Perseverance In Penelope And The Suitors By Dorothy Parker

Perseverance instills itself into individuals during stressful times. There are several references in the poem to Penelope’s perseverance both in her faithfulness to Odysseus and her performance of the duties of a traditional housewife over the twenty years her husband was away. The painting is a visually representation of this perseverance by showing Penelope intently concentrating on weaving the shroud while her suitors try and persuade her with music and gifts. The themes of perseverance, love, and loneliness are prevalent in many of the author and artist works. Both mediums are used to effectively to illustrate these themes but especially the theme of perseverance. Both the painting, “Penelope and the Suitors” by John William Waterhouse, …show more content…
The poem is related to the book, “The Odyssey” and describes the main characters wife, Penelope, as she waits for him to return. The tone of the poem can be describe as thoughtful but at the same time there is a feeling of longing. This can most likely be interpreted as Penelope longing for Odysseus’ return. This is shown in the lines, “I shall sit at home, and rock; Rise, to heed a neighbor’s knock”. These lines describe Penelope repeating her duties day after day with great care and attention. By analyzing the poem “Penelope” it can be understood that Dorothy Parker has an understanding of how even though Penelope misses Odysseus, she still continues on with her own life. She is passing the time the only way she knows how but longing for her husband to return so she can rid herself of her suitors. The phrase “Where the world and sky are one” and the lines preceding it refer to the vast ocean Odysseus is traveling over and illustrates the loneliness and longing great distances apart can create. The line “He shall cut the glittering wave” from this section of the poem refers to the adventure and hardship that Odysseus endures to return home to Penelope. There is again a sense of hardship and longing for home. Both Penelope and Odysseus were enduring their own hardships to until they could be together