Written by : Isla Johnson
Throughout history, literature has often been shaped by the perspective of those in power, most notably, the male hero. The epic tales passed down through generations have traditionally glorified the actions of heroic figures like Odysseus, whose cunning and bravery in The Odyssey have made him a quintessential model of heroism in Western culture. However, Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad challenges the traditional narrative by giving Penelope a voice, revealing the hidden suffering caused by Odysseus’s absence. Not only for her, but also to the women of Ithaca, who bore the brunt of his absence and the chaos it unleashed. Atwood’s retelling raises a critical question: What is heroism really worth when seen through the eyes of those who bear its consequences ?
Atwood’s decision to retell the story from Penelope’s perspective is not merely an act of reclaiming a female voice in a male-dominated narrative; it is a conscious attempt to question the very nature of heroism. By giving Penelope agency, Atwood forces readers to confront the darker side of Odysseus’s actions. The tale of The Odyssey is transformed when viewed through her eyes.
In The Penelopiad, Penelope is no longer the passive, idealised figure of virtue. She is a woman who has suffered immense loss and disillusionment. Her perspective shifts the narrative from a heroic journey about a man who returns to reclaim his throne, to the story of a woman who has been left behind. Atwood’s Penelope is witty and capable of sharp commentary on the misogynistic world that disregards her suffering. She points out the absurdity of her situation, left alone to care for her household, facing threats from suitors, and expected to maintain her beauty and virtue while grieving for a husband who may never return. Penelope’s point of view also highlights the emotional labour required of women in the patriarchal structure of the epic. She not only has to endure loneliness but must also perform the role of a perfect wife, maintaining a delicate balance between hope and despair, loyalty and independence. In her sharp reflections, she questions the fairness of this arrangement and the expectations placed upon her. In this version, heroism is no longer synonymous with triumph; it is shown as a complex, multifaceted concept that often comes at a personal cost. Odysseus’ journey, for all its glory, can be seen as a selfish endeavour, one that prioritises his return over the well-being of those who remain behind.
One of the unique aspects of The Penelopiad is its exploration of the other women who are caught in the wake of Odysseus’s absence: the twelve maids who are mistreated, sexually abused, and ultimately executed upon Odysseus’s return. Atwood brings attention to their suffering, an aspect overlooked in The Odyssey. Through their deaths, Atwood emphasises the collateral damage of Odysseus’s heroic journey, the lives that are destroyed in the pursuit of honour and homecoming. Equally, the maid’s tragic fate, in The Penelopiad, becomes a metaphor for the silencing of women throughout history. Their executions are not just a punishment for perceived disloyalty; they symbolise the erasure of the experiences and voices of women in the classical narrative.
Atwood’s The Penelopiad presents a radical rethinking of heroism. Rather than celebrating Odysseus as the ultimate male hero, Atwood challenges the very notion of heroism itself. By presenting Penelope’s pain and the untold suffering of the other women in Ithaca, Atwood complicates the binary of hero and villain. Heroism, from the perspective of those left behind, is not defined by grand, heroic acts but by resilience, survival, and the ability to maintain some semblance of dignity in the face of hardship. Penelope’s quiet endurance becomes a form of heroism in its own right, one that is not celebrated in the traditional narrative, but is no less significant. The retelling, therefore, serves as a critique of the traditional epic hero and a challenge to the gendered expectations placed upon women in myth and society.
By shifting the perspective, Atwood asks us whose voices we elevate and whose stories we leave untold, reminding us that true heroism may lie not in the triumph of a single individual, but in the quiet, overlooked struggles of many. In the end, The Penelopiad is a call to embrace a more inclusive, empathetic understanding of history, one that listens to the voices that have been silenced for far too long.