Character Of Queen Penelope In Homer's Odyssey

Most women in Greek culture are expected to marry a man and remain loyal while their husbands could have several concubines. The women were not allowed to sleep with other people because the father needs to pass on his heritage to his true son, not a son who belongs to another man. One model woman and wife was Penelope, loyal to king Odysseus. While Odysseus was gone for twenty years and assumed dead, Penelope had remained loyal to him all throughout those years. Even when the suitors had attempted to court her hand in marriage, Penelope would always found many new ways to avoid marriage. Penelope’s traits make her one of the most wanted women in Greek culture. In Queen Penelope, Homer illustrates the qualities of loyalty, cleverness, and endurance

as the representation of the ideal traits in a mortal woman in the epic poem The Odyssey.
One of Queen Penelope’s most prominent traits that make her a one of the most desired women in Greek culture is cleverness.

Penelope has been clever enough to outsmart the suitors on many occasions. The suitors describe Penelope as “‘the matchless queen of cunning’” (Homer 2.95). The suitors’ reaction to Queen Penelope indicates that Penelope has been able to avoid the suitors’ attempts at courtship. Queen Penelope is also able to devise a plan that would deter any plans of marriage to another man. To give the suitors hope, Penelope tells the suitors that once she finished her shroud for Laertes, she will marry one of the suitors. Only one maid knew that “by day she [would] weave…by night…she would unravel all she’s done”(Homer 2. 97). Penelope’s brilliant schemes to keep the suitors away demonstrate how cunning Penelope really is. When Odysseus returns back to Ithaca and is finally reunited with Penelope, she is unable to believe that the Odysseus in front of her is the real Odysseus. Penelope asks Eurycleia to “move the sturdy bedstead out of [her] bridal chamber” knowing that only the real Odysseus would realize the task is impossible (Homer 23. 198). Penelope’s caution justifies her ability to understand and outsmart any situation she comes

across.
Not only is Penelope clever, but also she is able to endure many different hardships making her an ideal wife. Penelope continues to believe that Odysseus is the only man she could love. Penelope would “never forget the day [Odysseus] left” because this was the first day her suffering began (18. 289). Penelope’s ability to carry on with her life without the love of her life confirms her emotional strength as years go by. Even though Penelope is able to carry on alone, she still thinks that she needs Odysseus. Penelope believes “if [Odysseus] could return to tend [her] life” that her life would be fulfilled (18.285). Penelope is able to endure the pain and sorrow the suitors have brought to her and only allow Odysseus to fill the hole left in her heart. Despite the series of torturous events Penelope goes through, she never gives up. Penelope knows “[her] life is torment”, yet continues to hope and pray that Odysseus will return (18.287). Penelope can endure the horrible life she had to live for twenty years and walk away from her past unscathed.
Furthermore, Penelope’s most notable quality is her unwavering loyalty to her husband Odysseus making her one of the must valued wives in Greek culture. While Odysseus is away from Ithaca, Penelope must fend off the suitors alone. As Penelope’s “‘warm tears of grief come trickling down her cheeks’”, she begins to start losing faith in Odysseus’ return (14.150). Penelope’s tears demonstrate how loyal she is to Odysseus, which ultimately causes her to refuse the common belief in Odysseus’ death abroad. Penelope had not seen or heard from Odysseus for twenty years, yet she still waits for his return. Penelope remembers that every night when “‘[she] take[s] to [her] bed, [her] heart throbbing, about to break’”, Penelope would grieve for her husband Odysseus (19.583). Homer depicts Penelope’s grief for Odysseus as a true sign of devotion and loyalty from Penelope. Queen Penelope’s pain for Odysseus continues to haunt her until his return. Penelope’s grief causes her “‘anxieties swarming,’” making her believe that “‘[she] may go mad with grief’” (19.584). Every night that Penelope cried because she knew nothing about Odysseus’ whereabouts justify her devotion towards Odysseus.
At any rate, Penelope’s qualities of loyalty, cleverness, and endurance represent her as the ideal representation of a woman in Greek culture. From tricking the suitors to delay her marriage to being one of the toughest and most loyal woman in Greek culture, Queen Penelope remains an iconic and inspirational heroic woman. While Penelope was able to outsmart many of those around her, she still remained loyal to her husband Odysseus.