The overall use of an angry male voice is what creates the character’s personality for the reader and so is very important when it comes to understanding the character of Penelope. As it is usually the case, the immediate viewpoint is often the one that is adopted by the reader, through this, Homer introduces Penelope as this seemingly devious character. Hidden behind the rage of the speaker it is easy to forget that Penelope still believes in her husbands return and so shows that she is a caring and faithful wife. The use of this point of view hides the reasoning which Penelope would have had to do this action. Homer uses words like ‘played’ and ‘loose’ as a way to portray Penelope as a sly female especially since ‘its not the suitors who deserve the blame’ (Homer, 2006, p. After finding out the truth behind her condition even the most devout of suitors would feel betrayed and angry which is why it is understandable as to why he would attempt to paint Penelope in the worst light possible, the angry tone and use of harsh language supports this as ‘she played it fast and loose with our hearts’, the use of the word ‘our’ hints at the idea that it is the suitor speaking, making the surrounding words that much more doubtful as he is speaking in rage and anger (Homer, 2006, p. Especially after she had fooled them ‘for three years now, getting on for four’ in his eyes (Homer, 2006, p.
Knowing the male’s aims to marry Penelope, it is likely that through his eyes, Penelope would have been seen as an evil, almost witch like character due to his resentful opinion of Penelope. The Odyssey extract looks at the situation from an aggravated suitor’s prospective. First of all, the use of differing viewpoints is the technique which determines this. While the vague ideas of Penelope as a strong and cunning woman are seen in both texts, the general use of language and technique shows two opposite characters. While the two versions of Penelope are different to each other, they all hold a foundation of a deceitful character. Agreeing to the idea that Penelope possesses a devious personality trait. 70-71), while this could be directed at the piece that she was knitting while personifying it, it is much more likely that these words were aimed at her suitors. As she unknits her work she states that she ‘tricked it’ (Duffy, 2017, pp. Agreeing with Duffy’s version as, although more subtle, there are actions which suggest cunning. She seems to be playing around with them like a hunter toying with its prey.
Penelope has originally been seen to be ‘dangling promises’ and ‘dropping hints’ to her suitors within the original The Odyssey which portrays her as a more dominant figure who has control over men (Homer, 2006, p. The sole act of sewing and unpicking her work in order to delude her suitors shows the devious side of her character. Furthermore, Penelope is also seen manipulating the men into following her orders in both texts, giving her a sense of cunning and mischief, while this is much more saturated in Duffy’s version, there are still actions which portray this. 70-71).Īs both of these texts co-agree to this fact, it is undisputed that this was the premise of Penelope’s character. This idea is supported by Duffy’s version of her character as she ‘played for time’ and ‘wore a widows face’, the use of the verbs ‘played’ and ‘wore’ shows her control of the situation and so supports the previous argument in the idea that Penelope is a strong and independent character (2017, pp. She will not give herself up easily and so shows her strong will and determination. As she is seen protecting herself through deceit it is wise to argue that she is resolute and dominant in her own position. Firstly within the originally written extract by Homer, she is said to have ‘deceived blind’ forming the idea that her character possessed the need to deceive said men (Homer, 2006, p. The general character of Penelope is seen as very smart and cunning in both of the texts, giving her a secure strong female character image.
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