Ulysses

Ulysses is the main character and speaker of the poem. This character is taken from Homer's Odyssey, where he is the king of Ithaca, slowly making his way home to his family after the Trojan War. Ulysses is characterized by his intelligence and craftiness.

This poem is set after his return home, and explores how such a character could adapt back to life in the domestic environment. Ulysses, either heroically or selfishly depending on one's reading of the poem, cannot live as king of Ithaca. He struggles to connect to his family and to his people, and ultimately feels such a strong desire to continue to wander that he cannot resist it.

Telemachus

Telemachus is the young son of Ulysses. In The Odyssey, he does not remember his father, who left for Troy when he was only a baby. He is now a young man, and has ruled...