Tlepolemus and Charite

The story of Tlepolemus’ rescue of Charite and Lucius illustrates Lucius’ vision of the ideal man. The first thing Lucius describes about Tlepolemus is his physical appearance. Lucius says: "None of the present company could apparently match him, for in addition to his powerful physique he was a whole head higher than all of them. A soft beard was spreading over his cheeks. His body was only half-covered with a patchwork cloak which was ill-fitting and roughly stitched together, and between the gaps in it his chest and belly rippled with close-packed muscles"(Book 7, Chapter 5). All of Tlepolemus’ attributes suggest that he is a full grown man ready for active life. But in the end, it is not his physical prowess but his superior cunning that allows him to defeat the robbers.

Tlepolemus’ first speech to the robbers is a lengthy, fantastical yet believable account of his past. Tlepolemus claims to be "that celebrated brigand Haemus the Thracian, a man at whose name whole provinces tre mble, son of Theron who was likewise a famous bandit" (Book 7, Chapter 5). Tlepolemus’ story goes on to relate his daring escape from the Roman soldiers after his band of robbers is outlawed. Tlepolemus claims to have escaped by cunningly dressing up as a woman and thus passing through the soldiers’ ranks unharmed. During this story, Tlepolemus notes: "Though I trembled a bit at being within range of these weapons of war, I was not untrue to my father’s fame or to my own valor, but under cover of my strange disguise I launched attacks single-handed on farm-houses and villages, thus scraping together the expenses of my journey" (Book 7, Chapter 8). In this passage Tlepolemus echoes the Roman belief that it is natural to have feelings of fear but what makes you a man is that you do not let those feelings paralyze you. The great irony of Tlepolemus’ tale is that he is giving an example of how he outwitted the Roman soldiers and hence is demonstrating his cunning which he will later use against them.

Tlepolemus’ story is so successful that he not only convinces the robbers to accept him into their group but also to elect him leader. In addition Tlepolemus convinces the robbers to spare Charite’s life by offering them a more financially profitable plan in place of killing her.
Having convinced the robbers to follow his plan, and thus saving the life of Charite, Tlepolemus then persuades the robbers to allow him to provide a feast. Tlepolemus first proves himself by leading the robbers in a raid on the nearest farm-house in order to supply the feast with food and wine as well as to gain an animal to sacrifice to Mars. Tlepolemus asks that he be considered their leader in their feasting and he proceeds to efficiently organize the feast. Throughout the course of the feast, the other robbers become more and more drunk, while Tlepolemus remains sober. It is by getting them intoxicated that Tlepol Çemus is able to restrain them, thus defeating the entire band single-handedly. It is the robbers’ lack of self control that allows them to become so drunk that, "[i]n the end every man jack of them lay out for the count with the wine; they were all as good as dead" (Book 7, Chapter 12). Clearly, it is the robbers’ lack of control and Tlepolemus’ greater cunning which leads to their downfall.

An interesting point contained within this story deals with the breaking of gender norms. There are two specific instances where Tlepolemus seems to behave in a way contrary to his gender. The first is in his escape story when he claims to have escaped from the Roman soldiers by dressing as a woman. Tlepolemus claims, "I put on a lady’s dress with a floral pattern which spread out in billowing folds, and a woven turban to cover my head, and the kind of neat white shoes which women wear" (Book 7, Chapter 8). Despite the seemingly feminine nature of such an act, Tlepolemus is able to justify his transgender experience by claiming to have maintained his masculinity through acts of valor; such as attacking farm-houses at night in order to finance his journey. The second instance when Tlepolemus seems to behave outside of the normal sphere of his gender is when he provides the robbers with the money he has left from his journey. "‘Here is my contribution,’ he said, ‘or rather my dowry, which I gladly present to your brotherhood’" (Book 7, Chapter 8). Tlepolemus’ choice of the word dowry is very interesting, as it is a word normally associated with the female gender. However, Tlepolemus provides his own dowry, a very masculine act. Tlepolemus is also able to get away with slightly violating gender norms in certain instances because he is already such a strong model of masculinity.