Book One

Telemachus: 

"My mother verily saith that I am his; for myself I know not, for never man yet knew of himself for his own descent. O that I has been the son of some blessed man, whom old age overtook among his own possession! but now of him that is the most hapless of mortal men , his son they say that I am, since though dost question me hereof."

Telemachus needs to see it to believe it. He is at least twenty years of age and still has no proof of his father other than by the word of what others say. Without knowing what a father's love is like, he has no reason to believe that all the responsibility he has been given by to protect a kingdom would be a task left by a father.

 

 

Though Telemachus is making an effort to be man of the house and kingdom, Penelope has a lot stress on her as well. She faithfully waits for her husband's return, while suitors try to court her, for they know that if they do, they will become King. She refuses to remarry to anyone but does not say it to any of the suitors because I think she sometimes has doubts that her husband will not come and she will be alone. So instead of refusing anyone, she tells them she hasn't decided yet and that she will marry once she has finished weaving a burial garment for her father in law, Laertes. At night she takes apart her weaving, so it will never become finished. If she married one of the suitors, she has given up on her husband and would give her the mindset that he is dead or with someone else. With a love so extreme for him, she cannot give in so easy.

Both of these characters are struggling to find hope , but they know they have no time to waste moping around because their kingdom is in danger from all who want it. This fight that they are going through is torturous but it is definitely making them stronger .