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| cover image from goodreads |
Title: The Penelopiad
Author: Margaret Atwood
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology
Format/Length: ebook, 193 pages
Publisher: Canongate, 2007
My Rating: ★★★★
If you’ve read the Homer’s The Odyssey or seen that episode of The Simpson’s in which our favorite family portrays the royal family of Ithaca, then you’ve met Penelope, the Queen.
Born to a royal family in Sparta, cousin to the beautiful Helen, for generations Penelope has been heralded as the ultimate loyal, patient wife. For in The Odyssey, Penelope stays in Ithaca fending off hundreds of suitors using her cleverness as she waits for the return of her famously cunning husband, Odysseus.
In the Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood uses her own cleverness and ingenuity to give Penelope a voice. Penelope gets to tell us about herself, her life, and what she really felt about that husband of hers. And Atwood’s not one to miss a great opportunity; in this book Penelope even lambasts Helen quite a bit.
There’s a chapter hilariously and rightly called “Helen Ruins My Life.”
I mean she did, but so did Paris.
More importantly Atwood gives Penelope the space to tell the reader that they shouldn’t follow her example.
Penelope wants to scream that people shouldn’t just be patient, quiet, or meek. She acknowledges that terrible things have happened around her and in her silence, she has been complicit.
There’s one event she’s especially upset about. Atwood’s Penelope owns the burden and pain of what she did and didn't do when she was alive.
Speaking of alive, this Penelope actually isn’t living anymore. Rather she’s in the afterlife, and it is from there that she shares her story. She has the benefit of hindsight but Penelope doesn’t make excuses. If anything she allows herself to be more forthcoming, as evidenced by her comments about Helen, and of course Odysseus.
Another element of this novel that I enjoyed very much is Atwood’s use of the twelve hanged maids as a Greek Drama Chorus. It was brilliant. Atwood alternates between Penelope’s story and with the Chorus of Maids either singing or performing poetry. It is through this chorus that the maids are given a chance to tell their story. But also to rail at Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus. They demand justice for their cold hearted end.
The twelve maids, who they were, what they did for Penelope for years, and their deaths at the hands of Odysseus and Telemachus, is a vital part of the whole story.
At last, they have the space to speak now too.
There is plenty to love and appreciate about this book. Not least of which is Atwood’s writing, which has been consistently enjoyable to me.
Compliments aside I wanted more of Penelope. I wanted to read everything about her. I wanted more details about her early life in Sparta. About her family.
How did she spend her childhood? What kind of people were around her? What influences did she have growing up? I was looking forward to all of that and more. Give me the smaller details of this person's life. I would love it.
How did she spend her childhood? What kind of people were around her? What influences did she have growing up? I was looking forward to all of that and more. Give me the smaller details of this person's life. I would love it.
Maybe someone else out there would have a different take on Penelope's story. Atwood's take is worth a look.
At less than 200 pages, The Penelopiad is a short book, easily consumable and fantastic. It is for everyone of any age and reading preference.
Penelope’s story is timeless. And with Atwood’s skillful hands it is beautifully told.
