The Penelopiad Essay Questions

How does Atwood tell an alternative narrative of The Odyssey in The Penelopiad?

Throughout Western history, readers have encountered a male-dominated version of the Odyssey. In the Penelopiad, Atwood examines the famous story through the lenses of gender and class. In particular, Atwood uses the characters of the twelve maids to show the intersection between gender and class in ancient Greek society. There is a suggestion that the fate of the twelve maids in the traditional narrative was overlooked; this version of the story shows the event as an act of despicable violence. Atwood suggests that the reason the maids' deaths are overlooked is because of their gender and class. The individual maids are not given names, which signifies how they are not regarded as significant in the traditional narrative. Atwood does not give them names in this text, but she does give them a voice through the various "choruses" in the text. Through these, she details their perspective, feelings, and desire for revenge against Odysseus.

How is Odysseus depicted in this text?

Odysseus is depicted as a complex character in the text. He is depicted as being clever, and as having a great talent for storytelling. This being said, it is also suggested that Odysseus has some negative qualities, such as his violent nature, and his tendency to lie. For example, Odysseus's violent nature is expressed when he teases Penelope, telling her that if she cheated on him, he would "be very cross indeed, and he would have to chop me into little pieces with his sword or hang me from the room beam." In Penelope's dream, Odysseus is symbolized by an eagle with a crooked beak. This is a suggestion that there he has faults and shortcomings.

Why did Penelope let the suitors stay in Ithaca for so long?

The concept of hospitality was very important to Ancient Greeks. In fact, they saw it less as a nicety and more as a moral obligation. Penelope had no choice but to give the suitors food and other amenities even though she did not want them in her palace. Furthermore, because Odysseus was absent and there was no "master of the house," the suitors felt free to take whatever they wished, including the maids (116). This is because the maids are seen as less than human in Ancient Greek society.

Choose one of the choruses in the Penelopiad and explain its significance in relation to the rest of the text.

In "The Perils of Penelope, A Drama," the twelve maids put on a play offering "another story." In the previous chapter, "Slanderous Gossip," Penelope fights back against rumors and accusations throughout history that she has slept with the suitors. In the maids' version of events, however, Penelope does exactly that—she sleeps with Amphinomus and puts the blame on the maids when Odysseus comes home in order to spare herself. Margaret Atwood never confirms which version of events is true. Penelope is not given the final word on the matter, suggesting that there are always alternate narratives at work beneath the surface.

Some argue that Odysseus's murder of the twelve maids was unjust, while others might argue that he was within his rights to do so. Make an argument for why Odysseus should not have killed the twelve maids, using evidence from the novel to support your argument. Make sure to consider counter-arguments.

Odysseus was definitely in the wrong for having Telemachus murder the twelve maids. Even though he might have been considered to be justified in his actions at the time—since his maids were considered his property and therefore he would be able to do with them what he wished—his actions nevertheless constituted senseless and unnecessary violence that was not merited. Maids should not be killed for no reason. They had no choice but to submit to the suitors' whims. Therefore, they were completely innocent. The fact that Telemachus killed them puts their blood on Odysseus's hands.