What Is The Significance Of Penelope In The Odyssey

Penelope is possibly the most interesting character in the Odyssey. Cunning, forgiving, and kind, she rules the kingdom and raises her son without her true love. The poem, “Penelope” by James Harrison represents Penelope holding her pent up anger inside, and her internal debate over the suitors.

Harrison uses the literary device, caesura, to illustrate Penelope’s feelings. The first example of this is, “Oh, I have no illusions as to what he’s been up to all these years -- a sea nymph here, a minor goddess there.” The resentment is so thick in this sentence that you can almost see Penelope rolling her eyes. The dash gives this sentence what it needed to punch the fact that Penelope is not some dumb damsel. She knows what’s going on, even if

she pretends not to. A little later, in the middle of another line, it starts with “Not that I’m saying he goes out of his way to be led astray.” In this section, we see Penelope trying to comfort herself, telling herself that it will all be okay. Lastly, Penelope throws the fatal blow with, “It happens quite naturally, I’m sure. But it happens.” This, in my mid, is the best example of caesura in the book. It gives Penelope’s words extra meaning when they are separated like that. It shows that she misses Odysseus, and she wants him to be home, but home may not be the same when he returns.
The poet also uses Penelope’s thoughts about the suitors to reflect it back unto Odysseus. As Penelope thinks of all the women Odysseus has surely loved on his journey, it reminds her of all the men lusting for her. She even thinks “Why so squeamish?” wondering about marrying one of the men. She realizes that Odysseus has been gone for many years, and he may not be coming home. Penelope also tries to convince herself that Odysseus is much better than these men, saying, “They’re so callow”. As she pictures how they could never replace her true love. As Penelope contemplates the idea of marrying suitor, she is arguing with herself. Even so, she pulls out the final card - Odysseus’ return. As Penelope envisions Odysseus’ homecoming, she states “I’m not about to have him forgiving me my only lapse.” She knows that when Odysseus arrives home, all of her struggles will be worth it, just to have him again.
It’s easy to think that Penelope has only loved Odysseus, and that the thought of marrying a suitor never crossed her mind.

But is that realistic? With over 100 constantly eating her food and disrespecting her rule, who wouldn’t want a real father to kick them out and teach her son to be a man? In the poem we get to see this new side of Penelope, While the book shows us a much more two dimensional character. In the book, all we see is Odysseus doting wife. She is cunning, don’t get me wrong, but we can only guess at Penelope’s true feelings about her situation. Both her smarts and love for Odysseus are shown through Penelope’s weaving. Penelope had told the suitors that once she was finished making a burial shroud for Odysseus’s father, she would choose one to marry. But, every night, she would unravel ehat she had done. Antinous speaks of it, saying “She finished [the weaving] off. Against her will, We forced her.” (1.122) This depicts Penelope as a damsel in distress, being pushed Into things by the suitors - quite a contrast from the poem. Later in the story, Penelops speaks of how much she misses Odysseus; “Odysseus- if he could return to tend my life the renown inad would only grow in glory. Now my life is torment.” (18. 285-287) In this section, Penelope sits, just feeling sorry for herself, while in the poem she at least thinks about how she could fix it. Lastly, “Penelope demurred… ‘wed the man you like’ … staunch Odysseus glowed with joy to hear all this- his wife’s trickery” (18.317-3.19) Odysseus doesn’t think for a second that his wife would actually love one of the suitors - he knows immediately that she is tricking

them.
The poem,” Penelope” by James Harrison illustrates Penelope’s anger and frustration in ways that aren’t explored in the book. While Penelope’s cunning is shown in both, her feelings about Telemachus and independence are much more prevalent in Harrison’s poem, through caesura and her real opinions of the suitors. This gives us a new perspective, ad helps you understand The Odyssey better.