The story of Odysseus brings many themes from never giving up or being brave no matter what danger may come, but it seems as though the story is mostly focused on Odysseus’ journey. Obviously, the story is called the Odyssey, but the story could’ve focused more on what Penelope was feeling while Odysseus was gone, and the themes attached to her. In the painting, “Penelope,” John Roddam Spencer Stanhope uses neutral and gloomy colors and moods to show that holding onto hope is important, even if it feel as if there is nothing left to hope for, while in the poem “An Ancient Gesture,” Edna St. Vincent Millay uses bitterness with the same scenes to show that you should not mourn when there is nothing to be sad about.
John Roddam Spencer Stanhope’s gloomy painting “Penelope” demonstrates the idea of holding onto hope even if it seems like there is nothing left to hope for. On the left side of the painting, the viewer would see Penelope still unweaving her tapestry, which she has done every night since Odysseus left. She still continues to weave and unweave it even though she knows Odysseus is gone. This shows that she still has hope for her husband to return. Also visible, the viewer can see
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Penelope’s hand holding up her head. This could be because she still has the energy to lift her arm, and shows she hasn’t lost all hope and energy to continue living. Penelope’s hope seems like it would all be gone by now, but she shows signs on the little bit she has left, and pushes forward. John Roddam Spencer Stanhope was born on January 20, 1829 to an aristocratic and wealthy family who did not approve of his artistic abilities. He went to Rugby School and later attended Christ Church Oxford for college. After college, he joined the West Yorkshire military where he was a captain (Victorian Art History). He also worked at Oxford Union in the 1850s, and later moved to Florence because asthma problems in 1880 (“Artist Renewal” and “John Roddam Spencer Stanhope”). Before moving to Florence, however, he married Elizabeth King, and they lived in Cawthorne with a child, Mary. In 1967, Mary died of scarlet fever at the age of seven. Stanhope then died on August 2nd, 1908 after moving to Florence (Victorian Art History). Relating to “Penelope,” the bitter and pessimistic poem “An Ancient Gesture” by Edna St.
Vincent Millay demonstrates the theme of not mourning if there is no reason to. Millay writes, “Ulysses did this too. But only as a gesture, -a gesture which implied...that he was too moved to speak.” This shows the bitterness towards Odysseus not crying because he was sad about leaving Penelope, and was crying because he was happy to be king again. The author also adds bitterness to the line “Penelope, who really cried,” showing that Penelope mourned and was devastated and cried because she was hurt, not the way Odysseus cried because of a gesture. Millay’s poem demonstrates bitterness and pessimistic tones about mourning only at times when a person feels hurt and have somthing to mourn
about. Edna St. Vincent Millay was born in February 1892 in Rockland, Maine. She was very influenced by her mother and got interested in poetry and fine arts (Millay and Falck 159). When she was eight, her parents divorced and she lived with her mother and three sisters. Millay studied piano and theater along with speaking six languages. She graduated from Camden High School in 1909, and a few years later wrote a poem called Renascence, winning her a scholarship to Vassar College at 20 years old. Millay has also won a Pulitzer prize for her famous poem, The Ballad of the Harp Weaver at 20.After college, she moved to Greenwich and got involved in many feminist acts and protests, and wrote propaganda for these acts. She attracted many suitors, but did not want to marry because she did not want to waste her career in a life of domesticity (Biography.com). She later married Eugen Boissevain who accepted and respected her feminist views. He later died in 1945. Millay also died five years later, because of a fatal heart attack in Austerlitz, New York in 1950 (“Edna St. Vincent Millay”). It is known that many artists and poets like John Roddam Spencer Stanhope and Edna St. Vincent Millay represent themes in their work, especially themes relating to modern and real life. Stanhope uses a theme having to do with holding out on hope even in the toughest times, while Millay shows the theme of not depressing over nothing as sad as losing someone or missing them. While these themes are very different, they both are related to Penelope and Odysseus in The Odyssey and focus more about Penelope’s feelings while Odysseus is away.
