Tuesday, February 23, 2010
She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, . . .
In Book 19, Penelope shares an intimate moment with her guest, Odysseus disguised as a beggar. From the things they discuss is there any hint that Penelope suspects the beggar is her long lost husband? Does Odysseus think she may suspect him? Why doesn't he openly reveal his identity? Does he still doubt her fidelity, her loyalty or her love?
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The discussion between Penelope and Odysseus in Book 19 is among the epic’s most intriguing passages. The question of whether or not Penelope knows Odysseus’ identity is, to me, a fairly straightforward question. I believe that Penelope does not know that the beggar she is talking to is really her long-lost husband. For one thing, she talks to him greatly about the pain she has felt in Odysseus’ absence and her deep endearing love for him, things that seem too emotional and sorrow-filled to tell to Odysseus himself. Furthermore, testing his story about his meeting with Odysseus seems to show that she is believing everything, or at least the fact that he is a man from far away. While several lines in the passage are somewhat ambiguous, I personally think that she does not actually realize her husband’s identity.
ReplyDeleteThe question of why Odysseus does not tell her his identity is, in my opinion, much more complex and intriguing. In theory, he can trust her with his secret, as she has already told him of her deep fidelity and loyalty to her husband. However, being Odysseus, he is too paranoid and suspicious to spread his true identity around. He needs her to remain in the dark for a little while longer so that she does not accidentally mess up his long thought out plans. He also needs her to remain sad about his absence and therefore to still consider the suitors as marriage options. This increases their sense of security, something that Odysseus plans to keep up until the very end. Odysseus feels badly that he cannot tell her the truth (at least, I believe that he does, as any man would), but, as his plan is a desperate one and he does not want to risk it falling apart, he needs Penelope to remain unaware of his true identity. Perhaps this is his final test of all, that he must return home only to have to conceal himself from the one he loves most. This, however, is his burden to bear, and he bears it admirably. Though he delays his happy reunion with Penelope for a little while, he insures (or at least attempts to insure) that it will not only occur, but last the rest of their lives.
First of all, I agree with Russell’s points. From reading Odysseus (in his beggar form) and Penelope’s conversation, I believe that Penelope does not suspect that the beggar is her husband. Although, I do believe that Penelope suspects that there is something different about the beggar. The Beggar has been staying in her house for a while now, and Telemachus has been very generous. Telemachus has not only been a good host, but he has gone above and beyond. This is reason enough for Penelope to suspect that the beggar is not just an ordinary beggar. This suspicion, was shown when Penelope asked questions about the beggar’s homeland, and journeys, even when he said “here in your house, ask me anything else but don’t, please, search out my birth, my land,” (19.126-7). Penelope has suspicions about the beggar, but I don’t believe she thinks it is her husband. Also, I don’t believe that Odysseus thinks that Penelope might suspect that it is him. Odysseus does not seem very worried about Penelope finding out, because he is willing to tell her information such as what “Odysseus” was wearing the first time that he saw him, in great detail. Odysseus knew that Penelope would recognize the clothes that he described, and he knew that it was a great amount of information that not everybody would know, but he seemed comfortable telling Penelope about it. Odysseus does not reveal his identity to Penelope, because like Russell said, he is very paranoid about his plans to kill the suitors. We also see this anxiety in book 20 when he is tossing and turning in bed (like a sizzling sausage) worrying about his plans to kill the suitors. Also, Odysseus knows how distraught Penelope is over the absence of her husband. Although Odysseus trusts Penelope, and knows that she is loyal to him, he knows that if he reveals his identity now, Penelope will have so many emotions, and therefore potentially compromise the identity of Odysseus. I believe that Odysseus not sharing his identity with Penelope is a well thought out plan that insures that they will finally be able to be together again at last.
