Les aventures de Télémaque, fils d'Ulysse
Par Feu Meffire François de Salignac de La Motte Fenelon
Annotated and edited by Nobel Tsegai
Introduction
This annotated edition provides an analytical perspective on the utopian novel "Les Aventures de Télémaque, fils d'Ulysse," originally written in French by François de Salignac de La Motte Fénelon, a Catholic Archbishop during Louis XIV's reign. Fénelon, who served as the tutor to Louis XIV's grandson, the Duke of Burgundy, wrote the novel specifically for the prince as a manual on morals and governance (Ioannou 2). With a focus on preparing the Duke of Burgundy for the possibility of ascending to his grandfather's throne, Fénelon's decision to write a private novel raises intriguing questions. Interestingly, the book was not intended for publication but was legally published against Fénelon's will (Racault). Given Fénelon's criticisms of Louis XIV's policies in his "Lettre de Fénelon à Louis XIV," it is imperative to study his other famous text, which was, even unwillingly, publicized unlike his letter.
"Les Aventures de Télémaque, fils d'Ulysse" is set in the period of the Trojan War, exploring the adventures of Telemachus in Homer's "Odyssey," rooted in Greek mythology. Telemachus, son of Ulysses, embarks on a journey to find his father after the Trojan War, accompanied by his tutor Mentor (The Art and Popular Culture).
The selected excerpt from Book XIV of the novel unfolds in Salentum, a kingdom where Telemachus and Mentor find themselves during their travels. The kingdom partially resembles the French kingdom of Louis XIV, with excessive war and luxury creating instability. In the excerpt, Mentor advises the king on how to fix his kingdom, not only to help but also to exemplify proper governance to Telemachus.
Fénelon utilizes the characters and settings in the novel to educate the young Prince of Burgundy, manifesting his ideological beliefs on politics through Mentor. However, in this specific excerpt, Mentor's commentary indirectly criticizes Louis XIV's policies. The text used is the english version, thus no direct translation was requested but because of older british grammar and style, I did aim to clarify certain sections while connecting them to the similar alarming aspects of France that Fénelon critiques in his letter to Louis XIV. The use of a utopian novel to not only criticize but also propose solutions to what Fénelon perceived as a failing monarchy reinforces the significance of Fénelon in understanding his historical period.
Les aventures de Télémaque, fils d'Ulysse
2nd American ed., Book XIV, last 3 page
Mentor[1] answered. The evils of war are more terrible than you imagine. War exhausts a people, and continually exposes them to the danger of being ruined, even when they obtain the greatest victories. With whatever advantages a man enters into a war, he is never sure of ending it without being liable to the most tragical re-verses of fortune. With whatever superiority of forces he engages in battle, the least mistake, a panick, a nothing, snatches the victory out of his hands, and transfers it to his enemies. And though he held victory as it were in chains in his camp, yet he destroys himself in destroying his foes[2]. For he depopulates his own country ; he leaves the lands almost uncultivated; he interrupts trade; and what is much worse, he weakens the best laws, and winks at a depravity of manners. The youth no longer addict themselves to letters[3]. The necessity of the times obliges him to tolerate a pernicious licentiousness in the array. Justice; government, everything suffers in the confusion[4]. A king who sheds the blood of such multitudes, and causes so many calamities in order to acquire a little glory, or to extend the bounds of his kingdom, is unworthy of the glory he pursues, and deserves to lose what he possesses for having endeavoured to usurp what he has no right to.
But the courage of a nation may be exercised[5] in times of peace. You already know what bodily exercises we institute, the prizes to excite emulation, and the maxims of glory and virtue, with which the songs of the great actions of heroes will fill the souls of children almost from their very cradles[6]: Add to these helps, that of a sober and laborious[7] life. But this is not all : As soon as any nation in alliance with yours, is engaged in war, the flower of your youth must be sent thither, especially those who have discovered a genius for war, and are the best qualified to profit by experience[8]. You will thereby maintain a high reputation among your neighbours, who will court your alliance, and be afraid of losing it. And thus, without having a war at home, and at your own expense, you will always have a warlike and intrepid body of youth[9]. Not withstanding you have peace in your own kingdom, you must not fail to treat those with great honour who have a talent for war; for the true way to avoid war and to maintain a lasting peace, is to cultivate arms, to honour men who excel in the profession of them, always to have some who have been trained up in foreign countries, and who know the strength and discipline of neighbouring nations, and their manner of making war ; and to be equally incapable of making it through ambition, and of dreading it through effeminacy. By being thus always prepared for it on occasion, one is hardly ever reduced to the necessity of making it at al[10]l.
