In book 23 Penelope does not beleive Eurycleia when she says Odysseus has returned. She accuses the maid of mocking her. Why do you think Penelope is so defensive? Why is Penelope so resistant against just going downstairs and seeing for herself if it's him? Then once Penelope goes to see her husband after twenty years she just sits there, not even looking at him. Why do you think she does this? If you were her do you think you would have had the restraint to not greet someone you've been waiting for after so long?
In book 23 Penelope acts skeptic due to the absence of Odysseus for countless years. She has grown to accept his "death," and it is hard for her to believe she is alive. That is why she is so defensive. Penelope might be resistant because she is scared to see how Odysseus might look like, or the grief she might face if she sees he is fake. The reason why penelope does this could be multiple, if she is mad, doesn't know what to talk about, or if she is just flummoxed. I would have greeted a long lost companion with more hospitality at first and later ask him or her more question of Identification and of their journey.
ReplyDeleteI think Penelope is defensive about Odysseus returning because for a long time she had accepted that there was no hope and that he couldn't just return 20 years later. Penelope is scared to go and check to see if Odysseus is really home because she is afraid if he is the same anymore. How could he be the same after being at war for 10 years and taking 10 years to get home. Maybe she is afraid that she won't feel the same way about Odysseus. I think she does this because she just doesn't know how to react because so much has happened over the years. I doubt I would have the restraint not to greet someone I hadn't seen in a long time if they were dear to me. I would probably run and hug them. Depending on how dear they were to me I might even have cried.
ReplyDeletePenelope is defensive because she truthfully believes that this man is not Odysseus because it is so unlikely. She doesn't want to go downstairs to see him because she feels she is being tricked by the gods. She sits there uncaring because she does not yet believe that the man is her husband. If she knew it were him she would act differently.
ReplyDeleteAgain, she does not think it is actually Odysseus at the time. If she knew it was Odysseus she would surely greet and embrace him. I would greet and embrace someone I have been missing for a long time as well.
I think that the reason Penelope does not automatically accept Odysseus is because she has spent so long without him that his return seems a little too good to be true. She has spent so long being protective and waiting that it is going to take some adjusting for her to get used to be able to have someone she can really trust. The reason she just sits there is because she still isn't convinced that it is really him. I think that if I were Penelope my actions would have depended on whether or not I really believed it was Odysseus. If I thought that it was just an impersonator that I would obviously not embrace him with the warmth that I would if I thought it was my husband.
ReplyDeletei think that penelope is so defensive about Odysseus returning because she can't accept the fact that he has returned. it is to good to be true. She also thinks that she is being tricked by the gods. thats why she just sits there when she sees him. she doesn't believe it is actually him! If i was put into this situation I would definitely embrace them. even if they were an impostor, i would just hope for the best. i miss people really easily! so if its a good friend that i haven't seen for like a week then i'd hug them! so i think in the same situation as penelope i would defiantly embrace Odysseus.
ReplyDeleteI think that Penelope is that defensive because she is in pain, and does not want to deal with someone who she thinks is probably mocking or taunting her about Odysseus' absence. She is probably resistant to going downstairs and seeing for herself if it is actually Odysseus because she is still in great disbelief of Odysseus' so called, "return". I think that Penelope does not react in a sensible or expectable way because she is probably either in great shock, or does not recognize Odysseus when she sees her after 20 whole years of Odysseus being gone, or away. If I were Penelope, I do not think that I would have the restraint to not greet someone, such as Odysseus, after not seeing him for 20 whole years.
ReplyDeleteI think Penelope is defensive because she has been told he will return for years and he never has so she doesn't know what to believe what people tell her anymore. I think Penelope is so resistant because if it is not really Odysseus she will feel a lot of sadness and will giver her hopes up. She just sits there because she doesn't believe it's him. If I was her I would be so excited to see him because i haven't seen him for 20 years!
ReplyDeleteShe is defensive because it was hard for her to let Odysseus leave not knowing when he will come back and after 20 years she has excepted that he has died. then when shes told that he is alive and downstairs it seems ridiculous, almost impossible. I think she doesnt want to go downstairs because its so mind boggling to think hes sitting downstairs after so many years. she just sits there because shes not sure if it is him. Im not sure because i cant i cant even imagine what that would be like.
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ReplyDeleteI think Penelope is so defensive because she has been waiting so long, that it seems impossible that Odysseus has returned. She does not want to go see for herself because she doesn't want to get her hopes up and be disappointed. I think she does this because think she is in shock and that she is trying to gather herself. If I was in Penelope's situation, I don't think I could have restrained myself like she did because I would have been waiting anxiously for so long. Also, I don't think that I could restrain myself because I would have missed the person so much, that I would rejoice as soon as they got their.
ReplyDeletePenelope felt as if Eurycleia was mocking her and hurting her more. She couldn't believe that after waiting so long and enduring so much pain, her maid was teasing her that her long lost husband was downstairs. How was she supposed to believe that? She doesn't want to go downstairs because she is almost positive that he isn't there, and that her heart will ache with even more pain to discover that. She sits there because she has some doubt about his return. I think she suspected that he was hindered by women and she wanted him to tell her that he was still loyal. If I was in that situation, I would possibly wait too, and see what the person had to say first before embracing them. I'd want to know why they were gone so long.
ReplyDeletePenelope believes that Eurycleia is mocking her because it has been so long since she's seen Odysseus she has given up hope. i think she doesn't want to go see him because she doesn't want to be let down and believe it and then be disappointed. She then just sits there because she still doesn't believe its actually him or she is in shock that he's actually there after twenty years. I would have done the same thing. I would have been shocked and skeptical and would have just have stood there looking at him.
ReplyDeletePenelope accused Eurycleia of mocking her when she claims that Odysseus has returned because she has waited 20 years now. She is hopeless and has lost faith in Odysseus' return. I think she is resistant to go and see if it truely is Odysseus because she doesn't think it's realistic and can't afford to have someone raise her hopes and then be let down. I think she just sits there when she finally goes to see Odysseus because she is in complete shock that her long lost husband is standing right in front of her. Personally, if I was in her situation, I would have been so overly excited that I would have embraced him and rejoiced!
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