In 1961, a cornerstone of Greek mythology, the Odyssey, was translated by Robert Fitzgerald and published on a wide-scale level to reach the imaginations of millions. With this conveyance, the cryptic words of Homer had ultimately been decoded—allowing new interpretations and understandings of the enigmatic author’s work to emerge.
The epic follows Odysseus, the legendary King of Ithaca, as he tries to find his way back to his homeland after leading the Greek army in the Trojan War. The captivating folklore has traveled through classrooms all around the world, its symbolic lines recited for buzzing, youthful minds. However, disputes have surfaced surrounding the problematic actions of the protagonist, as well as the patriarchal narrative that normalizes the ever-present belittlement of women.
With these issues in mind and a determination to illuminate the other side of the story, renowned author Margaret Atwood rewrote the events of the Odyssey from a less considered point of view: that of the wife of Odysseus, Penelope, and her misunderstood maids. Her novel, The Penelopiad, underscores the hardships these women faced while treated as the inferior counterparts of men.
It is only long after her death that Penelope looks back on her life, recalling the miseries that accompanied her in solitude. She starts with the tale of her wedding, explaining how Odysseus had “won” her in a race against other suitors. Since she was a girl, Penelope had been objectified, only viewed as an item to be conquered. In the years of Odysseus’ absence, countless men lined up to ask for her hand in marriage, constricting the queen like a python—squeezing tight to the point of suffocation.
While Odysseus thrived on the battlefield during his time away, the humble Penelope became a shell of herself. She and her twelve trusted maids remained prisoners of the palace, obligated to host the intruders and comply with their requests. Though Penelope’s status was able to establish some boundaries with the incessant suitors, the others did not have the same protection.
The maids could not deny the suitors’ lustful desires and hedonistic requests—they lacked the power to do so. “It was not unusual for the guests in a large household or palace to sleep with the maids. To provide a lively night’s entertainment was considered part of a good host’s hospitality.”
As depicted in the Odyssey, after slaughtering every escort that littered his palace upon returning, Odysseus ordered the maids to clean the gruesome scene, then subjected them to the same fate. Each slender neck met a noose, yet the women are the ones remembered as guilty.
Atwood’s adaptation of Homer’s classic poem beautifully illustrates how the storyteller’s perspective plays a paramount role in understanding events that unfold. It was disturbing to see how Odysseus and the suitors were never held accountable for their actions, while the deaths of a dozen women were justified and quickly forgotten. The Penelopiad is a thought-provoking piece that forces readers to confront the cruelty hidden behind heroism and reconsider who the real villains are.
By weaving together the backstories of Penelope and her loyal maids, Atwood gives these women depth and a voice that history denied them. Their stories exist as a protest against the injustices they endured, leaving readers aware of how different the truth can seem when only one side is told.
