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Penelope essay

Essay: Homer’s Characterization of Penelope in the Odyssey
The role of women in Homer’s Odyssey is very limited, as it concentrates mainly on the significance of male characters. Penelope’s character proves to be the most independent female depicted in the poem that is largely dominated by males. Throughout the play Penelope maintains the ultimate mother imagery as she portrays both the mother and father figure for her son Telemachus. Penelope is also portrayed as a woman of her own making, whose intelligence proves that she the perfect partner for Odysseus. Penelope’s character proves to be faithful as she continually defends her husband’s reputation and resists the suitor’s persistence to marry her. Amongst all the struggles and pain that Penelope succumbs to, her physical beauty never fades as she is admired strongly by Odysseus and the male suitors. Penelope was given a considerable role as a woman in the Odyssey, as she used her strong will and intelligence to help he...

Posted by: William Katz

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