of his confidence and maturity was when the convict asked him to have a ride in his ship, and Telemachus without hesitation agreed because he was confident that the man had changed his ways and was willing to take the risk.
ReplyDelete