What is Penelope?
Penelope is a type of story that has been popular since the times of ancient Greece It involves a woman, usually married or betrothed, who is unfaithful to her husband or the man she is expected to marry. She may have an affair with someone else, or she may have a secret of her own that she is keeping from her lover. It is typically a tragic story of love, deceit, and a search for redemption.
Penelope was first featured prominently in the ancient Greek epic poem The Odyssey by Homer. In this story, Penelope is the wife of Odysseus, who has been gone for many years after going off to fight in the Trojan War. Upon his return, Penelope is still faithful to him and refuses to remarry, despite the mounting pressure from her many suitors. During his absence, Penelope weaves a tapestry each day, and then unravels it at night, in order to buy time while waiting for her husband.
Since then, many writers and poets have drawn inspiration from the classic story of Penelope, including Cervantes, Shakespeare, and even James Joyce. Today, the concept of Penelope is used to explore themes such as loyalty, sacrifice, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Best Examples of Penelope
1. The Odyssey: This classic epic poem written by Homer is the original source of the Penelope story. It tells the tale of Odysseus, who goes off to fight in the Trojan War, only to be gone for many years. During his absence, his wife Penelope must remain faithful to him, despite the many suitors that come for her hand.
2. Don Quixote: Cervantes’ famous novel features a character named Penelope that is based on the Penelope myth. She is a beautiful, noble maiden that is held captive by a knight. Her plight is to remain loyal to her imprisoned fiancée, even though their relationship has become strained.
3. Othello: Shakespeare’s beloved play features two Penelope-like characters: Desdemona and Emilia. Desdemona is an idealistic young woman who is loyal to her husband, while Emilia is a more worldly-wise woman who is only too aware of her husband’s duplicity.
4. Ulysses: This stream-of-conscious novel by James Joyce tells the story of Leopold Bloom’s day-long journey around Dublin, mirroring the journey of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey. Penelope-like themes of faithfulness and loyalty are explored throughout the novel.
5. Penelope: This 2006 movie tells the modern-day story of a young woman named Penelope, who is born with the nose of a pig. Despite her appearance, she is determined to find true love and remain faithful to her betrothed.