Penelope Odyssey

Odyssey's character: Penelope

Penelope is the faithful wife of Odysseus in the story of The Odyssey. This character has her own struggles in The Odyssey and proves the she is strong enough to endure them, because of her strong character qualities. These character qualities show Penelope to be considered an ideal Greek wife, as her characteristics that are shown throughout The Odyssey are the same as those that other well respected characters have. Penelope's good character qualities include her intelligence, faithfulness, loyalty, determination, her hospitality and sympathy to others.
Her characteristics begin to immediately show in Book II, such as her faithfulness in Odysseus. Penelope has been waiting for Odysseus to return, but the suitors in the town start to strongly advance on to her, and begin invading her household. Using her quick wits she comes up with a plain to keep them at bay. She puts the men off for three years by promising to marry one of them upon her completion of a burial shroud for her father-in-law. In order to delay the completion of the shroud, "every night by torchlight she unwove it." (Book II, 113) Penelope also privately sends promises to each of the suitors in order to divide them so that they will not unanimously demand a decision from her as to which one she wishes to marry.
Without Penelope's enduring faithfulness in not giving into the suitors, Odysseus would not have had a home to come home to. Through it all, no matter what, she always has faith that Odysseus will return to her. Penelope never, not even once, considers cheating on her husband. Deep in her heart she believes that he is still on his way home and this shoes her true loyalty. Penelope is always thinking of him and waiting patiently for him to come home and save her from the pursuing suitors. Despite all the trouble that the suitors give her and all the pressure she is put in, Penelope still remains determined to ward them off. With her determination she is successful in doing so.
Penelope's hospitality is another characteristic that she has, and Greeks considered hospitality a very important trait. The Greek's considered hospitality a symbol of civilization. Someone who treats his or her guests respectfully was considered to be a civilized person, and those who did not were considered to be uncivilized like the Cyclopes. Penelope bestows cordiality and benevolence upon her guests. Upon hearing Altinoos strike Odysseus with the footstool, she becomes enraged. "Here is a poor man come, a wanderer, driven by want to beg his bread, and everyone in hall gave bits, to cram his bag-only Antinoos threw a stool, and banged his shoulder!" (Book XVII, 660) Penelope also rebukes Telemakhos for allowing Odysseus to be so mistreated in her home. Penelope demonstrates hospitality towards her guest by inviting him up to her room to greet him. Before his arrival, she instructs the housekeeper to spread a sheepskin over a bench. Penelope also instructs her maids to bathe Odysseus and to make a bed for him. She then invites her guest to take a place beside Telemakhos in the feasting hall. Always doing so kindly and showing great respect to even someone as looked down upon as a beggar. Nobody else seems to respect this poor old man, but she bathes, feasts, and takes great care of the beggar. Penelope shows sympathy to him, and is a great host to him in her house.