Notes about Lord Tennyson's Ulysses 4 (23/4/12)

In the second part of the poem Ulysses introduces Telemachus. The function of the second part is to present the contrast of identities, personalities and their different attitude.
Ulysses asks his son to carry out the duties of the king, because he has the qualities needed: slow prudence, mild attitude towards the inhabitants of Ithaca (defined by Ulysses "rugged people" at line 37), devoted to material aspects without any ideal. Telemachus is able to "subdue them", to keep them under control. It is interesting to notice that Lord Tennyson uses Ulysses' voice to express a criticism towards the Victorian mentality, voiced by the expression "the useful and the good".
In describing Telemachus, Ulysses says he is mainly interested into common duties and very careful in "not to fail in offices of tenderness" (lines 40-41). So it is possible to compre Ulysses to the Romantic hero, moved by ideals, while Telemachus is a concrete person.
Also Ulysses takes distances from this attitude: his work is extremely important.
In the third section Ulysses addresses to his crew. The section starts with deictics, references to sea (something that it is misterious, that is what they do not yet know). Addressing them he speaks about souls: he concentrates his attention on psychological aspect of them. Whatever situations the mariners were always ready to welcome him willingly.
At line 49 freedom is very important, in opposition to Victorian age (heart-head), and it is important that human being reconciles both the heart and the head.
Ulysses is aware that they and him are old, but this does not prevent them to go on and the voyage becomes a symbol for the search of knowledge. Even if they are old, they do not want to surrender. They do not resign because people (he and the crew) are able to face difficoulties with the gods.
At line 60 there is a reference to setting: the image of the part of the day when sun is setting. Ulysses thinks that the passing of time coincides with the passing of age. Only death can stop his adventures and his desire of knowledge.