Bravery? or helpless?

Branching off Julia's point that the characters look upon their gods in many aspects, another topic we have touched upon in class is whether or not Telemachus is truly brave or is merely a helpless mortal. Although Telemachus is showing bravery through his journeys to find information about his father, he seeks help from athena in each destination. Upon entering Nestor's palace, Telemachus says, "How can i greet him, Mentor, even approach the king? I'm hardly adept at subtle conversation" (3:23-25). Athena, disguised as Telemachus's mentor, has to persuade Telemachus to gather up the courage to speak with Nestor otherwise Telemachus would not go on his own. Even though Telemachus ultimately completed his tasks, he still needed someone for their assurance and wise words to confront Nestor about his father. During a discussion between Athena and Telemachus, Athena advises Telemachus, " you must not hold on to your boyhood any longer- it's time you were a man" (1:341). Telemachus is complaining to Athena about the suitors that have taken over his father's palace. Rather than taking action, Telemachus does nothing about this. He needsAthena's words to realize that to be a heroic figure, such as his father, he must take action and be fearless. Along with many other characters in The Odyssey, people looked up to their gods for guidance, such as omens or sacrifices. Although Telemachus's father, Odysseus, is a brave heroin, it does not appear that Telemachus is following in his father's footsteps. Within the first couple books we have read and discussed of The Odyssey, Telemachus gives the impression of a helpless and immature boy. As the book progresses and Telemachus's experiences multiply, we will get a chance to see if he becomes less helpless and more bold as a character. I'd like to hear anyone's opinions on this! If you believe he is brave or a hero in this book, write back!