Never-Ending Loyalty In Homer's Odyssey

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Never-Ending Loyalty In The Odyssey (Part 2) by Homer, Penelope’s actions reveal that when one has loyalty to someone, nothing, not even possible death, will break the bond of love and trust between them. In the “Odysseus and Penelope” section of the epic, Penelope’s reaction to a rumor about Odysseus’s return reveals that over twenty years, she has remained loyal, and very cautious regarding the men that try to enter her life. When Odysseus returns, and attempts to persuade his loving wife that he is who he claims he is, Penelope is confused and very cautious. Because Odysseus leaves Penelope for twenty years to go to war, Penelope has learned to “...[arm] [herself]/ ...against the frauds of men,/ imposters who might come- and all those many/ whose underhanded ways bring evil on” and remain faithful to Odysseus (1398-1401). Despite all that Penelope goes though including grieving, denial, and hatred, she keeps the love between her and Odysseus alive within her. Though …show more content…

In “The Test of the Great Bow” section, when Penelope must prepare for her suitors’ contest for her heart, she retrieves his bow from the store room. When she does this, Penelope “[draws] her husband’s great bow out, and[sobs]/ and [bites] her lip and [lets] the salt tears flow” because she misses her husband and everything that belongs to him (1098-1099). These emotions expressed by Penelope reveal that over the past twenty years, her loyalty has not been shaken even though she may grieve. Her love of Odysseus is so strong that she will surpass the doubts within her to remain calm for her kingdom and for herself. The entirety of the struggles that Penelope goes through never cause her to give into the suitors, or give up on her kingdom. The loyalty, love, and trust between Odysseus and Penelope is too strong to be broken by grief, or even

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