how was penelope's treatment to odysseus different from the suitors

Penelope is very loyal to Odysseus

right to the were end of the odyssey as she has lots of suitors and does not pick any or give in to the temptation that is around with the increasing advances of the suitors, they are continually throwing themselves at her in an attempt to make her their bride.

Full Answer

What is the role of the suitors of Penelope in the Odyssey?

In Greek mythology, the suitors of Penelope (also known as the Proci) are one of the main subjects of Homer's Odyssey. Contents. Role in the Odyssey. In The Odyssey, Homer describes Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War. Prior to the Trojan War, Odysseus was King of Ithaca, a Greek island known for its isolation and rugged terrain.

How does Penelope delay her courtship of Odysseus?

Rather than simply rejecting the suitors, Penelope devises a plan to delay their courtship. She claims she will choose a husband after she has finished weaving a funeral shroud to present to Odysseus' father, Laertes.

How do the suitors learn of Penelope's delaying tactic?

The suitors learn of Penelope's delaying tactic when one of her maidservants, Melantho, reveals it to her lover Eurymachus. Upon finding out, the suitors demand that she choose a husband from among them. The suitors behave badly in Odysseus' home, drinking his wine and eating his food.

How does Penelope respond to the suitors of Athena?

Athena often comes to her in dreams to reassure or comfort her, for Penelope would otherwise spend her nights weeping in her bed. Though her love for Odysseus is unyielding, she responds to the suitors with some indecision. She never refuses to remarry outright.

How was Penelope treated in the Odyssey?

Some critics dismiss Penelope's role in The Odyssey as a paragon of marital fidelity — a serious and industrious character, a devoted wife and mother, but one who lacks the fascination and zest for life that some of Homer's immortal women display.

How are Odysseus and Penelope different?

Odysseus is mentally and physically strong, working harder than most. He is meant to illustrate the ideal attributes of all Greek men. Penelope, contrastingly, is meant to represent the weaker aspects of greek society: the women. She allows her emotions to taint her reactions to different situations.

How do the suitors treat Penelope?

There he found that 108 young men, the suitors, had invaded his house. Their purpose was to put pressure on Odysseus' wife, Penelope, to marry one of them. The suitors are described negatively as being rude, slovenly, disrespectful and ungrateful.

What is Penelope's attitude toward the suitors?

Penelope's attitude toward the suitors is cold, she doesn't care for them but she's lost hope in Odysseus returning home so she had the contest so she didn't choose and betray Odysseus. Identify the trait that Odysseus values so highly in his two servants.

How does Penelope struggle in the Odyssey?

Throughout The Odyssey, Penelope has to cope with 108 suitors in her palace harassing her for her hand in marriage and taking advantage of the land. From beginning to end, Penelope remains faithful to her king and never stops believing…show more content…

What qualities do Odysseus and Penelope both share give specific examples?

Thus, both Penelope and Odysseus share these same qualities of intelligence, cunning, and deception. Additionally, they both display great endurance and willpower, with Odysseus having to endure the long journey back from Troy, while Penelope must endure the presence of the suitors.

How do the suitors treat Odysseus?

The suitors give him food with great reluctance, and Antinous goes out of his way to insult him. When Odysseus answers insult with insult, Antinous gives him a blow with a stool that disgusts even the other suitors.

What is Penelope's challenge to the suitors?

While they waited, the suitors made themselves the king's uninvited guests, eating him out of house and home. But then Penelope's ruse was discovered and the suitors demanded a decision. She came up with another ruse, an archery contest. She would marry whoever could string Odysseus's bow and fire it through 12 axes.

Did Penelope sleep with the suitors?

Penelope identifies Odysseus' specialty as making people look like fools and wonders why his stories have survived so long, despite being an admitted liar. She dispels the rumour that she slept with Amphinomus and the rumour that she slept with all the suitors and consequently gave birth to Pan.

