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Odyssey The major theme of Odyssey is loyalty. It teaches that those who have patience will be rewarded. Penelope had many problems when Odysseus had left. Women did not have many rights and were not very important. Women needed men to provide money and for protection. Women had it very hard living without a man.
Most women during this time would have chosen one of the suitors that tried to win her favors. This temptation to choose a new man in her life went on for over a decade. Penelope's loyalty played a major part in Odyssey. Penelope stayed loyal to Odysseus during the 20 years he was gone, which certainly was not easy.
She never gave herself up to any suitors in the decade Odysseus was gone. Penelope waited all that time for Odysseus not even knowing if he was going to come back or if he was even alive. If she had decided to marry one of the suitors when Odysseus was gone, it would have led to a disaster. Her patience paid off in the end as Odysseus came back. Odyssey teaches us many morals. Perhaps this is why the story of Odyssey is still well known today.
If we try to have similar morals and values to which Penelope shows in the story, we will all have better morals and live a much better life. The Odyssey has much to teach us about the feminine psyche. The feminine psyche is the way that the female mind and soul react to and process situations. Females are generally faithful, giving, and respectful to their mates.
We have an insight into the feminine psyche in several things that Penelope does. The weaving and unweaving of the shroud and the test of the bed are two examples of the way Penelope thinks. She does what is thought to be her duty to her husband to resist the suitors and remain faithful and loyal to her husband. Homer reveals the feminine psyche in Penelope, a loving and faithful wife to Odysseus. She was loyal to Odysseus the entire time he was away on his journey, and even when it appeared that he would not return she still had faith that he would. Penelope resisted the advances of the suitors because she loved Odysseus and could not see herself with another when he could still be alive.
Many suitors invade the palace of Odysseus and they pillage the assets of him. Penelope does not give up waiting for her husband and she detains the suitors by deceiving. After Odysseus returned his home this sad story is ended with death of the suitors. Penelope was smart and cunning when it came to resisting the suitors. She shows us an insight to the feminine psyche when we learn she has avoided having to choose a new husband by telling the suitors she would choose a one of them once she finished the shroud she was weaving for Odysseus father. Penelope worked all day on the shroud and would unravel the weaving by candlelight at night while the suitors slept.
Penelope is one of the most loyal and faithful characters that I have ever knew. The character of Penelope in Homers Odyssey has served as an archetype of femininity proper. Her physical attributes are the most demanding standards, and she is also given many intellectual attributes affecting lots of people. These properties give her freedom and power which seem unusual in her times for a woman. I pursue the idea that while Penelope faces oppression at the hands of her son, her suitors, and her social obligation to remarry, she remains free and powerful. Both her freedom and power are manifest in her cunning and deliberate ways.
After return to Ithaca, Odysseus went to the swineherd Eumaeus, and revealed his identity to him and Telemachus. Together, they went to the palace. Odysseus was disguised as a beggar, and was beaten and ridiculed by the suitors. Only his old dog Argus recognized him, wagged its tail and died. When Penelope looked after the beggar she asked him if he had heard anything of her husband. Odysseus told her that he would be back very soon, but Penelope did not dare to believe him.
Cleaning him, Odysseus old nurse recognized a scar on his body, but he told her keep silence. It is possible that later the nurse had shared this information with Penelope, but there is no evidence. After Penelope put the suitors through a final test, she showed them Odysseus bow and said she would marry whoever could shoot an arrow through the holes of twelve axes in a row. One after one they tried, but they could not even pull the string. The beggar Odysseus asked to have a go, and under ridicule and laughter he shot a perfect arrow through the twelve axes, then turned the bow against the suitors and started killing them with the help of Telemachus. After this the treacherous maids were punished, and finally, the palace was clear.
I think that during this moment Penelope already had recognized her husband, because this bow was Odysseus and only he could pull the string. Penelope knew about it, because why would she set up such a test. It was not spontaneous decision to set up the test, because if she was waiting for her husband for so many years, why would she (even though there were some factors) put up the test. I think that she already had a feeling that Odyssey has returned. At this point there were no suitors and she could have little doubt of whether accept this man as her husband or not. However, Penelope was smart and loyal woman and even if she was 99 percent sure that this beggar is actually Odysseus, she still would decide to have more evidence.
Penelope has doubts that it could actually be him, If really he is Odysseus, truly home, beyond all doubt we two shall know each other better than you or anyone. There are secret signs we know, we two. (318) The problem was resolved when Odysseus told Penelope that their bed was made of olive tree, a secret only he would know, she finally believed. In my opinion, there is evidence that Penelope recognized Odysseus after he shot a perfect arrow through the twelve axes. She knew exactly that her husband was the only one who could do it, even after many years. Penelope looked exited and surprised at the same time. She was overfilled with emotions and I think that is the most proving evidence that she recognized Odysseus.
This statement reveals her loyalty to Odysseus and the special bond they share. She is telling the reader that if this is actually her wedded lord that he will know things that no other man will know. When the time comes for Odysseus to rest, Penelope orders Eurykleia to make his bed outside the bedchamber. At this moment Odysseus goes into a rage over the moving of this bed that he carved from an olive tree, saying, No builder had the skill for that, unless a god came down to turn the trick. (319) Odysseus is telling Penelope that no man could move the bed that he built for his bride. With eyes brimming tears she ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck, and kissed him. (320) At this moment Penelope has realized that this is her dear Odysseus. She has spent these last decades remaining faithful to her husband and he has finally returned.
This is an example of her psyche. The suitors pursued her, they overtook her home, and her housemaids discovered her unraveling the shroud. She could have easily given up and married a suitor to end the pain, but she did not and her king finally returned. Penelope is the picture of the faithful, loyal and respectful wife. The Odyssey is an epic that has much to teach its readers about the feminine psyche. Penelope is one woman in the Odyssey that shows the reader into the mind of females.
The feminine psyche is a complex idea that has changed drastically throughout time. During the time of the Odyssey the females were loyal, faithful, and ultimately respectful of their mates. Penelope's actions are a prime example of the feminine ideas in Odysseus time. Fate is seen as an important concept throughout the book, and the concept of destiny was laid heavily in the ancient Greek culture. In The Odyssey, there are some characters that consulted with prophets and knew their fate, but for the most part, people did not know what was going to happen to them. Even though it was believed that their lives were already spun out in front of them, they worked to get where they were supposed to get to.
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Research essay sample on Penelope Was Smart Waiting For Her Husband Odysseus
