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Block 7

Odyssey Essay
3/23/12
Homers Odyssey is first and foremost the tale of the famous king of Ithaca who
took ten whole years to get home after fighting a giant war that took ten whole years as
well. However, when this book is actually read and not just vaguely referenced by people
trying to look smart, it becomes clear that there are other characters who have a place in
the story, people who have their own lives and stories and ought to be recognized just as
much as the main character. One character in particular who is too often overlooked is
none other than Odysseuss wife, Penelope. When it comes to this heart-broken queen, a
popular opinion is that shes awful for being so indecisive, letting the kingdom go to ruin
and leading the suitors on because she cant just choose. There are also claims that she is
a weak character because in some peoples opinions all she does is cry. However, this is
grossly untrue. The truth is that Penelope did exactly what she had to do in order to deal
with what was dealt to her. She used her crafty ways to ward off the men vying for her
hand, showing how she could match up to her husbands cunning. Also, she stayed
faithful to the missing man and refused to remarry, showing her faithfulness and loyalty.
She displays her determination by doing all this in a time of hardship and misery. For
these reasons Penelope is a worthy character that cannot be called weak or pitiful.
Throughout the story Odysseus enjoys showing off how wise he is. He often uses
his cleverness to get out of sticky situations that he may or may not have created himself.
Naturally as a wife of such a clever fellow, Penelopes got to have some tricks up her
sleeve as well. This is evident when she manages to trick the suitors with her loom ruse.
Of course, they found out about it later, but she was still able to buy herself some time.

Penelopes got her wits and is smart enough to know how to she can help herself. This
means that shes able to be independent and isnt a total weakling incapable of doing
anything productive. She also reveals her own wisdom when Odysseus finally comes
home. Shes well aware that there are gods intervening and that she cant trust anyone.
Penelope tests the man who tests everyone without him realizing it to confirm that its
really him. She didnt go off running to him carelessly. She remained faithful for ten
years and is not stupid enough to let herself be tricked so easily. Penelopes intelligence
shows that she is a very capable woman.
Penelope needs more than brains to show that shes actually worth something.
And that something is her extraordinary loyalty. This lady refuses all of her eligible
bachelors in favor of her lost husband. She could have gotten remarried, seeing as how
there was pretty much no chance that Odysseus was ever coming back, but she waited. If
she chose one of the suitors it wouldnt have meant that she stopped loving Odysseus, but
still she held out for all that time. It wouldve been perfectly acceptable for her to move
on and start a new life. The only thing keeping her from doing so was her enduring
loyalty. Her unwavering love and fidelity are prime reasons as to why she is a strong
character.
Most important though, is the fact that she suffered for as long as Odysseus, just
in a different way. While the king was off plundering and getting seduced, the queen has
to deal with the constant ache in her heart and the hope that gets inflated and then crushed
on a daily basis. All those weary travelers came into her house looking for food and told
her something good about her husband, which she couldnt keep from opening her
defenses. Then soon after she would realize the lie and the depression would sink in all

over again. The connection she and Odysseus have is an extreme one that clearly
transcends time. The love she has for him must have killed her each day, while the suitors
called her an evil seductress that leads men on, the kingdom slowly had its resources
gutted, and her son grew up soft and fatherless. Its no wonder she cries all the time. Her
life during those ten years was miserable. Odysseuss own mother couldnt handle it- she
took her own life. Penelope is different though, she managed well enough for her trying
situation. She cant be weak if she can take all that on and live through it. Penelope is
more than a crybaby, shes a survivor.
In conclusion, Penelope deserves to be viewed as a strong and notable character.
She shows off some self sufficiency by using her cunning. She stays totally faithful when
she had tons of opportunities and reasons not to. She lives through hardship and loss and
doesnt completely crumble in its wake. Its completely wrong to view her as a pathetic
and insignificant character in the Odyssey.

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