Rites of Passage - 1170 Words

Rites of Passage Robert Fitzgerald’s translation of Homer’s classic, The Odyssey, is an enchanting tale, which can be examined using the Gaines novel A Lesson Before Dying, and â€Å"On The Rainy River†. There are many similarities between these three books but the transformation to adulthood is a theme that reigns supreme in all three works. In The Odyssey Telemakhos’ transition from a boy to a man can be marked by the following events; a separation, trials of strength, a metaphorical death, guidance from a wise individual, and the full transformation into a man. In the beginning of The Odyssey, there is a separation between Telemakhos, Prince of Ithaca, and his kingdom, which is evident when he sits separate from the suitors. This†¦show more content†¦Telemakhos journey, which can be seen as a death, is not really a death but just another stage of his growth. His time at sea is comparable to a caterpillar in his silk cocoon, in which he grows. In this case Telemakhos grows not physically but mentally and emotionally. He gains confidence in himself, which is evident through his speech when he is addressing Nestor. In each of the three works we see that the main character is guided by a person, either human or god. In the Odyssey, the god of war Athena guides Telemakhos. She helps Telemakhos with both her supernatural powers and her wisdom. Athena is the one who convinced Telemakhos to set out and look for news of his father. It also seems to me that Athena serves as a father figure to Telemakhos. Telemakhos has been without a father all his life and although she is a woman she appears to him in the form of a man. He receives advice from Athena on how to lead and how to present himself, all things that fathers teach to their sons. Also, there seems to be closeness between that two. They are comfortable speaking to each other and Telemakhos is not intimidated by her divinity. In On The Rainy River, the grounds keeper at the Tip Top Lodge guides Tim. Although their relationship is not a strong one, he helps push Tim to make a decision. The same is also true in A Lesson Before Dying; Grant helps Jefferson to become a man by teaching himShow MoreRelatedEssay on Rites of Passage1580 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Rites of Passage Although there are many different types of rites of passage they differ in many ways, some much more extreme than the others. There are so many different cultures that have a ton of different ways of expressing rites of passage. The three different cultures that will be discussed are the United States of America, Malaysian, and Balinese adolescents. Some of the things that will be discussed are the different forms of rites of passage, the different ages thatRead More Rites of Passage Essay1204 Words   |  5 PagesRites of Passage Every day someone enters into a rite of passage whether it be by starting school, a new job, marriage, a confirmation or communion rites of passage are common place. Two totally different cultures have totally different rituals and rites of passage. The Apache would most definitely have incredibly unique rituals compared to rural Maine and the catholic cultures therein. The best way to see the differences is to compare the two different cultures. Each ritual occurs in a holyRead MoreValuables Traditions: Rites of passage 624 Words   |  2 Pagescultures have rites of passage that evolve over time, and these have become harmful to their culture and society. After establishing the difference between helpful and harmful rites of passage, it will be easy to see why they need to be changed. 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