In ‘The Odyssey,’ moral responsibility is a key factor in determining the actions and decisions of the characters. This theme brings attention to the moral dilemmas that the characters encounter in a world filled with difficulties and obstacles. By analyzing the actions of Odysseus and Penelope we better understand the complexity of their characters, we gain insight into their motivations, and we see how their separate growth journeys impact their reunification at the end of the book. Although the Gods find a way to insert themselves into the lives of mortals and can alter the course of events in the story, it is ultimately the choices that humans make that determine their futures.

Penelope’s actions reveal quite a bit about who she is as a character and where her loyalties lie. In Book Two, it is revealed how Penelope deceived her suitors for over three years and explains the situation she faces in her home (Od. 2.92-139). This moment illustrates the main challenges Penelope endures throughout the epic poem: taking power back in her household and staying loyal to her husband Odysseus. Penelope is under enormous pressure as she is being forced to marry one of the suitors, and the consequences of her refusing one of them are immense. However, her choice to fool the suitors shows just how cunning and intelligent Penelope is. Her decision to weave and unweave the shroud eventually bought both her and Odysseus more time so that they could reunite in the end. Throughout much of history and in this Homeric society, women held little to no power. Penelope experienced being a woman without power firsthand when her suitors arrived to seek her hand in marriage, demanded that she choose one of them, and then depleted her resources.

Penelope has to be discrete while advancing toward her goal. She cannot let the suitors get a hint of her plan or else they will force her to finish the shroud and remarry like they did when they found out of her tricks against them. The suitors tell Telemachus of his mother’s deception and explain how “She encourages each man, leading us on, / Sending messages” (Od. 2.99-100). Penelope had to feed into the suitors’ delusions so they would think that they had a chance with her. When in reality she is giving them attention, so they do not suspect her grander schemes and allows her to delay having to choose a husband.

The suitors continue to describe Penelope by stating, "But her mind is set elsewhere" (Od. 2.100). This line exemplifies Penelope's mindset during this point in the story and shows where she stands. Despite flirting with the suitors and giving them false hope, her loyalty has always been with Odysseus. No matter the time they spend apart, their similarities and the connection between them prevail. Penelope chooses to believe that her husband is alive and holds out hope that one day he will come home.

A morality that Penelope exhibits time and time again is her loyalty to Odysseus. It is important to note that this quality about her sets her apart from other female characters mentioned. In ‘The Odyssey’ wives such as Clymnestra, mentioned in Book Eleven (11.215-279), and Helen, in Book Four (4.253-283) betray their husbands. This devotion that Penelope holds for Odysseus shows her true character and demonstrates how valued she is in Homeric society.

Penelope and her husband Odysseus share a lot of the same qualities, the main trait being their cleverness. Odysseus is described as a cunning hero who resorts to trickery to evade dangerous situations. While this trait is admirable in Homeric societies such as in ‘The

Odyssey,’ it can lead to negative consequences. For instance, Odysseus and his crew face extreme difficulty when they are captured on the Island of the Cyclopes. This event is the main external conflict Odysseus faces in his journey and is mentioned first in Book One, which highlights its significance to the plot. It is discussed by the gods, “Because Odysseus blinded his son, the Cyclops / Polyphemus, the strongest of all the Cyclops, / … The Earthshaker has been after Odysseus / Ever since, not killing him, but keeping him away / From his native land” (1.75-82). The result of Odysseus and his men’s time on the island was detrimental to Odysseus’ homecoming as it caused the journey to be lengthened by ten years. Because this is such a long amount of time, it demonstrates to the audience just how consequential Odysseus’ actions are through the progression of the story.

Not only does the encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus affect what happens physically in the story, but it also influences Odysseus’ character internally. The main challenges that Odysseus faces in this epic poem are returning home to his family and remaining a leader of his crew despite the intense circumstances they face along the way. It’s important to note Odysseus’ ambition of remaining a leader to his crew because this highlights just how prideful Odysseus is at this point in the story. This claim can be seen in Book Nine, where we are given the account of what happens on the island of the Cyclops (Od. 9.165-561). After Odysseus blinds Polyphemus he yells to him, “‘Cyclops, if anyone, any mortal man, / Asks you how you got your eye put out, / Tell him that Odysseus the marauder did it, / Son of Laertes, whose home is on Ithica’” (9.500-504). Odysseus seems to create conflict after conflict for himself. Had he not revealed this information, he most likely would have made it home to Ithaca promptly and would have been reunited with his family. Instead, he lets his pride get in the way, lengthening his journey by ten years.

The moment that ties everything together is the reunification of Penelope and Odysseus in Book Twenty-Three.  This event represents their growth journeys after all the hardships they endured for the duration of the book. Their choices led to them learning how to be even more resilient which showcased significant changes since the beginning of the novel. As Penelope is very careful to not be deceived she makes Odysseus prove himself to her. He does so explaining a secret only they know, “And starting from this I framed up the whole bed, / Inlaying it with gold and silver and ivory / And stretching across it oxhide thongs dyed purple. / So there’s our secret” (Od. 23.206-207). It is at this time that Odysseus and Penelope’s decisions throughout the book result in their long-awaited reunification. This event represents their growth journeys after all the hardships they endured for the book.  (This sentence appears above – need to remove one of them or reword) Their choices led to them learning how to be more mature and resilient and showcased significant changes since the beginning of the novel.

Some may argue that fate is better at explaining the actions of characters in ‘The Odyssey.’ The Gods tend to insert themselves into human situations and have a much more powerful effect than humans dealing with their problems. Athena, for example, is heavily involved in the life of Odysseus and his journey home. In Book One, Athena argues with her father Zeus for Odysseus’ release when he’s trapped on Calypso’s island (Od. 1.50-102). However, I disagree with this opinion as humans possess free will. While Gods may have certain strengths and abilities, they cannot completely control mortals. This, along with the growth characters exhibit through the duration of the book makes it almost impossible for fate to be more powerful than the judgments people make.

To conclude, ‘The Odyssey’ expressed many circumstances in which the

choices that characters made impacted their futures. Odysseus and Penelope’s actions both emphasized getting back to each other, regardless of the distance and time they were apart. This priority of theirs granted their reunification at the end of the book. Penelope and Odysseus’ actions and the purposes behind them revealed how the adversities they faced shaped them into the people they became at the end of the book.

Work Cited

Homer. The Odyssey, trans. Stanley Lombardo. Hackett, 2000.