... in his heart pitied his sobbing wife; but his eyes stood fixed as horn or iron. Through craft he checked his tears" (187). Homer's use of epic simile in describing the tears Penelope shed enhances the reader's understanding of her sorrow. Odysseus longs to be embraced by his wife after twenty years of roaming. However, he knows that if he would reveal his true identity, he might jeopardize his carefully plotted revenge. One can see that even Odysseus' perseverance wavers when he encounters temptation to obtain what he longs for.
“What goes around comes around”,this great saying means that kindness is key. In the Odyssey by Homer, one important theme states how hospitality and kindness are always the best policy. Temptations and Obstacles represents a glimpse of allegory in life. Friendship is also a great thing in life because it's about support through tough and good times. Always feel generous with your kindness and support like Odysseus did on his journey.
She could have moved on after a little while, but she didn’t marry any of the suitors that were trying to court her; instead she was hopeful and believed that Odysseus could come back after 20 years. In the story, while Odysseus is gone, many suitors have come to try to court his wife, Penelope. But, Penelope doesn’t want to marry any of the suitors, she wants to marry Odysseus. When Odysseus, described as a beggar, comes to his house, Penelope immediately wanted her maid to “go get that man…[because]he may have heard rumors about Odysseus,” (Homer 1282-1285). The quotation proves that Penelope is an optimist because you can infer that when new people come, the first thing Penelope does is ask them whether they have seen or known Odysseus, because she doesn’t know anything about the beggar that makes him special to ask him about Odysseus, which shows that Odysseus is in her thoughts, and that she has hope that he can come home. Penelope is an optimist because she kept hope that Odysseus would come home
Penelope is the most important female character in the epic because Odysseus ' homecoming is centered on reconnecting with her. Ten years has past and Odysseus has still not returned from the war and is seemingly dead. Many suitors desire to replace him, by taking Penelope 's hand in marriage and Odysseus ' property. While unsure of Penelope 's attitude towards these suitors, readers are constantly reminded of her faithfulness to Odysseus. Although Odysseus does not know whether Penelope remains faithful to him, he still yearns to come home. “The expectations and limitations of the male and female roles in the Odyssey are accepted and never questioned”. (Whittaker 40) Society expects women in Penelope’s position to remain devoted to their significant other even after all these years and not knowing whether or not he is alive but are more forgiving to men who commit adultery like Odysseus. This situation once again brings up the question of a double standard modeled in The
Homer’s The Odyssey, a magnificent story of lust, deceit, greed, and heroism, still fascinates scholars and casual readers alike today in the same way it fascinated its audience at the time it was written. The Odyssey, a journey of determination, patience, and virtue, tells the tail of Odysseus, the main character, on his voyage home to Ithaka after the end of the Trojan War. Odysseus goes through many unforeseen trials and tribulations, which exemplify his character. During these different happenings, Odysseus makes decisions that do not correspond to his character.
Throughout the Odyssey there are many themes that Homer uses to portray different people and events. To name a few, there are the themes of Betrayal and Revenge,Greed and Glutony, Hospitality, Role of the Gods and Wealth (the amount of money one had determined the status he held in the greek society, and this explains Odysseus's love for plunder).
book takes place in, is called to action and set in motion on his Hero
The tone in the beginning of this book is very frantic; it starts out with Eurycleia rushing through the hallways and into Penelope’s room to inform her of the good news. The old nurse tells Penelope that Odysseus is indeed back home to Ithaca. At first Penelope couldn’t believe it but when she was reassured she cry tears of joy. The tone then shifts to a calmer one, even a little harsh. When Penelope sees Odysseus in person she seems to show no emotion at all. The reason for all this is because she fears the Gods are playing a trick on her or maybe Odysseus is no longer the man he used to be. With these assumptions she keeps a distance from her husband. But then Odysseus proves himself to his wife by describing their bedstead in deep detail, with this Penelope is reassure that Odysseus has not changed after all these years. The tone then changes to a more happy and joyful one to go along with their reunion as husband and wife.