How does Odysseus describe Penelope's attitude toward him?

Homer wants us to view Odysseus as a hero. How does Odysseus describe Penelope's attitude towards him? Penelope is acting very cold and aloof.

How does Penelope keep from marrying one of the suitors?

Penelope stalls the suitors for three years by saying that she would marry when she is finished weaving a shroud for Odysseus's family. She would weave during the day and undo her work at night, so she would never finish.

Does Penelope cheat on Odysseus?

Pausanias records the story that Penelope had in fact been unfaithful to Odysseus, who banished her to Mantineia upon his return.

What ruse did Penelope use to marry Odysseus?

But then Penelope's ruse was discovered and the suitors demanded a decision. She came up with another ruse, an archery contest. She would marry whoever could string Odysseus's bow and fire it through 12 axes.

How long did Odysseus' wife wait to leave his palace?

It was 20 years since Odysseus had left his palace, but still his wife Penelope had some hope he would return, though most believed him dead. Many suitors had come to woo "the widow". She put them off with a ruse, persuading them to wait until she had finished a funeral shroud for Laertes, Odysseus's father, which she wove by day and secretly unravelled by night. In this way she managed to deceive them for three years. While they waited, the suitors made themselves the king's uninvited guests, eating him out of house and home. But then Penelope's ruse was discovered and the suitors demanded a decision. She came up with another ruse, an archery contest. She would marry whoever could string Odysseus's bow and fire it through 12 axes. The bow once belonged to the archer Eurytus, grandson of Apollo, and no one, she hoped, could wield it.

What does Odysseus say about the marital bed?

It is a balmy night, so let us take our marital bed, the one you built with your own hands, and put it under the stars.". "That is a wonderful idea," said Odysseus, "but the bed I built can never be moved for it is built around the trunk of a deep-rooted olive tree.".

Did Penelope recognise Odysseus?

Penelope did not recognise him, for he had left her soon after their marriage 20 years before. "Odysseus, my husband," she said, embracing him. "Please forgive me for not recognising you, for it has been 20 years since I last saw you and you are much changed.

Did Penelope know that Odysseus was his husband?

Now at last Penelope knew he really was Odysseus: the secret of the bed's immovability was known to only two people. "Odysseus, my husband," she said, embracing him, but this time with more feeling. "Tell me how it came about that you were a beggar in your own banqueting hall.". "For seven years," said Odysseus, "I was a guest of Calypso.

Why does Athena distract Odysseus?

Athena must distract her, for instance, so that she does not discover Odysseus’s identity when Eurycleia is washing him. Athena often comes to her in dreams ...

Does Odysseus remarry?

Though her love for Odysseus is unyielding, she responds to the suitors with some indecision. She never refuses to remarry outright. Instead, she puts off her decision and leads them on with promises that she will choose a new husband as soon as certain things happen.

What does Penelope say about the suitors?

One day she has enough of the suitors and says” And you, if you have any shame in your own hearts, you must leave my palace! See to your feasting elsewhere; devour your own possessions, house to house by turns.

Why doesn't Penelope know Odysseus is alive?

Penelope has no idea he is alive and when he comes home Penelope doesn’t know it is Odysseus because he is disguised as a beggar.

How are Penny and Penelope different?

These stories of Penelope and Penny are different but in some situations they are alike. They both were single mothers who took both parent rolls while their husbands were away. Penelope was loyal to Odysseus but, Penny on the other hand could care less about Everett. Their husbands wanted them back so Penelope and Penny were the reasons why the wanted to come home. When their husbands arrived Penny and Penelope took them back but both at different times in their stories. Over all, both women remained confident throughout their stories and got their husbands back with an amazing story for them to hear about Odysseus’s and Everett’s journey.

Why do Penelope and Penny want to come home?

Penelope and Penny are the reasons why their husbands want to come home. While Everett is away serving his jail time, Penny sends him a letter that tells him she is getting married to her fiancé Waldrip. So Everett lies to his companions who is he is chained to telling them that they are escaping to find treasure.

