Comparing Penelope And Odysseus In Homer's The Odyssey
The Odyssey
Have you ever found it hard to prove someone is your equal? The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Penelope, Odysseus' wife, proves she is her husband's equal. So by being both very intelligent and loving she accomplishes this task.
Penelope and Odysseus are both highly intelligent but in two different ways. Odysseus show his intelligence when he is stuck on Polyphemus' island. "Cyclops, you ask my honorable name? Remember the gift you promised me, and i shall tell you. My name is Nohbody: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbody." [Book 9 lines 272-275] By telling Polyphemus that his name is Nohbody, Odysseus shows that he doesn't want his real name to be known so he can escape the island with his men and continue his journey home to Ithaca. …show more content…
"...We now declare a contest for that prize. Here is my lord Odysseus' hunting bow. Bend and string it if you can. Who sends an arrow through iron axe-helve sockets, twelve in line? I join my life with his..." [Book 21 lines 14-26] Knowing that only Odysseus can bend and string the hunting bow, Penelope uses this as an excuse to get out of marrying any of the suitors and to by more time for her dear Odysseus to come
Have you ever found it hard to prove someone is your equal? The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Penelope, Odysseus' wife, proves she is her husband's equal. So by being both very intelligent and loving she accomplishes this task.
Penelope and Odysseus are both highly intelligent but in two different ways. Odysseus show his intelligence when he is stuck on Polyphemus' island. "Cyclops, you ask my honorable name? Remember the gift you promised me, and i shall tell you. My name is Nohbody: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbody." [Book 9 lines 272-275] By telling Polyphemus that his name is Nohbody, Odysseus shows that he doesn't want his real name to be known so he can escape the island with his men and continue his journey home to Ithaca. …show more content…
"...We now declare a contest for that prize. Here is my lord Odysseus' hunting bow. Bend and string it if you can. Who sends an arrow through iron axe-helve sockets, twelve in line? I join my life with his..." [Book 21 lines 14-26] Knowing that only Odysseus can bend and string the hunting bow, Penelope uses this as an excuse to get out of marrying any of the suitors and to by more time for her dear Odysseus to come