Returning to the scene within Chapter One, back in the Greek Isle of Ithica, we see also that Penelope, as well as, her growing son, Telemachus are fighting for their own land. A large group of suitors, has overcome the palace. By this action, they have forced the villagers to slaughter their livestock, and they drink of their wine, eat of their bread, and take of their women. Penelope and Telemachus are disgusted by the suitors. Secretly unbenouced to them, some of the suitors start taking up plans to kill young Telemachus, for he is a major obstacle in their path to secure the throne of Ithica. By examining, the projected outcome that one may infer from the situation, we may take to heart the possible death of Odysseus’s young son. Here we see, Ithica’s women being raped and ravaged. We see Penelope being man handled, and forced to marry from a selection of swine. However, the story does not go the path of murder and torture. Instead, seeing the pain of young Telemachus and his mother, Penelope, Athena decides to step in, and prepare Telemachus to be the hero his father has always been. Having a kind heart for Telemachus, she convinces the young man to go on a journey. Disguised as the town chieftain ,she advises him in his weakest hour (Homer).
“Instant, to foreign realms prepare to sail, to learn your father’s fortunes; Fame may prove, or omen’d voice, propitious to the search.(Homer)”
Athena, then tells Telemachus to gather his courage and his strength, and announce in open court the banishment of the suitors from his realm.
“I now hold the reins of power in this house-Telemachus(Homer).” Telemachus states to the elders and the suitors.
By giving Telemachus strength and courage to stand up to his foes, predicting to the young Ithican that his father is alive ;she helps spare his life, and help him learn more of his wandering father.
Later, in the night, knowing that this young man would have no crew to take him on his quest, Athena then takes on a disguise. as the boy himself, and takes off into the night finding the men that would pilot his quest to find his father, but indeed in the end make Telemachus a man, and save his life.
Once again taking on a new persona, she disguises herself once more to Telemachus, as Mentor, his closest friend, helping guide his heart for the journey (Aldington).
In this example, Athena personifies the epitome of protector and guardian. Here she takes her archetypical role to the brim of destruction inevitably sparing Ithica, and contributing to the rest of the story, by not allowing this once grand city to fall at the hands of the suitors. Here also in Book One she plays upon the ever present them of “Disguise vs. Reality”, that will later play out into the rest of the epic repeatedly. She forces young Telemachus to do what is best for him, by allowing him to see her in the forms he trusts most.
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