The affair between Ares and Aphrodite poses the question of whether Odysseus will return home to find Penelope with another man. The story of Klytemnestra and Agamemnon is a theme itself throughout most of the poem. Therefore its is hard to ignore it as both hold the same story with different outcomes. In addition, the level of anxiety builds through Penelope's actions and the contradicting traits of different women.
...t get close to Penelope, only her true love. This statement proves that it is in fact Odysseus and that he has returned. Penelope knows he is the only one to know how he made the room. Odysseus used his knowledge and intelligence to win back his love. No other person was ever able to move the bed except for Odysseus. He and Penelope were the only two people who knew how the bed was made. Odysseus again conquers his task through his intelligence.
Often times in life we search for a companion, someone to share our love and life with. Odysseus and Penelope's lasting relationship is an obvious representation of love in the Odyssey. Although Odysseus is gone for twenty years he never forgets his faithful wife in Ithaca. This love helps him persevere through the many hardships that he encounters on his journey home. Penelope also exemplifies this same kind of love for Odysseus. At home in Ithaca, she stays loyal to Odysseus by unraveling his shroud and delaying her marriage to the suitors that are courting her. She always keeps the hope that her love, Odysseus, will return. Odysseus and Penelope's marriage clearly illustrates the theme of love.
The epic poem called The Odyssey, which was written by the poet Homer, is one of the many classical stories from Ancient Greek culture. It tells the story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his journey back home from the war with Troy, which had occurred in Homer’s other epic Greek poem, The Illiad. Odysseus faces many trials and quests in his journey home and to take back his kingdom from the suitors, such as meeting the witch Circe, blinding a Cyclops named Polyphemus, dealing with Poseidon, and staying with the goddess Calypso. The poem has many themes that are relevant to it. One such theme is the factor of redemption. Redemption is usually a typical subject in any kind of religion, like the Greek religion and Christian religion. The story of Odysseus has an underlying message of him receiving redemption from the Greek gods. The Odyssey is a tale of redemption because it deals with Odysseus being forgiven by the gods after having to go through many trials and wrongs to rightfully claim back his wife and the throne of Ithaca.
Homer compares the crying Odysseus to a woman who weeps for her husband who died in battle. The weeping woman is described in a very dramatic scene in order to reflect the intensity of the sorrow that Odysseus is experiencing. The “woman weeps, flinging herself across the fallen body of her dear husband.” As she is “clinging to him, [she] wails,” and then “the enemies behind her strike her back and shoulders, then they carry her away to slavery and trials and misery.” The woman goes through a great deal of hardship, which explains why “her cheeks are wasted with pain.” Not only does her husband die, but the enemies strike her with their spears and take her away to suffer more. By comparing Odysseus’s crying to the woman weeping in this intense scene of misery, Homer is able to show the reader the degree of sorrow that Odysseus is feeling.
Victoria agreed with the theme of the Odyssey having to do with loving one another and being loyal too. “The Odyssey takes itself less seriously than other epics; it is a great deal more fun, but also has a great deal more heart. It is a moral poem; it teaches us about civilization and human nature, how to live together in respect and harmony, how important are the virtues of love, home and family, and ultimately how happiness is a greater goal than any amount of fame and fortune; lessons that have not lost their relevance today”(BookDrum, victoriahooper). This quote shows that the odyssey is more than just a journey and Odysseus taking an adventure and trying to make his way home; it’s about during this adventure what his loved ...
“The Odyssey” is an epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the story of his many travels and adventures. The Odyssey tells the main character’s tale of his journey home to the island of Ithaca after spending ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and his adventures when he returns home and he is reunited with his family and close friends. This literary analysis will examine the story and its characters, relationships, major events, symbols and motifs, and literary devices.