The quest for kleos

The first couple books of The Odyssey reveal the problem on the shores of Ithaca. I found it fascinating that although these books seem to simply be setting the stage, they are in fact introducing kleos. This search for glory is seen early on in The Odyssey in the character of Telemachus. He has a conversation with the goddess Athena and realizes that sitting back and letting the suitors ruin his father’s land is no longer an option. Basically Athena tells him to “man up” because it’s his land too: “You should not go on clinging to your childhood. You are no longer of an age to do that. Or have you not heard what glory was won…” (Book 1 lines 296-298)She even brings up the issue of glory, setting it as a goal before him. Then Telemachus starts his journey to find his father, which symbolizes the start of his journey of maturity.

After reading the last few books of the Iliad, I cannot get the importance of kleos out of my head. It was such an important part of their culture that kingdoms rose and fell on the tides of glory and honor. Hector surely achieved this longed-for glory as is evidenced by the vicious battles and and tension around his (dead) body. Did anyone else find it intriguing that after brutally killing Hector, Achilles graciously allowed Priam to take back the body (with some persuasion by the gods of course)? Not only did he let Priam have the body, he also told Priam it was okay to take twelve days off from the fighting to build a proper pyre and do the rites for death! Even though Achilles hated Hector, he still recognized his glory and honored him by allowing more than plenty of time for a proper funeral.

So where does this kleos begin? How does one gain this glory? In the time of the ancients it involved harrowing journeys and fierce battles… definitely not hiding behind mom’s apron in Ithaca. Telemachus realizes he will never achieve glory if he stays, and though people consider it a ridiculous undertaking he is determined to find his father. He goes into this journey with a mission- a vague mission lacking clear direction- and is confident that it will be worth it in the end.

Do we not do the same thing? In coming to college we set off on a journey… for kleos. No, we don’t call it that, but we are venturing out of our homes, into the wide world, determined to make something of ourselves or “die trying.” A quest to find out who we really are, not who our parents tell us we are, venturing away from the shadow of their achievement or success. We set out longing just to prove to our parents and the world that we can be something… something more than a high school title in our little hometown. We set out with a mission- maybe it isn’t really defined- but we know that being independent and seeking truth is the only way to find it. And so, the epic adventure begins. There’s a bit of kleos in us all, I think.

P.S. commented on Lauren's "No More Neverland"