When
I began to read the odyssey I didn't know what I thought about Penelope’s
character. Could she really be so self absorbed as to not notice the pain she
was causing those around her? Was she blind to the fact that she was leading on
these poor men? As the story developed,
I found myself getting progressively more irritated with her. My outlook of her
changed drastically as she gave her speech in chapter 18 (pg. 383-384). In this
god inspired speech she shared the pain of her heart and she calls out the
suitors on their improper behavior. She explained how a wealthy man’s daughter
was supposed to be pursued, which happened to be the opposite of the way these
men were treating her (lines 281-315). I
am proud to now say that my ignorant first impression of her was wrong. I now
greatly respect this woman who would stand up for herself, even when her option
was not welcome among the majority.
P.S. I commented on Amy's post.
P.S. I commented on Amy's post.
What took her so long to complain about the suitors though? I feel that part of her grieving process could/should have included her blasting of their misconduct, and she should have done that earlier in the story. I feel bad for her but I don't necessarily respect her in that way, but I do respect her in others ways.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about Penelope. I was very aggravated with her character. The speech you referred to along with her tactic to get gifts from the suitors who stole so much from her house made me understand her a little bit more. I found that I had more sympathy for her when Odysseus finally revealed himself. She couldn't take it in that he was actually home. That, to me, shows that her grief was real. She needed extreme affirmation that her husband was home.
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