Penelope In Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad
Penelope as conveyed in The Odyssey is one of a quiet, submissive, faithful woman. The readers do not see much of Penelope's actions throughout the epic and rather just hear of what she should be doing. Penelope's story and relationship with Odysseus has remained a myth, until Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad. In the novel Penelope finally explains her story of what happened while Odysseus was on her journey away and back to her. The Penelopiad is praised as a feminist text and throughout the story the reader truly finds insight into Penelope's life and personality. Her choices throughout her story in The Penelopiad can primarily be shown through her mothers speech that she makes at Penelope's wedding to Odysseus in the chapter The Scar. Penelope
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“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you.” Penelope's mother is initially telling Penelope to be water and to allow her husband to do what he pleases and that she should just be there of Odysseus and whatever he needs. Penelope should not resist his advances and when her husband needs her, she should be there by his side to help him and give him the love and care that he may need. Penelope is told that she should not stop something from happening and just let it happen. Penelope's mother then pushes on what she is saying by “But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.” Penelope's mother completely contradicts herself with the beginning, middle, and end of her speech. In the middle of her speech she is trying to bear a feminist message of saying Penelope you should do what you want, if you are patient enough you can get what you want. Yet by the end Penelope's mother is back stating don't go head first through something you can't win at, just go around it, find a different easy
“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you.” Penelope's mother is initially telling Penelope to be water and to allow her husband to do what he pleases and that she should just be there of Odysseus and whatever he needs. Penelope should not resist his advances and when her husband needs her, she should be there by his side to help him and give him the love and care that he may need. Penelope is told that she should not stop something from happening and just let it happen. Penelope's mother then pushes on what she is saying by “But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.” Penelope's mother completely contradicts herself with the beginning, middle, and end of her speech. In the middle of her speech she is trying to bear a feminist message of saying Penelope you should do what you want, if you are patient enough you can get what you want. Yet by the end Penelope's mother is back stating don't go head first through something you can't win at, just go around it, find a different easy