250-251). Telemakhos replies:.
Friend let me put it in the plainest way. .
My mother says I am his son: I know not .
surely. Who has know his own engendering:.
I wish at least I had some happy man .
as father, growing old in his own house -.
but unknown death and silence are the fate.
of him that, since you ask, the call my father.
(8. 258-264).
In a way I believe that he almost is unsure about whether or not he is his son and because of this he does not understand his role as prince. Because of this he does not know how to or what his limits are for protecting the manor. He does understand that the suitors are eating the livestock away and drinking the wine and overrunning the house just to be able to court his mother into marriage. On several occasions he does acknowledge that this is an issue but thinks that he has the power to overtake them. The first instance is while he was talking to Athena he says:.
I inherit.
trouble and tears - and not for him alone,.
the gods have laid such other burdens on me.
For now the lords of the islands, .
Doulikhion and Same, wooded Zakynthos.
And rocky Ithaka's young lords as well,.
Are hear courting my mother; and the use.
our house as if it were a house to plunder. .
Spurn them she dare not, though she hates that marriage,.
Nor can she bring herself to choose among them.
Meanwhile they eat their way though all we have, .
And when they will, the can demolish me.
(9. 288-98).
He also addresses the issue that he is not able to take on the suitors when he addresses the public and putting blame on them for what is happening. He also at this time states that he does not have the power to overtake them to everyone. While he is speaking he is just laughed and belittled because they do not show him respect or in their eyes he has not earned their respect. After hearing their comments, he sat down quietly. After the public meeting, disguised as Telemakhos, Athena walks through the town and asks for people to join him on his journey to hear of news about his father.
