Essay On The Character Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplified the key traits needed to be an epic hero. The poem depicts Odysseus as an extremely strong man; at one point, he even defeats the towering cyclops Polyphemus. His ingenuity in creating the trojan horse unearths his slightly latent intelligence. Along with strength and cunning, Odysseus a strong sense of selflessness. He bared a trepid ten year journey and longed for his child and wife. Unfortunately, all of Odysseus’s traits are tarnished by his infidelity, ruthless behavior, and the massacre of men. Though he was, without a doubt, heroic, his lovely wife is the true, unsung heroine of the Odyssey.

Penelope, the wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus, not only exemplified the key heroic trait of strength, but did so in a new and unique way. Though there is no indication of her possessing momentous physical vigor, she used mental tenacity to remain poised as the leader of Ithaca for a long period of time without guidance or consolation from her spouse. Furthermore, she stood steadfast in her fidelity for her husband despite the overwhelming number of suitors trying to court her. The intense courage that Penelope had should immediately put her in the same realm as heroes like Odysseus and Perseus; however, due to the unfortunate

societal belief that women are inferior to men, her fortitude was never justly recognized.

Penelope was not only mentally strong, she was also intensely brilliant. She was, in essence, Ithaca’s sole leader for ten long years. She managed to keep Ithaca safe, govern it’s people, and raise a child simultaneously. The astounding intelligence it takes for one person to accomplish all of that is much more than simply strategizing a plan to put people into a horse. Odysseus, though clever, only had to use his intelligence when absolutely necessary; Penelope had to think of complex solutions everyday. One of her most creative and crucial solutions was to unweave her knitting each night in order to avoid getting married off a suitor. When tempted by Circe, Odysseus didn’t even attempt to find a solution before committing adultery. Penelope’s intellect was the savior of Ithaca; she was a true heroine without the fatal moral flaws that Odysseus had.

At the very core of Penelope is a selfless heart. She consistently put herself in burdensome situations for the sake of others; her beloved husband went off on a journey to save Greece and she stood solid and thought of her frighten subjects instead of how forlorned she was. The acts of defiance to her suitors were not acts of self preservation, but deeds of fidelity for Odysseus. It would have been significantly easier for her to marry one of the admirers, as he would help lift the burden of governing Ithaca. Penelope was the most moral heroine of her time, she was far more ethically minded than Odysseus who cheated and killed.

Odysseus may have been the pinnacle epic hero of Greece, however, his wife was just as valiant.

Penelope more than satisfied the requirements to become an epic heroine; she was mentally robust, brighter and more clever than Odysseus himself, and genuinely altruistic. Greece’s prejudice towards women sadly shadowed her sacrifice and shorted her on the praises she deserved. Odysseus did unspeakable things on his quest to becoming an epic hero and despite this, he received centuries of unprecedented glory. Penelope matched his level of sacrifice and talent, yet did so without cheating or murder. Penelope is an unacknowledged heroine of Greek mythology; and far surpassed Odysseus in

valence.