Essay about Importance of Penelope in Homers Odyssey

Odysseuss wife, Penelope plays a crucial role in Homers ‘The Odyssey’, with not only providing the motivation for Odysseuss return to Ithaca, but she is also the center of the plot involving the suitors and the fate of Telemakos and Ithaca itself. Therefore the objective of this essay is to analyze the importance of Penelope’s role in ‘The Odyssey’. As aforementioned Penelope is the main reason for Odysseuss return to Ithaca, as well as wanting to be united with his son Telemakos. He is driven throughout his entire journey to go back and see his wife. Odyssey even goes as far to turn down the gift immortality with the beautiful Calypso in order to continue with journey home: My lady goddess,†¦show more content†¦Yet, it is true, each day I long for home, long for the sight of home. If any god has marked me out again For shipwreck, my tough heart can undergo it What hardship have I not long since endured At sea, in battle! Let the trial come.(Homer V:225-234) From the description of a ‘lady goddess’ we can immediately see how she is thought of highly by Odyssey. However despite this high opinion of Penelope, before he left, Odysseus and Calypso . . . retired, this pair [He and Calypso], to the inner cave/to revel and rest softly, side by side.(Homer V:235-238) This was not the only time Odysseus retired, with another woman. On the island of Circe [he] entered Circes flawless bed of love(Homer X:390). However this is not done through the power of love or any other emotional or sexual drive but in order to continue his journeys with success. Despite these few instances, Odysseus remains faithful to Penelope in their twenty years apart. He does not love either Calypso or Circe as he did Penelope, and thusly chooses not to stay with either of the two. 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