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Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, can be contrasted in various ways to the other characters in Homers poem The Odyssey. In many ways, Penelope embodies the ideal woman, in that she conforms to the values and ideals of her society. These ideals include faithfulness, loyalty, willpower, long-suffering, pride in ones home and family, and hospitality to strangers. The majority of the other characters in the poem lack one or more of these attributes. Although Odysseus proves to be a character of strong will and determination throughout the Trojan War and the trials he endured at sea, he demonstrates weakness and wavering resolve when he is faced with sexual temptation. For example, when enticed by Circe to mingle and make love, Odysseus submits to her appeals and enters her flawless bed of love, thus committing adultery against his wife Penelope (Book X).
When Circe tells Odysseus to remain with her, he could not help consenting. Odysseus remains with Circe and continues to be unfaithful to Penelope for the duration of a year. It is only after hearing the appeals of his men that Odysseus decides to head back out to sea. Later, Odysseus has another adulterous relationship with the nymph Kalypso. This relationship endures for seven years. Throughout his stay on Kalypso's island, Odysseus weeps for Penelope, yet he continues to lie with Kalypso every night (Book V).
In contrast, Penelope exemplifies tremendous will power and resourcefulness in that she remains faithful to Odysseus throughout his exile. While awaiting her husbands return, Penelope endures perpetual insolence and sexual advances from the suitors who invade her household. Penelope rebuffs the advances of the suitors and remains a devoted and faithful wife. Deferring the suitors is no easy task; therefore Penelope is very resourceful and goes to great lengths to postpone marriage to one of them. She puts the men off for three years by promising to marry one of them upon her completion of a burial shroud for her father-in-law, Laertes. In order to delay the completion of the shroud, she unravels her work every night (Book II, p. 223).
Penelope also privately sends promises to each of the suitors in order to divide them so that they will not unanimously demand a decision from her as to which one she wishes to marry (Book II, p. 222). In many ways, Penelope and Agamemnon's wife Klytaimnestra represent mirror images of each other. At the beginning of the Trojan War, the two women have many things in common. Both Klytaimnestra and Penelope are left solitary and forlorn when their husbands leave Ithaca to combat the Trojans. Both women endure sexual temptation during the absence of their husbands. Klytaimnestra is charmed by Aigisthos, and the suitors charm Penelope.
In the presence of this temptation, Klytaimnestra exhibits weakness and wavering resolve. At first, aided by a minstrel whom Agamemnon instructs to attend to her during his absence, Klytaimnestra rebuffs the enticement of the suitor. However, when Aigisthos deceives the minstrel into going to a deserted island, Klytaimnestra is left with nothing to rely on except her own willpower. Her volition quickly falters, and, yielding to the sexual temptation placed upon her by Aigisthos, she is unfaithful to her husband. Klytaimnestra further exemplifies her disloyalty by plotting to murder Agamemnon upon his return home.
In contrast, Penelope is intensely loyal and faithful to Odysseus despite his absence. She anxiously awaits his homecoming and incessantly dwells on his memory. For example, when the minstrel sings of the homecoming of the Akhaians, Penelope, who is reminded of Odysseus, urges the musician to cease his song. She tells him that the song wears my heart away. It opens in me again the wound of longing for one incomparable, ever in my mind (Book I). Also, when Penelope retrieves Odysseus bow from the storeroom, the weapon reminds her of her husband, and she sobs intensely (Book XXI).
Another character who is lacking in the ideals of Odysseus society is Helen. Helen falls in love with Paris and goes with him to Troy, thus deserting her husband Menelaos. When Paris is killed in battle, Helen, rather than returning home to her family, enters into another adulterous relationship with Deiphobos. When Helen finally does return to Menelaos, she is not meritorious enough to take responsibility for her wanton behavior. Instead, she blames her unfaithfulness on Aphrodite, stating that she drew me away from my dear fatherland, forsaking all-child, bridal bed, and husband (Book IV). Helen also exhibits disloyalty towards her own people, the Akhaians.
Menelaos recounts to Telemakhos of a time during the Trojan War when Helen deliberately tries to betray the Akhaians (Book IV). Odysseus and his men are hiding inside the Trojan horse, awaiting the slaughter of the Trojans. Helen, in an attempt to divulge the presence of the Greeks, walks up to the horse and begins to call out to the men in a voice disguised as that of the mens wives. Helen urges the men to call out to her, thus exposing themselves to the Trojans and jeopardizing their lives. Unlike Helen, Penelope takes pride in her home and family.
As a single mother, she single-handedly nurtures and brings up her son Telemakhos. She instills into him the morals and ideology of his father Odysseus, including a strong allegiance to his country. She also remains in her home and strives to preserve her sons patrimony. Without Penelope's enduring faithfulness, Odysseus would not have had a home to return to. Many of the maids who attend Penelope also demonstrate a lack of loyalty and pride in their household.
Rather than being faithful to their master while he is away, these women dishonor Odysseus household by having sex with the suitors (Book XXIII). Another value that is significant to the Greek society is hospitality. In Odysseus time, hospitality is a symbol of civilization. One who treats his or her guests benevolently is considered to be a civilized person, whereas one who treats his of her guests poorly is considered to be a barbarian.
Polyphemus, the cyclopes, proves himself to be very uncouth (Book IX). He traps Odysseus and his men in his cave by rolling an enormous boulder across the entrance. He then scorns the gods and denies Odysseus his Zeus-given rights as a guest. The cyclopes then proceeds to eat some of Odysseus men. The suitors of Penelope also demonstrate a lack of hospitality towards a guest. When Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, enters the hall as a guest of Telemakhos, Altinoos hurls a footstool at Odysseus (Book XVII).
Also, Eurymachus insults Odysseus by insinuating that he would rather roam the country begging than to put in an honest days work (Book XVIII). Melantho, one of Penelope's maids, also insults Odysseus while he is waiting to see Penelope (Book XIX). When Melantho spots him in the hall, she rudely comments, Ah, stranger, are you still here, so creepy, late at night hanging about, looking the women over? You old goat, go outside, cuddle your supper; get out, or a torch may kindle you behind! Unlike the suitors and other discourteous characters, Penelope bestows cordiality and benevolence upon her guests. Upon hearing Altinoos strike Odysseus with the footstool, she becomes enraged.
She pities the beggar and tells her housekeeper, Here is a poor man come, a wanderer, driven by want to beg his bread, and everyone in hall gave bits, to cram his bag-only Altinoos threw a stool, and banged his shoulder! (Book XVII) Earlier in the poem, Penelope reproaches Altinoos by asking him Have you no pity toward men dependent on another's mercy? (Book XVI) Penelope also rebukes Telemakhos for allowing Odysseus to be so mistreated. She asks him, How could it happen in our hall that you permit the stranger to be so abused? Here, in our house, a guest, can any man suffer indignity, come by such injury? What can this be for you but public shame? (Book XVIII) Penelope demonstrates hospitality towards her guest Odysseus by inviting him up to her room to greet him. Before his arrival, she instructs the housekeeper to spread a sheepskin over a bench to put my guest at ease (Book XIX). Penelope also instructs her maids to bathe Odysseus and to make a bed for him.
She then invites her guest to take a place beside Telemakhos in the feasting hall. Penelope represents an epitome of the Greek ideal. Despite many trials and hardships, she remains a faithful wife and mother, as well as a gracious and receptive host to her company. Few of the other characters in the poem possess these attributes of the Greek civilization.
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