Penelope By Dorothy Parker Analysis

Greek Mythology has made a major impact on the world, many lessons you are educated on today are based on these myths. These myths teach not only ways to live foremost lives but also to tell there are multiple options for every situation in life. In the painting Penelope and the Suitors, John Williams Waterhouse uses the myth of Penelope to show that there are two types of selfishness; being loyal to something because of its protection or being unoptimistic to something because of obsession with something else, while in her poem “Penelope”, Dorothy Parker uses the same scene to show that in life, challenges arise but to cease those opportunities is never the way to overcome them; being determined and courageous will achieve the goal. In “Penelope”, by Dorothy Parker, she uses vivid imagery, prominent diction, and heroic symbolism to portray the unfairness of bravery in the poem. Dorothy Parker opens the poem with “In the pathway of the sun, In the footsteps of the breeze,” (lines 1-2). When the pathways are leading to the sun, it is revealed that this pathway is illuminating and giving off power when being completed. Saying the footsteps are a breeze gives an uncomplicated feeling to the journey. She goes on to

Having Penelope turn her head and ignore her surroundings while Odysseus is gone shows her loyalty to Odysseus and their relationship together. The girl looming for Penelope shows that Penelope is selfish because she is showing no thanks to the girl looming and working for her. Having Penelope not accept the suitors’ gifts and pleasure towards her shows she is not interested in anyone and staying true to Odysseus. Penelope has a multitude of opportunities within her reach and she refuses to entertain any of them making her look obsessed with