ReplyDeleteContrary to the points made by Russell and Anna, I believe that Penelope was suspicious of the beggar’s identity and I would even go as far as to say that she may have noted the similarities between the man and her husband, and possibly even suspected that he was her husband. Regardless of how hard Athena tried to disguise Odysseus, those who had been close to Odysseus before his departure, such as his old nurse Eurycleia who upon seeing the beggar up close for the first time said, “Many a wayward guest has landed here/ but never, I swear, has one struck my eyes – / your build, your voice, your feet – you’re like Odysseus… / to the life”(19.430-4). While this does not prove that Penelope would have immediately recognized Odysseus as well, it makes the chance highly likely, seeing as she grieved his absence for over two decades, one would think that she would be able to recognize him as quick as one of their servants.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, as the two carried on their conversation, Penelope shared some personal information, including her doubts about Odysseus’ return as well as all she had gone through with the suitors, including a dream about them and her plans for them. I do not believe that this was information she regarded casually to be told to any beggar who stopped by. I think that she would have to have had some form of ulterior motive. In my opinion the questions she asked him and the things she confided in him served a purpose, somewhat like a test. I think it is possible that Penelope believed she recognized her husband through his disguise and then realized that if he was going through such an elaborate process to keep his identity secret – even from her – that he was doing it all for good reason. She then posed a series of questions that, if answered correctly by the beggar, would reassure her that her husband was near and prepared to save her from the suitors.
I agree with Russell and Anna in the point that Penelope does not know that the beggar, who is really Odysseus in disguise, is her husband, but I agree with the fact that Grace made, as in that while Penelope might not know, she may be suspicious of who he is really is. She may be suspicious of why this random beggar is suddenly in her palace, trying to talk to her about her husband who has mysteriously missing for twenty years. And isn’t it weird that even though the beggar (Odysseus) says he’s from Crete, yet he’s met Odysseus, and knows exactly what he was wearing when they met? (I think Mark mentioned this in class but I forget). I think that even though Penelope didn’t really put two and two together yet (she does when Odysseus comes out and kills everyone with Telemachus), she may still be a little suspicious of the amount of detail the beggar gives after one encounter. But maybe the reason behind Penelope asking is simply to remember her absent husband, because she has been missing him more lately, it seems that she does even more now that Telemachus has returned. This could also be shown more because Odysseus and more of the main characters are now in one happy place, well, happy despite the fame-hungry suitors trying to take over and kill Telemachus. But what I mean to say, is that even though Penelope may not know who Odysseus really is, she may be slightly suspicious, or simply curious and missing her husband more than has been put on, or seen by the reader in the past.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Russell, Caroline and Anna's opinions on the relationship between the beggar and Penelope. I believe that Penelope did not know that this beggar who had caused so much trouble in her city was Odysseus, but I think she still felt a connection with him deep down. I think this because she reveals all of her emotions to this complete stranger to her that has only been there a few days. I think that this is because she can see the qualities of Odysseus shining through this beggar's guise. It is evident that Penelope has taken a liking to the guest when she exclaims, “Never has any man/ so thoughtful-of all the guests in my palace/ come from foreign parts-been as welcome as you.../ so sensible, so apt, is every word you say.” (19.398-401). This quotation shows Penelope's connection to the beggar. Although she may not know it, I believe somewhere deep down she might have felt as if it was Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteThe reason that I believe Penelope did not know this vagrant was Odysseus was because she told him all of her griefs about her missing husband. She would have no reason to tell all of this to Odysseus, she is basically preaching to the choir in this scenario. She also tests the stranger to see if he is telling the truth, if she knew it was Odysseus she would trust him and not make him recite the exact clothes that Odysseus was wearing when he met him.
I do not think that Odysseus has any doubts about Penelope's love or loyalty to him, but he just believes it would be safer to keep his plan a secret with the ones who needed to know it. I think that it was a wise decision by Odysseus not to tell his wife he was back because if he did tell her, he could have risked the whole scheme, eventually costing them both time to love each other. All in all it was a smart move not to tell her because it might have jeopardized the plan to kill the suitors, and Odysseus' motives for not telling Penelope were exactly this.