Age vs. Youth

Age is always stereotypically associated with wisdom, whereas youth is associated with fickle personalities and imprudent decisions. It is almost assumed that respect is obligatory for all older and wiser people; for respect and honor were two much esteemed items to be shown. As in the first quote, Telemachus feels as if he is not worthy of asking anyone older than he is for advice; the societal expectations of Greek culture at the time required respect and veneration of all men senior to oneself. During feasts and parties, it was natural to hand the goblet to the oldest person there, and show the honor of respecting those who have aged with supposed wisdom and dignity. However, this popular belief of the wiser being the older defies the truth; Greek culture deemed it perfectly moral to raise a son to a...