Penelope demonstrates the value of loyalty which was a valued trait for women in Greek culture. She displays her loyalty to Odysseus when “[she] arm[s] [her]self long ago against the frauds of men, impostors who might come.” Penelope is saying that she loved Odysseus despite the many men that tried to marry her. She never gives her heart to any other man and has always been
Penelope is “luring gifts from her suitors”, which is clever enough in itself, not to mention she has “something else in mind”, namely, Odysseus (18.317-9). This not only shows how clever she is and a possible reason for keeping the suitors in the house, but also shows her unfailing loyalty as previously noted. All the while, it is believed that she was only keeping the suitors around because she is indecisive but really she is more clever than she seems. The fact that she got gifts as a sort of repayment for the damage the suitors were inflicting on her household is something that requires a lot of forethought. She must also be a clever manipulator in order to repeatedly convince the suitors to give her presents, even though she did not choose one to marry.
Everyday women like Penelope were believed to have no purpose in common society other than being confined to a kitchen each day and complete domestic house duties. The name Penelope was deliberately selected as it translates to mean pulling, or spinning which is an allegorical phrase in itself, the first meaning associates her cunning weaving of plots and schemes which proves her to be sly and the secondary referring to cloth which was a part of an everyday life duty for women, producing articles of clothing. Being a hospitable host to guests was also a key function, which is first noticed when she offers help to Odysseus in disguise “Give him a wash and spread a couch for him here, with bedding and coverlets and with shining blankets”. It is argued that Penelope is secretly a spider, weaving her own web of lies getting stuck in her own trap which is hidden from the public as women were not meant to be clever or be known for any kind of crafty intelligence. In contrast to this old way of societies expectations, Atwood utilizes Penelope’s strength in character to warn women not to follow in her footsteps by giving them the advice of “Do not look the other way”, “Tell them (referring to males) what you think”, “Argue with them”, and “make them squirm”, these pieces of wisdom create a stronger emphasis on having equal respect and appreciation for women which also conflicts the differences between Ancient and Modern times and highlights the evolution of society.
Odysseus and Penelope’s relationship is different from the other two in several ways. They are the oldest couple, are more trusting and open with each other, and exhibit more traditional man-and-wife roles. While Odysseus was away, Penelope revealed to be intelligent and cunning. Despite that, Odysseus treated her like a possession. His main fault was pride, shown when he reunited with Penelope as the beggar and boasted
. In facing the suitors, Penelope and Odysseus achieve success through slyness and their eagerness to reunite. For three years, Penelope beguiles the suitors, who describe her as “cunning of a sort we never hear about” (Book 2, l. 157). The long amount of time she spends on her trick shows her unwavering dedication to not succumb to the suitors. When Odysseus punishes someone, he has them “suffer in agonizing pain” (Book 20, ll.
As we gather the ram, bull, and wild boar, Telemachus and I went to say farewell to my dearest Penelope and my two four-year-olds, my bright eyed daughters, Emily and Sophia. As we walked to to our home we saw the household gathered around, along with almost all of Ithaca. I spotted my Penelope with eyes of sorrow. I walked towards her as I realized that she believed that I would face the same fate of my last journey. “My dearest Penelope,” I told her.
My lovely Penelope had come with a plan that involved her marrying whichever suitor strings the great bow. I recognized all the passages and even had to act as if I had no clue about the depths of these places. It seemed as though she had given up hope that her husband would return and I was yearning for Penelope to be with me, even though it wasn’t meant to be at that time. She removed my bow from its place of honor on the wall, uncovering her personal belongings. She then escorted us back to the feasting hall which there lined twelve axe-helmets in a row.
After a journey for more than twenty years, Odysseus finally went back home with an identity of a strayed beggar and met his wife Penelope in book 19 of the Odyssey. In light of the love philosophies mentioned by several speakers in another book, the Symposium, the love relationship between Odysseus and Penelope can be further discussed by examining the dialogue between the couple in Book 19. First and foremost, at the beginning of the chapter, before the conversation between the couple started, regardless the background of the beggar-like Odysseus, Penelope treated him as any guest would do, and let him take a seat and asked him questions things about her long lost husband, despite her guest was being look down and discriminated by
Odysseus has perished far from his country in some outlandish region. But these men will plot evils against you ….It is not right for you to wander and suffer hardships on the barren wide sea.’ ” Penelope has been faithful to Odysseus for over 20 years. This shows loyalty as she waits for him to return. Since she is Odysseus’s wife, she endures the 20 years while persevering the aggressiveness of the suitor who want her hand in marriage.
The mood of Penelope and the Suitors can be described as anarchic, which demonstrates the idea that the suitors are out of control due to the vacancy of the king, Odysseus. The scene of the painting shows Penelope being bombarded by suitors who someday hope to be her husband. While the suitors continue to beg for her attention, Penelope ignores them and remains working on her tapestry instead of resolving her issues with them. She continues to work on her tapestry as if they are not even there. Penelope’s servants also ignore the suitors, as if they were told not to make contact in any way for fear they might do something wrong.
However, for a woman in Homer’s society, who belongs to either her father and her husband, she is the head of the household for 20 years in the absence of Odysseus. She does not preserve peace in the household, but she takes actions to prevent the destruction of ranks of the household by delaying her marriage so that when Odysseus come back home, he can reclaim the kingship, or when Telemachus is old enough, he can take the throne which is rightfully his. In the position where women have no power, she uses her intellectual strength to control the suitors. Penelope promises the suitors that she will choose one of them to marry after she finishes weaving the shroud for Laertes because it is shameful if she does not do anything for her father-in-law. The suitors eagerly comply to her request without knowing what Penelope plans to do.
Seven years stuck on this island, everyday counting the days planning, planning to escape from this miserable place and continue my journey to get home and see my beautiful wife Penelope, Oh Penelope how I miss you. All my men dead, dead because of me. Calypso offering me immortality to stay with her and become her husband. Tempting offer it is
Penelope comes up with a lot of ways to say no to the suitors about having affairs with her. By these actions the reader can infer that Penelope will not have affairs with the suitors because she loves Odysseus and no one
This entails how after all that he asked of her, he lures her in with his sweet words and salutations. Just like that, he gets exactly what he needed: food, shelter and a ride home. Odysseus is in a very vulnerable position, needing help and his first instinct is to trick her into providing for him. This speech Odysseus has made may have come off as disrespectful to his marriage, however, it is all part of the plan to get home to her. Penelope on the other hand, is a silent or hidden hero.
Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, is one of the many characters in this novel who is faithful to Odysseus, which she shows by not marrying anybody else. In Book 2, Penelope tells suitors that she will marry one of them once she finishes weaving the shroud. Every day, she weaves more of it, “and every night she would unweave by torchlight.” (2.114) Because Penelope purposefully never completes the shroud, she never marries any suitors, and that shows her devotion to Odysseus. Likewise, in Book 21, Penelope comes to the storeroom in order to talk to her suitors, telling them that “whoever bends this bow and slips the string on its notch...with him will I go,” (21.71,74). Penelope tricks the suitors into thinking they have a chance of marrying her; she knows that only Odysseus can work the bow and arrow, so none of the suitors will succeed.
