Archetypes In The Odyssey

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John Ross Bradford Mrs. Brzykcy Honors Archetypes in Literature Period 8 25 March 2014 No Match for Her Wits Throughout The Odyssey, almost every event involving the suitors revolves around winning Penelopeia’s hand in marriage, yet they give her no voice in the matter. Because of the suitors’ lack of courtesy and respect towards Penelopeia, she seems to take on an overall passive role in the story. Her specific character had no direct say in any occurrences, even if she was the “prize” to be won in the end. However, in order to get her way, Penelope attempts to deceive every suitor on several occasions, making them think that they had control over what was going on. And although Penelopeia seems to be a helpless victim, she is quite the opposite. Taking control of every situation that she can, Penelopeia hopes that Odysseus will return to finally put an end to all of this chaos. First off, Penelopeia did not want the 117 suitors to stay in her home and become dependant upon her family’s wealth and resources. However, her will was not taken into consideration when the suitors decided to do so. And although Penelopeia was a good host, the suitors never showed her any respect. Then, when the suitors set a deadline for Penelopeia to choose a suitor to marry by, she almost immediately found a way around it. When the suitors told Penelopeia that she would have to choose a husband, “she set up a great warp on her loom in her mansion, and wove away [...] and told [the suitors], ‘[...] wait until I finish this cloth [...] it is a shroud for my lord Laertes, against the time when all-destroying fate shall carry him away in dolorous death’” (Homer 18). The clever part about her suggestion was that every night, Penelopeia would undo t... ... middle of paper ... ...marriage bed cannot be moved, for it is part of their home. When she commands the nurse to do so, Odysseus nearly goes completely mad, yelling at Penelopeia for even entertaining such a foolish idea, which shows Penelopeia that Odysseus truly is the man that she married many years ago. Because of her second test, Penelopeia is able to see that Odysseus still remembers the secret of their bed. Penelopeia is also able to see that Odysseus has remained the same as he was before he left Ithaca. There are many points throughout The Odyssey in which one might believe that Penelopeia is not strong or smart enough to handle, but she finds a way around each occurrence and comes out on top. As the intelligent and faithful companion of one of the greatest heroes to ever live, Penelopeia humbly but surely remains on top of every situation, without letting anyone know about it.

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