The Roles Of Penelope In Homer's The Odyssey

In “The Odyssey” there are many influential women, all of whom help Odysseus throughout his journey home. Three of the most influential women are Athena, Circe, and his wife Penelope. Each of these women has large roles in Odysseus’ journey, but only one holds the most power over Odysseus. For instance, Athena, the Goddess of wisdom, skills, and warfare may hold a significant amount of power over Odysseus, but not the most.

After reading The Odyssey, one may infer that Penelope is portrayed as the ideal woman and wife according to ancient Greek culture through her characteristic of faithfulness. One example of Penelope’s faithfulness in The Odyssey is her waiting for Odysseus’ return after 20 years of being gone. As Penelope is talking to Odysseus, who is disguised as a beggar, she says, “If [Odysseus] returned, if he were here to care for me, I might be happily renowned” (Homer 1310-1311). As Penelope explains to the beggar how much she misses Odysseus, she is unaware that Odysseus is the beggar. She pours out how despite the numerous suitors contending for her hand, her heart is still with Odysseus.

Odysseus’s licentiousness is clear to see throughout this chapter. Instead of remaining levelheaded, he indulges in his desire for violence. Penelope, on the other hand, while being tormented by the suitors, remains calm and does not let her anger get the best of her. This is a great representation of Penelope’s temperance, especially when compared to Odysseus. In addition to her temperance, Penelope also exhibits love for Odysseus.

            Despite this high opinion of Penelope, before he left, Odysseus and Kalypso " . . . retired, this pair [He and Kalypso], to the inner cave/to revel and rest softly, side by side."(Homer V:235-238)  This was not the only time Odysseus "retired", with another woman.  On the island of Kirke "[he] entered Kirke's flawless bed of love"(Homer X:390).  Despite these few instances, Odysseus remained faithful to Penelope in their twenty years apart.  He never loved either Kalypso or Kirke as he did Penelope, and thusly chose not to stay with either of the two.  Although the principle might get lost in the tale, Penelope played the part of the goal for Odysseus to obtain, or re-obtain by the end of the Odyssey.

All three characters possess qualities that are admired by heroes. Odysseus, the protagonist of “The Odyssey”, is known for his intelligence, cunning, and bravery. He displays resourcefulness and quick thinking throughout his journey, overcoming numerous challenges. Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, demonstrates her heroism through her unwavering loyalty, strength, and resilience. Despite the suitors' advances, she remains faithful to her husband and maintains her integrity.

Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey translated by Allen Mandelbaum, Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, stayed loyal to her husband who had been out at sea for twenty years. She had been surrounded by suitors during all that time he was gone. Penelope was able to put off the suitors for four years until one of the servants found out and told the suitors. She now had to try find other ways to keep the suitors away, but as time went it became harder. Penelope had to deal with every little thing that the suitors are doing and she still was loyal to her husband.

This juxtaposition shows the effects of faithfulness to a husband, and displays how fidelity to the husband can bring great benefits and unity to the family, while infidelity will bring many negative consequences. The juxtaposition between Penelope and Helen is used to teach Greek woman reasons on why to be loyal to the husband. Penelope lastly serves a role in inspiring Odysseus as well, in addition to her role of portraying the ideal Greek woman. Odysseus uses Penelope as a reason to continue repeatedly throughout the journey and in times of hardship, such as when leaving Calypso, when he mentions “My quiet Penelope-how well I know-/would seem a shade before your majesty,/ death and old age being unknown to you,/while

Women play an influential role in The Odyssey. Women appear throughout the story, as goddesses, wives, princesses, or servants. The nymph Calypso enslaves Odysseus for many years. Odysseus desires to reach home and his wife Penelope. It is the goddess Athena who sets the action of The Odyssey rolling; she also guides and orchestrates everything to Odysseus’ good. Women in The Odyssey are divided into two classes: seductresses and helpmeets. By doing so, Homer demonstrates that women have the power to either hinder of help men. Only one woman is able to successfully combine elements of both classes: Penelope. She serves as a role model of virtue and craftiness. All the other women are compared to and contrasted with Penelope.

His description of women in the story has complexity with their character development. To clarify, while some women are characterized as seductive, clever, and empowering, other women give off intelligence, strength, and power. Among the roles of these women, one of the most powerful women in the story is Athena, who guides and supports Odysseus throughout his journey, instructing him to return home and once again be happy with his son and wife. Another example of a powerful woman is Penelope, because of her loyalty, strength, and patience. Despite the challenges

After Odysseus becomes enraged when Penelope asks the maid to make his bed outside, she realizes that he knows the secret that only Odysseus and her share. She embraces him and praises his homecoming. Once again, Penelope is wise and patient in her decision-making. The suitors pursued her, overtook her home and aggressively pushed her to remarry as she was supposed to. If Penelope would have given in, The Odyssey would not have ended with Odysseus returning to a loyal home. Through cunning, independence and loyalty, Penelope is able to create a positive image as a woman. Chaucer’s Wife of Bath has similar independence and cunning, but she makes her name as a domineering lady that chooses who she wants, and when she wants them.

Loyalty: Loyalty is most apparent in Penelope's resisting of the suitors, but it is a trait essential to all the characters in Odysseus' family. For twenty years Odysseus never stops wanting to return home. Telemakhos will not send his mother back to her father and force her to choose another husband. Instead, he sets out to find news of his father. The servants Eurykleia and Eumaios are also important exemplars of loyalty. Athena's devotion to Odysseus is another.

While traditional readers of Homer’s, The Odyssey, view Odysseus as a hero, they often reduce Penelope to Odysseus’s helpless wife, but Penelope is more than just a damsel-in-distress. Penelope proves to be Odysseus’s heroic equal, as through her resilient, witty and strategic actions she ensures Odysseus fighting advantages over the suitors.

From the description of a ‘lady goddess’ we can immediately see how she is thought of highly by Odyssey.  However despite this high opinion of Penelope, before he left, Odysseus and Calypso " . . . retired, this pair [He and Calypso], to the inner cave/to revel and rest softly, side by side."(Homer V:235-238)  This was not the only time Odysseus "retired", with another woman.  On the island of Circe "[he] entered Circe's flawless bed of love"(Homer X:390).  However this is not done through the power of love or any other emotional or sexual drive but in order to continue his journeys with success.

One person who shows the most loyalty in the Odyssey is Odysseus’ wife, Penelope. “She was able to prove her loyalty to her husband through her faithfulness and cunning plans to fend off the suitors”(LaRoche Lindsay,1).

With Penelope, a faithful and loving wife to Odysseus, Homer reveals to us how the Greeks believed wives should act. She was loyal to Odysseus the entire time he was away on his journey, and even when it appeared as if he had passed on she still had faith that he would return. She resisted the suitors on the sole basis that she loved Odysseus and could not see herself with another man when he could still be alive. She was smart, and cunning. She shows us this in Book II when we