Telemakhos to Paris

Telemakhos could be compared to Paris because of both of their lack of involvement with their "destiny". Despite Telemakhos' character in Book 1, he had no desire to take over his father's house and continue Odysseues' name. He was wishing for his father to come back and remove the suitors from their house instead of taking the responsibility to do it himself, "Telemakhos sitting there unhappy among the suitors, daydreaming, what if his great father came from the unknown world and drove these men like dead leaves through the place, recovering honor and lordship in his own domains?" (1. 140-144). Telemakhos did nothing, like Paris. Paris was one of the reasons they were fighting, because of his lust of a woman named Helen. Yet, he would not fight. Hector his brother tried to imply guilt but Paris just mocked him, "Look, your people dying around the city, the steep walls, dying in arms-and all for you...you saw hanging back from this, this hateful war" (6. 251-256). So both men, Paris and Telemakhos, lay low for no reason other than they might be afraid to fight for what they want or the outcome that might reveal the truth of their destiny.