What happened to Penny and Penelope?

Penny and Penelope both remain confident throughout their stories. Penny divorces her husband Everett, after he has to leave and go to jail. With a need to support herself and her family, she seeks out to find a new husband, who has better qualities than Everett, one who she says has to be “bone-a-fide”. Penny knows what’s best, so she finds herself “a suitor” who is up to her standards and is formally engaged to her fiancé, Vernon T. Waldrip. Penelope is left with a baby boy to take care of while her husband Odysseus is away for 20 years trying to find his way home after the Trojan War. Penelope has her house invaded by a group of 100 plus suitors, with one who she has to marry. She still feels for her husband and doesn’t want to marry any of these suitors. She wants him to come home but has a feeling he is dead. According to Penelope the suitors are nothing but a bunch of greedy pigs, and she wants out of her home. One day she has enough of the suitors and says” And you, if you have any shame in your own hearts, you must leave my palace! See to your feasting elsewhere; devour your own possessions, house to house by turns. But if you decide the fare is better, richer here, destroying one man’s goods and going scot-free, all right then, carve away” (Book 2 lines 156-160). The both of these ladies know what they want and if it’s best they’ll strive to get it.

Why does Odysseus get angry at Penelope?

She tells the maids to move the marriage bed and once Odysseus sees this he quickly fills with anger because that bed was made special, made from a firmly planted tree trunk. Penelope immediately knows, it’s Odysseus after she sees his reaction.

Why does Everett lie to his companions?

So Everett lies to his companions who is he is chained to telling them that they are escaping to find treasure. He is dedicated to returning home and getting his wife back. Penny stubbles upon Everett in a store and he realizes that she has been telling her daughters that he is dead because he was hit by a train.

Penelope in the Odyssey

In book 2 of the Odyssey, Penelope’s clever deception of the suitors is revealed. She had been using the weaving of a great funeral shroud for her father-in-law, Laertes, as an excuse to avoid picking a new husband out of the suitors. However, as we learn, this was all a great ruse.

Cunning

Throughout the Odyssey, we are repeatedly told that Odysseus is a clever and wily man. His most notable feat was the idea of the Trojan horse, which ultimately secured the victory over the Trojans. There are also multiple other examples as the tale of the Odyssey progresses, involving the blinding of Polyphemus and the theft of Helios’ cattle.

Perseverance

Perseverance is another of the heroic attributes given to classical men, such as Odysseus and Achilles. However, it was also an attribute exhibited by the Odyssey ’s Penelope and further evidence that she acted just as much of a hero.

Protecting the Household

In ancient Greece, it was traditionally the woman’s role to manage the household and ensure that everyone received a fair number of products and food. The Odyssey’s Penelope is more than capable in this feminine role. For once, she has made the most out of her suitors, who impatiently expect her to make a choice.

Physical Appearance

The Odyssey’s Penelope is valued for more than her appearance, but beauty was an attribute that she did possess.

Sacrifice

An interesting idea proposed by Steven Lowenstram, in his article ‘The shroud of Laertes and Penelope’s Guile’ is that the weaving of Laertes’s funeral shroud in the Odyssey represents Penelope’s battle with her suitors.

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By Olivia Moller BA Languages & Culture, in progress Olivia is completing her BA in Languages and Culture. Reading, writing, embroidery, and film photography are just a few of her hobbies. She is passionate about ancient history and believes that it is valuable in understanding our current lives.

What do the suitors do to Odysseus?

The suitors steal and plunder Odysseus’ hall, feast on his food, take his maids to bed and all the while, each trying to take Penelope’s hand in marriage.1 When Odysseus returns, he knows all about the suitors, and schematically kills all of them with no mercy. One may judge Odysseus’ actions as unnecesary, an suggest alternatives ...

Why did Odysseus not acknowledge the consequences?

