In The Odyssey, Homer presents a double standard to the reader. While the author really applause the men who are unfaithful to their wives, the women remain faithful to their husbands. This concept is shown through the epic’s two main characters, Odysseus and Penelope.

Odysseus is unfaithful to his wife Penelope. Calypso, a goddess has captured Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s epic poem, when his ship is blown off course. For seven years, she “keeps” him as her lover on her island, Ogygia. Although Odysseus longs for home, he does not truly resist nor object to her detaining him. Even when he knows he will be returning home the next day, he spends the time with Calypso, “….and now, with drawing into the cavern’s clear recesses lay in each others arms they lost themselves in love.”(5.250-251) Odysseus tells Calypso , “look at my wise Penelope. (his wife) She falls far short of you, your beauty, stature, she is mortal after all….yet I pine all my days-to travel home and see the dawn of my return.” (5.239-241)

Ironically, Odysseus does not see himself as being “unfaithful” to Penelope. Odysseus sees Penelope as one of his possessions he will regain when

In The Odyssey, Homer presents a double standard to the reader. While the author really applause the men who are unfaithful to their wives, the women remain faithful to their husbands. This concept is shown through the epic’s two main characters, Odysseus and Penelope.

he think of a way to outwit Circe or Calypso? Instead, he almost meekly accepts this proposition without even considering Penelope’s feelings or the undermining of his own marriage vows.

Odysseus is unfaithful to his wife Penelope. Calypso, a goddess has captured Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s epic poem, when his ship is blown off course. For seven years, she “keeps” him as her lover on her island, Ogygia. Although Odysseus longs for home, he does not truly resist nor object to her detaining him. Even when he knows he will be returning home the next day, he spends the time with Calypso, “….and now, with drawing into the cavern’s clear recesses lay in each others arms they lost themselves in love.”(5.250-251) Odysseus tells Calypso , “look at my wise Penelope. (his wife) She falls far short of you, your beauty, stature, she is mortal after all….yet I pine all my days-to travel home and see the dawn of my return.” (5.239-241)

On the other hand, Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, remains faithful to her husband since he had left to the Trojan wars twenty years ago. As a loyal and dutiful wife, Penelope valiantly resists the small army of suitors who invades her palace as they attempt “to win” her in marriage. She outwits all the suitors by saying she cannot marry or take any of them until she has finished sewing her father-i

Some topics in this essay:
Penelope Odysseus’s, Ogygia Odysseus, Odyssey Homer, Calypso Circe, Odysseus Penelope, Penelope Calypso, Calypso Instead, Penelope Moreover, Penelope Odysseus, Odyssey Faithfulness, wife penelope, double standard, odysseus penelope, penelope odysseus, odyssey homer, homer double standard, epic poem, homer double, loyal dutiful wife, penelope valiantly, valiantly resists, loyal dutiful, dutiful wife penelope, wife penelope valiantly, penelope valiantly resists,