Penelope

Introduction

Penelope is a character in the Odyssey, one of the two great epic poems attributed to Homer. In the Odyssey, Penelope was the symbol of the soul; she was the wife of the main character, the king of Ithaca, Odysseus. She waited twenty years for her husband's return from the Trojan War. For this reason she is considered a symbol of marital fidelity until today. According to Homer Penelope is considered as the most beautiful person on earth (Richard, 78). In this paper we are going to analyze the character of Penelope from homers odyssey by quoting few lines from the poem which shall be describing her character more efficiently. In addition we shall be analysing her smarts and trickiness to redeem women from being seen as untrustworthy.

Quote

Penelope, to Odysseus, in his guise as the stranger, "Stranger, my beauty went forfeit to the Gods the day my Husband sailed with the Argives, for Troy. Should he return, to cherish me, my fortune and favour would improve. As it is, Heaven afflicts me too sorely. All the island Chiefs court me uninvited, and ravage the Estate: While I neglect my guests, the suppliants that come, and even Heralds on a mission, to eat my heart out for Odysseus."

Significant Words

Guise: it means the way of something or someone's to appear in front of other people. It is usually an outward appearance, can be false appearance inform of dress, or grab etc. n above quote Penelope appears to be a stranger to Odysseus (Marilyn, 14).

Forfeit: forfeit mean being deprived losing of privilege, property, or right as a penalty to wrong action.This can also be defined as a penalty or fine for breach of rules of game or any other wrong doing. In the above court Penelope says that her beauty went forfeit on the day when his husband went for troy.

Argives: it is the capital of Argolis in Greece; this word is basically used equivalent to Greek or Grecian. In above quote Penelope notifies that her husband went with Arviges.

Afflicts: it refers to distress, cause of suffering or unhappiness. In above quote she takes swear and say that heaven distress her.

Homer built the character of Penelope in the epic genre, with a clear exemplary role: primarily loyalty, dedication, beauty, concern for husband's interests. The intention of author was to contrast the figure of a female heroine to male hero, Odysseus. The Odyssey woman translates a concept of the structure itself patriarchal society in the context of pre-classical Aegean, a concept borrowed from folklore old.

The role of Penelope plays an important role in the odyssey of Homer. She was the main motivation or we can say only motivation for Odysseus return to Ithaca. However she was also the main part or the plot including the fate of telemakos, suitors, and Ithaca itself. She had a wonderful character full of love and devotion (Del, 45). She loved her husband so much that she waited for him to return to Ithaca from wine dark sea for almost ...