He did not acknowledge the consequences because that would prevent him from doing what he wants to do. Odysseus wanted to kill the suitors; they ate away at his fortune. Finding consequences for ... First of all, the suitors are evil in the Greek worldview.

What is the influence of the Greek gods?

Another influence in the Greek worldview is that of the gods. The gods do not know everything about justice, but if they all agree that something is just, than in the Greek worldview it is just . With this being said, the suitors deserve to die in the Greek worldview.

Why are the suitors liars?

We also know that the suitors are liars, because when they find out Odysseus has returned, they make promises to repay him, which they are most likely unable to fulfill, because they were not as wealthy as as he is, and came to his hall to live off of his wealth. One may argue that only a few of the suitors are evil.

What is the purpose of the Greek worldview?

The natural purpose of the Greek society is to preserve themselves. In order to preserve themselves the Greeks must have a ruler to unite them, and the citizens must respect him, as well as respect each other and not cause commotions in society. If the king is directly challenged with this evil, he must get rid of it.

What is the theme of the Odyssey Suitors?

The Essay on The Odyssey Suitors Odysseus Penelope. Homer's poem The Odyssey depicts the tendency of people to ignore the consequences of their actions. Odysseus punished Penelope's suitors without thinking of consequences that he would have to endure. He did not acknowledge the consequences because that would prevent him from doing ...

What did the Greeks pride themselves on?

Greeks pride in their gods and took a great deal of time to build, re-build, beautify and preserve ... without the fear of death. The Greeks also esteemed numerous ... society, agriculture, civic duties, domestic issues, gender relations and war. Each God ...

How many suitors does Odysseus have?

Once Odysseus returns home (whom Athena initially disguises as a beggar so he can plot his revenge in secret), his son Telemachus tells him that there are 108 suitors: 52 from Dulichium, 24 from Same, 20 Achaeans from Zacynthus, and 12 from Ithaca.

What does Penelope do to delay courtship?

Rather than simply rejecting the suitors, Penelope devises a plan to delay their courtship. She claims she will choose a husband after she has finished weaving a funeral shroud to present to Odysseus' father, Laertes.

What does Amphinomus do to dissuade the suitors?

Amphinomus attempts twice to dissuade the suitors from murdering Telemachus. Odysseus recognizes this and attempts to warn Amphinomus to leave the home before the final battle. Despite this, Amphinomus stays and dies along with the other suitors.

Why does Eurymachus discover Penelope's plot?

Although he is charismatic, Eurymachus is deceitful. He discovers Penelope's plot because he is having an affair with one of Penelope's maidservants, Melantho. Further, when Odysseus reveals himself to the suitors, Eurymachus attempts to avoid punishment for the suitors' misdeeds by blaming them all on Antinous.

What does Odysseus beg for in the book?

While Odysseus is killing the suitors, he begs for mercy, saying that he tried to stop the others and they were paying for not listening to him.

How long does Penelope weave the shroud?

For three years, Penelope weaves the shroud during the day and unravels it at night, awaiting her husband's return. The suitors learn of Penelope's delaying tactic when one of her maidservants, Melantho, reveals it to her lover Eurymachus. Upon finding out, the suitors demand that she choose a husband from among them.

What was Odysseus' role in the Odyssey?

Role in The Odyssey. Penelope Unraveling Her Work at Night by Dora Wheeler Keith (1886). In The Odyssey, Homer describes Odysseus ' journey home from the Trojan War. Prior to the Trojan War, Odysseus was King of Ithaca, a Greek island known for its isolation and rugged terrain. When Odysseus departs from Ithaca to fight for the Greeks in the war, ...

What did Penelope tell her friends?

She told them she would weave a tapestry, and once she finished she would marry them. Penelope would weave in the day, but at night secretly undo her work

Who disguised Odysseus as a beggar?

Athena disguises Odysseus as a beggar and directs him to the hut of Eumaeus