"Don’t let me see more offenses in my house,
not from anyone! I’m alive to it all, now,
the good and the bad – the boy you knew is gone.
But I still must bear with this, this lovely sight…
sheepflocks butchered, wine swilled, food squandered –
how can a man fight off so many single-handed?
But no more of your crimes against me, please!
Unless you’re bent on cutting me down, now,
and I’d rather die, yes, better that by far
than have to look on at your outrage day by day:
guests treated to blows, men dragging the serving-women
through our noble house, exploiting them all, no shame!"
Dead quiet. The suitors all fell silent, hushed.
– Homer
The Odyssey, Book 20, lines 345-357. Telemachus shows his maturity and courage as takes charge of his household and shuts the suitors up. They all fall silent when he tells them that the boy they knew is gone and he will not stand for any more of their crimes. Listing their outrages, he says they have butchered the household sheep, swilled the family wine, squandered food, struck guests and exploited the women servants. In Book 20 we see the prince for the first time stand up for his estate and challenge the suitors head-on. He shows his willingness to follow in his father’s footsteps so that one day he, like Odysseus, can be a great leader and king.