Maids In The Penelopiad

At the end of The Odyssey, Odysseus rage slaughters the suitors who were after his wife. After the battle, Odysseus is left with a tremendous mess, “...one and all in their numbers, lying fallen in their blood and in the dust, like fish whom the fishermen have taken in their net with many holes...and all of them lie piled on the sand… (page 331, line 382)” Instead of cleaning up and going to his wife, who is mysteriously sleeping, Odysseus asks to bring all of the non-loyal maids to him, “Do not waken her yet, but tell those women who have been shameful in their devisings to come here to my presence. (page 332, line 435)” Odysseus' priorities seem a bit off at this point, but maybe he just wants to give a quick stern talking to. Nope, he forces

In one of the first asides, a rope-jumping rhyme, the maids stick it to Odysseus, “we did much less than what you did you judged us bad (page 5).” This sets up the maids through The Penelopiad to express their understandable hate for Odysseus. Later, the Maids lament that they were essentially slaves and had no choice, “If our owners or the sons of our owners or a visiting nobleman or the son of a visiting nobleman wanted to sleep with us, we could not refuse… All this happened to us when we were children (page 14)” The Maids continue to describe their terrible lives in which they had no choice. Odysseus did not think about the role of his servants when he passed judgment. In reality, what were they supposed to do? The maids assert that they were a scapegoat or an outlet for Odysseus' anger, “Blame it on the maids! Those naughty little jades! Hang them high and don't ask why – Blame it on the maids! (page 151)” Towards the end of The Penelopiad, Penelope seems hurt by Odysseus' actions. While discussing with Eurycleia she describes the maids chosen for slaughter as, “The ones who'd been raped … my eyes and ears among the Suitors, I did not add. My helpers during the long nights of the shroud. My snow-white geese. My thrushes, my doves. (page 160)” It is apparent from this statement that Atwood does not portray Penelope's love for Odysseus in this scene, but rather describes him as a