As for your allies, when they are ready to engage in a war with each other, it is your part to become their mediator. You thereby acquire a more solid and unquestionable glory than that of conquerors ; you win the love and esteem of strangers[11]; they all stand in need of you, and you reign over them by the confidence they repose in you, as you reign over your subjects by your authority. You are the depository of their secrets, the arbiter of their treaties, the master of their hearts. Your fame flies to the most distant countries, and your name is like a sweet perfume which diffuses itself from, country to country, even to the remotest nations. If a neighbouring people attack you in these circumstances contrary to the rules of justice, it finds you warlike, prepared, and, what is a much greater security, beloved and succoured. All your neighbours are alarmed for you, and are persuaded that the public safety depends on your preservation[12]. This is a much stronger rampart[13] than all the walls of cities, or the most regular fortifications : this is substantial glory. But how few princes are there who are wise enough to pursue it, or rather, who do not fly from it! They pursue a delusive phantom, and leave true honour behind them for want of knowing it.
When Mentor[14] had spoken thus, Philocles[15] looked upon him with astonishment ; and then turning his eyes on the king, was charmed to see how greedily Idomeneus[16] stored up in his heart all the words which poured like a torrent of wisdom from the mouth of this stranger.
Thus did Minerva[17], in the form of Mentor, establish all the best laws and most useful maxims of government at Salentum[18] ; not so much to make the kingdom of Idomeneus flourish, as to show Telemachus[19], when he should return, a striking example of the effects of a wise administration with regard to the happiness of the people, and the lasting glory of the prince.
Bibliography
The art and Popular Culture. “Les Aventures de Télémaque.” The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia, www.artandpopularculture.com/Les_Aventures_de_T%C3%A9l%C3%A9maque.
“Les Aventures de Télémaque, Fils d’ulysse : Fénelon, François de Salignac de La Motte, 1651-1715 : Free Download 2nd American ed., Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, Philadelphie : De l’imprimerie de Guillaume F. M’Laughlin, et se trouvent chez M. Carey, 1806, book XIV, pg. 29-31 english, https://archive.org/details/lesaventuresde02fn/page/56/mode/2up.
Fara, Patricia. “Minerva/Athene.” Endeavour, Elsevier Current Trends, 22 Jan. 2010, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160932710000025.
Fénelon, François de Salignac de la Mothe. “Letter to Louis XIV.” https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1662557/assignments/8659856?module_item_id=19206613.
Hanley, Ryan Patrick, 'Courage, or On War', The Political Philosophy of Fénelon, New York, online edn, Oxford Academic, 20 Feb. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190079635.003.0004.
Ioannou, A. X. and Malafantis, K. D. “The Contribution of the Literary Works of François Fénelon ‘The Adventures of Telemachus, Son of Ulysses’ and of Voltaire ‘Candide’, to the Cultivation of Humanitarian Awareness”. Pedagogical Research, 4(4), em0042, 19 Aug. 2019, https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/5879.
Racault, Jean–Michel. Review of The Adventures of Telemachus [1699], by François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon. Utopian Studies, vol. 34 no. 1, 2023, p. 140-143. Project MUSE muse.jhu.edu/article/906986.
Schuurman, Paul. (2012) Fénelon on Luxury, War and Trade in the Telemachus, Salentum: Luxury and War, History of European Ideas, 38:2, 179-199, DOI: 10.1080/01916599.2011.652473.
[1] See the art and Popular Culture: Mentor, a man accompanying Telemachus on his journeys, imparts insights on effective rulership. Mentor is, in reality, the goddess Minerva in human form, the Roman counterpart to the Greek goddess Athena, revered for wisdom and war. Thus, the commentary offered by Mentor in this section primarily reflects Minerva’s knowledge, underscoring the divine guidance influencing Telemachus's understanding of governance and leadership.
[2] The aphorism that in a war there is no winner, there is only loser. Even when the one ruler claims victory over the other, both never emerge unscathed. This encapsulates the main point Fenelon seems to get into about war; the mass destruction and loss of life on both sides brings the concept of war to a loss. Especially when a king excessively seeks pointless war, they bear the tremendous loss of the nation and don't deserve the power vested in them. This is something Mentor later gets into and what Fenelon himself criticizes Louis XIV heavily on in his Letter to Louis XIV. Look to "Letter to Louis XIV" by Fenelon for more on his criticism.
[3] Trying to say the future generation isn't eagerly embracing the studies of knowledge, as is often seen in times of peace. The relentless pursuit of war, which directs the attention of future generations away from the pursuit of knowledge to support their leader's military endeavors, is criticized by Mentor. The imbalance between a nation's military strength and its intellectual advancement is viewed as a negative consequence of excessive war. Fenelon, in particular, criticizes the predominant focus on war, drawing parallels between Louis XIV's expansionist wars and King Idomeneus's policies in Salentum (Ioannou 7).
