The Odyssey 'Telemachia'

Penelope is the wife of Odysseus who is the king of Ithaca. When Odysseus is called off to the Trojan War Penelope shows great faithfulness and wit. She stays faithful to her husband and waits for him for twenty years. This shows strong internal will and love for only one man, her husband, Odysseus. During this time, many different suitors tried to court her and offered marriage proposals. She shows great wit

Antinous is an arrogant suitor of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, whose immoral actions later lead to death. For example, he

In The Odyssey, with a sudden surge of awareness, Telemakhos approaches the Ithakans with a modest speech explaining his concern with the suitors being in his home. Not only does his concern have to do with his own discontent; it also concerns his recognition of his mother’s discontent. Telemakhos knows that in order to get through to his audience, he is going to have to have the proper approach. Knowing that the Ithakans can be strong minded and not willing to compromise, Telemakhos uses rhetoric techniques to make his point. Though he knows this may be a daunting task, he superbly uses logos, pathos, and ethos to go about his mission.

In book two, when Telemachus asks Antinous why the suitors are diminishing his wealth, he gets a response that it is because his mother will not marry. Antinous tells Telemachus that Penelope fooled them [suitors] “for three years with her craft” (2.114). Because of this deception, the suitors are watching Penelope more closely because they know that she has metis nature. It is for this reason that Odysseus knows that being with Penelope not only places the suitors’ attention on him, but also puts his plan at risk. In another example, Penelope also attracts the suitors’ attention by showing her beauty.

Odysseus and Agamemnon have been gone for quite a few number of years, and suitors have swooped in to claim them as wives. In Clytemnestra’s case however, adultery was committed. She and her lover then plotted to kill Agamemnon when he returned home, suggesting that it is the evils and infidelity of women that lead to men’s downfall. In the underworld Agamemnon says, “But that woman, plotting a thing so low, defiled herself and all her sex, all women yet to come, even those who may be virtuous.” (Book XI, line 501) According to him, Clytemnestra is the reason women are looked upon and spoken of so poorly. Penelope is praised by Agamemnon for remaining so faithful to Odysseus even after 20 years, “Penelope...The very gods themselves will sing her story for the men on earth--mistress of her own heart.” (Book XXIV,line 219) Women throughout the book are talked about terribly as a group, but individuals like Penelope can stand out as Queens, remaining ever

Penelope: In the opening chapters of The Odyssey Penelope is angry, frustrated, and helpless. She misses her husband, Odysseus. She worries about the safety of her son, Telemakhos. Her house is overrun with arrogant men who are making love to her servants and eating her out of house and home, all the while saying that they are courting her. She doesn't want to marry any of them, and their rude behavior can hardly be called proper courtship. She has wealth and position; she has beauty and intelligence; most of all she has loyalty to her husband. But against this corrupt horde who gather in her courtyard shooting dice, throwing the discus, killing her husband's cattle for their feasts, and drinking his wine, she is powerless.

By all means the suitors has ate all of their food and will not leave and Penelope thinks Odysseus can only stop them. Penelope said to her maids, “There is no man like Odysseus in command to drive this curse from the house.”(17.598). This shows that she thinks that the suitors are weak and are not suitable to marry. Also Penelope was crying because of Odysseus. Penelope was sad that she has not seen Odysseus in 20 years: “Sitting up in her soft bed, returned to tears.” (20.64). This show that Penelope still has feelings for Odysseus and she misses him. Penelope had all the suitors and she never slept with any of

Loyalty is a major theme displayed in Homer’s epic, Odyssey. Homer gives the characteristic of loyalty to Telemachus, Penelope, Odysseus, and Eurycleia. There are also some characters that show disloyalty. These characters are Antinous, and a few of Odysseus’ maids. Telemachus goes on a journey to find information about his father who he has never met. Penelope makes sure she doesn’t marry a suitor until she knows for sure that Odysseus is dead. She waits twenty years for Odysseus’ return. Odysseus is always focused on one thing and that is to get home to his family. Eurycleia keeps secrets for both Telemachus and Odysseus. Antinous disrespects Odysseus, he is very ungrateful and very rude. Some of Odysseus’ maids were sleeping with the suitors, so they were punished. If someone was loyal to another person they would be rewarded and if someone was disloyal they would be punished.

When does a boy become a man? This rite of passage is explored in Robert Fagles ' translation of Homer 's epic poem, The Odyssey. Odysseus (king of Ithaca) fought in the Trojan War for ten years and after the fall of Troy he spent the next ten years trying to get home. He left behind an infant son, Telemachus, and a devoted wife, Penelope. Although they longed for Odysseus ' return, Penelope and Telemachus were the perfect hosts to wayward strangers - even as their estate became overrun with arrogant suitors - men intent on marrying Penelope and taking possession of the throne. Athena, goddess and daughter of Zeus, is instrumental in encouraging Telemachus to begin his journey to adulthood saying, "You must not cling to your boyhood any

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.

It is important to keep reading, “The Odyssey.” Even though it is 2800, years old, students still need to learn about it. It is important to continue studying “The Odyssey” because is it a moral story, the historical significance is important, and it is essential to study other culture’s mythology.

Ten years after the fall of Troy, the victorious Greek hero Odysseus has still not returned to his native land Ithaca. A band of rowdy suitors, believing Odysseus to be dead, has overrun his palace, courting his faithful—though weakening—wife Penelope, and going through his stock for food. With permission from Zeus, the goddess Athena, Odysseus' greatest immortal ally, appears in disguise and urges Odysseus' son Telemachus to seek news of his father at Pylos and Sparta. However, the suitors, led by Antinous, plan to ambush him upon return.

Penelope and the maids have contradicting personalities, which is one of the highlights of the epic poem. Penelope’s nature is that she is strong, independent, and does not give in to their constant woo, whereas the maids bring dishonor to the royal family by prejudicing Odysseus in his beggar outfit, and sleeping with the suitors. Penelope is originally depicted as weak and frail, however, this is a ploy for her primary intentions. The suitors had approached Penelope, after years of Odysseus being away at war, and finding his way back home. Eventually, they decided that one should secure the king’s throne of Ithaca, and become Penelope’s husband. Her actions are shown as cunning and manipulative, “‘There she was all day long, working away at the great web; but at night she used to unravel it by

Along with the suitors, Penelope also faces possible dangers from her own son.  Even though Telemachos is not in support of sending Penelope back to her father, he does not fail to underestimate and otherwise disregard her.  Following with the typical Greek mindset, Telemachos views women as inherently inferior to men.  This view includes how he sees his mother.  He automatically assumes that she cannot run a

The Odyssey was about Odysseus and his men and how they were going back home. They were coming back from the Trojan War. In the beginning Odysseus and his men were trying to find their way back home. In the middle of the book they had to go to the underworld to get directions to get back home. In the end of the book Odysseus is back home with Penelope and his son.