Rites de Passage within the Odyssey – Brian Dessimoz

Arnold van Grennep’s rites of passage can be seen in the characterization of Telemachus, in Homer’s Odyssey. Telemachus, son of Odysseus, grows up not knowing his father. He is told by many that Odysseus is his father, yet he does not believe them. The idea of a father is absent from his mind, living only with his mother and the collection of suitors after her hand in marriage. There is no one in Ithaca to teach him how a proper palace and kingdom should be run. It is throw Athena’s intervention that he decides to go out in search for information of his father so far gone. Its is through separation that he makes his way to Pylos, to the kingdom of Nestor, who was with his father at Troy, during the Trojan War. It is in Nestor’s kingdom that Telemachus learns how a proper palace is run. Here he learns the standards of Xenia, a guest host relationship enforced by Apollo. Xenia consists of three main parts, the host courteous to the guest, the guest respecting the host, and parting gifts from the host. Nestor sees to all the needs of Telemachus before probing him with questions, as is customary. Who are you? Where is your home? Why have you come here? It is with this that Telemachus reveals his identity. Nestor tells him to seek out Menelaus to learn about his father. As a parting gift he has his son guide him there with chariots. At first when Telemachus arrives at the palace of Menelaus a guard ask if he should let them in, because a double wedding is taking place and the palace is packed already. This upsets Menelaus who then graciously accepts the stranger, not knowing him as Odysseus’ son, Menelaus then shares stories of his father. It is in both the palace of Nestor and Menelaus that Telemachus is experiencing the liminal phase, the ritual subject of Xenia by the two kings. He learns how a kingdom is to be run. After visiting these two kingdoms he makes his way back to Ithaca. Telemachus matures greatly on his journey, learning many things. Returning to his father’s palace he again witnesses the suitors eating him out of house and home. Now however, he is able to see them in a new light as the filth that they are. This return to mundane social life is the aggregation phase. Telemachus is to act in accordance to xenia, the social standard; however, the suitors have long since disobeyed these customs. It is with the return Odysseus that justice will be served.