Book Two: Telemachus Puts His Big Boy Tunic On (The Odyssey, Book by Book)

Book Two: Telemachus Puts His Big Boy Tunic On

The next morning, Telemachus managed to pull himself out of his blissful slumber and cosy bed. After getting dressed, putting his sandals on his apparently well-oiled feet, and picking up his sword, he told the heralds to call the Greeks to council.

In the square, Odysseus' son met with the elders, accompanied by two dogs, because it's dangerous to go alone, I guess? He took his seat on his father's throne as the men began to speak. The first asks who has called the meeting and for what reason. "Whoever it was, he's a good man, though, may Zeus bless him." He says, obviously having never met Telemachus. Likely full of hubris (from the Greek ὕβρις), Telemachus stood and began to speak. Again, he laments about his absent father and complains about the suitors invading his home to court Penelope against her will. Though part of me believes he is more upset about all the food being eaten and then the house being damaged than about his mother's wishes. "There is no man to save the house." Telemachus continues. "I'm not strong enough."

After Telemachus finishes his rant, he bursts into tears. Another man speaks and takes the words right out of my mouth. He essentially calls him a "Whiny man-child with a temper." The suitors are no better, however, and they blame Penelope for their terrible behaviour. When they demand that Telemachus make Penelope marry one of them, he defends his mother out of respect, but also out of fear of how others will judge him.

Zeus, the ever-present drama-loving, meddler that he is, had been listening in and sent down two eagles to scratch and peck at the men. One of the men recognises the eagles as belonging to Zeus and speaks of a prophecy that Odysseus would return after 20 years of absence. Do the suitors listen? Of course not, and they insist that Odysseus is dead.

Telemachus, wishing to speak no further on the matter of his mother and the suitors, asks instead for a sip so he can go on a voyage to seek news of his father. If Odysseus is alive, he agrees to put up with the torment of the suitors for one more year until he comes home. If he is dead, however, Telemachus will return home, build a tomb and then tell Penelope to take a new husband. After a bit more bickering, the men agree to let Telemachus have a boat, and then disperse.

Telemachus prays to Athena for good fortune on his journey, and she appears once again in a disguise, this time as Mentor, a friend of Odysseus and one of the men who will accompany Telemachus on his journey. "If you are not Odysseus' true son, I doubt you'll be able to do this." She says, and I think we are starting to see why she is a big fan of Odysseus; they're both asses. Then she adds, "But you are his son, so go and get provisions, because you will complete your task."

When he returns home, Telemachus is mocked by the suitors. They joke that he will find something to poison their drinks with (poisoning is considered to be a feminine method of murder) or that he will get lost at sea and die.

Telemachus and his dutiful nurse, Eurycleia, begin to prepare provisions for his journey in secret. Meanwhile, Athena went about Ithaca, appearing as Telemachus to ask the men to gather by his boat at night. Then, when night had fallen, she appeared as Mentor to Telemachus and led him towards the ship and the awaiting crew.