Penelope Breaks Her Silence

It is not very often that we get to hear from characters of Ancient Greece that have been sidelined in history, in favour of the heroes that dominate the narrative. Such is the case for Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, whose narrative is retold and reclaimed in Margaret Atwood's, The Penelopiad.

Penelope's Story

Written from beyond the grave, The Penelopiad is Atwood's way of allowing Penelope to tell her version of the events, from her birth, to the Trojan War, to the years spent waiting for her husband to return. Penelope relates this story thousands of years after the events of the Odyssey, so not only has she had years to think of the events, but she is also aware of present day culture; it is as if she is sitting there with you, pointing out how her life is different from yours. The writing is beautiful, the story unique, and the use of the Greek Chorus is a wonderful addition to a tale that should be considered a classic.

However, I was slightly disappointed by the relationship between Penelope and Helen, especially considering the fact that they are cousins. While Atwood narrates Penelope's story as a way of reclaiming her own life, the view of Helen seems extremely harsh, and Penelope's feelings towards her cousin are slightly overwhelming at times.

Regardless, I am really happy I finally read this book after talking about it with classmates for months: 3.5 stars! If you have any comments, questions, or review requests, please comment below, email me (theopinionatedbookworm@gmail.com) or follow me on Instagram (@theopinionatedbookworm1).

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