The Odyssey Group

Question:

erinmicheyyxo
erinmicheyyxo
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In The Odyssey, why and how did Penelope have such a difficult life compared to the other characters?

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Posted by erinmicheyyxo on Tuesday October 27, 2009 at 12:43 PM and tagged with penelope, the odyssey.

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  1. scarletpimpernel Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Penelope's life is more difficult than many of the other Odyssey's characters' lives because of a couple of reasons. First, the Greeks believed strongly in the Fates; so part of Penelope's predetermined fate was to endure her husband's absence; there is nothing that she could have done to escape her suffering.  Secondly, much of Penelope's suffering is a consequence of her husband's flaws.  There are many times throughout the epic poem that Odysseus could have been home sooner, but his own pride or his men's foolishness prevent that.  Thus, Penelope is forced to suffer patiently along with her son Telemachus.

    The main form of Penelope's suffering lies in her agony over not knowing where or how her husband is during the twenty years he is gone.  Additionally, obnoxious, barbaric suitors take over Penelope's palace, and she must endure their rude comments and insinuations.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/book-2-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/book-23-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/odyssey/characters

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    Posted by scarletpimpernel on Tuesday October 27, 2009 at 1:37 PM