Odysseus Penelope Analysis

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Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, can be compared in a various ways to the other characters in Homer’s poem The Odyssey. In many ways, Penelope symbolizes the ideal woman, in that she follows to the values and ideals of her society. These ideals include faithfulness, devotion, and determination; pride your home and family, and warmth to strangers. Their dedication to each other, their power to stay together through times of happiness and times of sad, and their will to survive the test of time. The majority of the other characters in the poem lack one or more of these characteristics. Although Odysseus proves to be a character of strong will and determination throughout the Trojan War and the trails he tolerated at sea, he proves weakness and uncertain resolve when he is faced with sexual temptation. For example, when tempted by Circe to mingle and make love, Odysseus submits to her appeals and enter her perfect bed of love thus committing adultery against the wife Penelope (X.380-390) when Circe tells Odysseus to remain with her, he could not help accepting, and he remaining with her and continue being disloyal to his wife for many years. It wasn’t until after hearing the pleas of his men that Odysseus decides to head back out to sea, later in the poem he has another adulterous affair with Nymph Kalypso, which lasted for many years. But he also demonstrates some and his love for his wife, when calypso tried bribing him to stay with the promise of immortality and great sex, he denied the opportunity to instead go home to his true love. And when he finally made it home he did admit to his wife all is infidelities to. Penelope on the other hand demonstrates wonderful will power and resourcefulness in that she remains faithful to ... ... middle of paper ... ...wife. The love she has for him helps him throughout all the hardship and moments of weakness he encounters on his journey home. When he finally made it home to his queen is was nothing but continuous sobbing because of the love both of them was feeling and enjoyment of being in each other arms again (xx111.231-240). Penelope intelligence, and her simple but elegant way of presenting herself, and apparent inherent sense of modesty make her ancient Greece ideal woman, she was unwavering in her loyalty and love to her husband and the in which she treat everyone. Throughout the poem the Odyssey we are shown that all challenge’s and obstacles can be overcome through love and togetherness, and willingness of a family, something that is completely lacking in today society where everyone is only out to make them self’s better and not the family structures as in the poem.

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