[4] Simply denoting a king's willing acceptance of harm to his army and people in his pursuit of victory as detrimental to the state of the nation he rules.
[5] Courage being showed or demonstrated in time of peace, not just in period of wars
[6] The practices of exercise, competition, and implementing the principles of honor conserves and builds on a nation's 'courage' in time of peace.
[7] A disciplined and hardworking lifestyle, characterized by having one that is "sober and laborious", is intended to complement the practices mentioned beforehand.
[8] While indulging in peace, one must not waste talents fit for war; rather, train them so that the youth does not succumb to luxury. This not only serves to advance relations with neighbors but also ensures the maintenance of peace and prosperity at home. Examining Fenelon's theory, it is as Schuurman concluded that to avoid forgetting the art of war and being affected by luxury, active participation and preparation in wars are necessary (Schuurman)."
[9] This approach to war contradicts what Mentor initially seems to advise, which is to completely avoid war. Upon closer examination of his guidance, Mentor reveals that true peace comes from a delicate balance. During times of peace, a wise nation should not waste its talent for war. Instead, it should actively use them to engage in external conflicts. This serves two purposes: first, to maintain positive relations with neighbors, and second, to, when necessary, sustain a warlike and courageous youth without subjecting their own lands to the ravages of war.
[10] Concluding that ensuring peace is most certain when a nation actively prepares its military strength, serving as a deterrent that discourages engagement through an intimidation factor.
[11] Fenelon's utopian portrayal of a beloved king, resonating with other nations and spreading his fame like a pleasing aroma, serves as a poignant commentary on his disappointment with Louis XIV's notorious reputation. This idealized king stands as a deliberate foil to the actual Louis XIV, whose tyrannical image led to opposition from other nations. The contrast between the two monarchs becomes apparent, with Fenelon indirectly critiquing the flaws of the reigning king. As Loannou points out, this subtle and hidden approach is because "he does not want to risk his position by exerting clear criticism" (Loannou 2). This method differs significantly from Fenelon's unpublished letter to Louis XIV, where he does not refrain from explicit criticism. Fenelon's utopian novel, conceived as a political manual for the young prince, emerges as a nuanced expression of his political beliefs. It provides insight beyond mere criticism, shedding light on his intricate way of thinking and beliefs on governance.
[12] The crucial concept here is the interconnectedness and profound association between nations, to the extent that other nations assist you because your stability significantly impacts the stability of the entire region. This concept stands in contrast to the France of Fenelon's era, where King Louis XIV pursued what Fenelon perceived as "false glory," leading to suffering for both his adversaries and his own people (Hanley). The realization that King Louis XIV being the contrast of Fenelon's ideal king further develops the idea of Fenelon's hidden criticism.
[13] Referring to a fortification structure meant to act as a defensive wall.
[14] All the commentary provided by Mentor serves the purpose of advising the king and reforming the kingdom of Salentum. But understanding that Fenelon wrote this fictional novel to assist him in his role as the tutor of the young Duke of Burgundy (Racault), it is reasonable to argue that Mentor is a manifestation of Fenelon, criticizing Louis XIV's policies behind the curtains of the story. Seeing Mentor tutoring Telemachus much like Fenelon does with the young prince is a clear realization that binds Fenelon to his fictional character.
[15] Although not clearly identified, Philocles seems to be an righteous advisor of king Idomeneus who was previously banished but who returns to be beside his king after king Idomeneus apologetically prompts for his return.
[16] See Paul Schuurman: Idomeneus is the king of the Salentum kingdom, and whom Mentor advises on how to establish a flourishing state while still building a strong and revered kingdom.
[17] See Patricia Fara : Minerva is the goddess of wisdom and war, embodying the true identity of Mentor, who serves as her disguise.
[18] See Paul Schuurman: Salentum is a kingdom ruled by King Idomeneus, which Telemachus and Mentor currently reside in during their travels. It is a realm characterized by luxury and warfare, leading to disorder in the presence of the king. As Mentor is seen offering personal counsel to the king here, this scenario serves as one of the instances through which virtuous wisdom on governance and leadership is imparted from Mentor to Telemachus.
[19] See Paul Schuurman: Telemachus is a main character from Fénelon's pseudo-Classical Mediterranean world inspired by the Greek mythology of Odysseus. Venturing in search of his father Ulysses after the fall of Troy, the young prince receives constant lectures about his future duties as the sovereign of Ithaca. Telemachus is the central character whom Mentor strives to tutor on the proper ways of governance.