CENTRAL LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, NUEVA ECIJA

Submitted in partial fulfillment in the requirements for English 101

TERM PAPER Penelope and Telemachus: An Analysis on the relationship of a mother and her child

Submitted by: LINDAIN, Lyka Lynette M. BDC II- A

Submitted to: ___________________________ Intructor in _____

DATE

ABSTRACT The poem, Odyssey, mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus (or Ulysses, as he was known in Roman myths) and his long journey home following the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to reach Ithaca after the ten-year Trojan War.[2] In his absence, it is assumed he has died, and his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must deal with a group of unruly suitors, the Mnesteres. This term paper focuses on the relationship of Telemachus and Penelope. It reviews the different struggles that they have gone through after the absence of Odysseus. It depicts the dilemmas they have encountered and how they have both reacted to these challenges. The type of bond and maturity of the two characters were also reviewed as how they have changed there roles and adapted to the situation they were in. The relation between a mother and a son is a unique one and has been afforded much significance in human civilizations. A strong mother-son relationship starts with consistency, patience, and emotional closeness, which are important for all babies, and the process is the same for boys and girls. Be aware of cultural or family messages that would pressure you to distance from your son when he is very young. Being a single mother is one of the most difficult tasks to deal with. Not only is it hard for the mother, but its just as hard for the child who lacks the presence of a fatherly figure. Penelope and infant Telemachus only had each other after Odysseuss disappearance after Troy. While dealing with her heartbreak and loss of her dear husband, Penelope never failed to give Telemachus constant loving care and did her best to guide him through his chaotic life It seems that the story does encourage an applied ideal on motherhood. Penelope has displayed rare courage and wit in brining up Telemachus even though her husband is away. Her role underlines the need for women to raise their standards and take care of the family in the face of adversity. Even though the powerful Ulysses was not at home, she did not that affect the proper growth and upbringing of his son. Hence, she has displayed the power and responsibility that goes with being a mother. Telemachus also performs much beyond his role as a son. He undertakes the journey in order to bring back the respect that is due to Penelope, and embarks on the journey without his mother knowing it, lest she may prevent him from undertaking it. Hence, it may be seen that he is ready to take risks and even endanger his life in order to safeguard the honor of his mother. He considers his life as much below in value when compared to the honor of Penelope.

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A mother has undying love for her children. Her presence itself deeply affects the entire life of her little one. Our mother is the first woman in our life and cannot be replaced by anyone. Though a mother loves all her children equally, despite distinction of sex, it has been seen often that a daughter is always more attached to her father, while a son is closer to his mother. A mother's love always makes her son stronger as well as balanced in his life. While a father makes his son strong enough to fight with the world, it is the mother who teaches him when and where to think from his heart. The most delicate aspect of mother and son relationship comes, when another woman enters into his life, either as a girlfriend or as a wife. This is the time, when almost every mother starts feeling insecure and becomes apprehensive. From being the only woman in her son's life, she has to share the affection with someone, who is as important in her son's life as she is. This is the time for the son to make his mother understand that she has and will always be the most special person in his life and that someone else can never take her place. On the other hand, a mother should also understand that she has to stop holding on to her son all the time and let go of him. There is a thin line between love and dominance. When the love turns into domination, it is then that the mother son relationship starts turning strenuous. The delicate balance of a mother and son relationship should always be maintained and the effort should be from both the sides. A mother should never interfere in her son's life, but at the same time, she should always be there when he needs her. Similarly, a son should never take his mother's love for granted and should always give her due respect. A strong mother-son relationship starts with consistency, patience, and emotional closeness, which are important for all babies, and the process is the same for boys and girls. Be aware of cultural or family messages that would pressure you to distance from your son when he is very young. Accept the fact that boys have a different communication style. Respect your sons need for emotional space. Be willing to overcome the fundamental differences of male/female in order to communicate. The first smile that a baby sees, the first voice that he recognizes, is that of his mother. As he grows older, his mother and her relationships with men husband, boyfriend, brother, father and friends are the first and most compelling examples of how a man interacts, or should interact, with a female. Mothers are the first and most constant expression of what a woman is, says Ronn Elmore, Ph.D., a minister, family counselor and author of several books on relationships. A boys view of the world is affected by what the mother has demonstrated. The old adage like father, like son needs correcting. More appropriate is like mother, like son. For the mother-son connection determines to a great extent not only what sons think about themselves but also what they think about women in general. Indeed,

wise women have always known that the best way to determine the quality of a man is to evaluate his relationship with his mother. Theres nothing new about this. It has been known for centuries that mothers and sons share a special bond. This does not mean, by any means, that mothers love their sons more than their daughters. But the motherson connection seems to be under armed by a maternal attachment that is not duplicated elsewhere. The relation between a mother and a son is a unique one and has been afforded much significance in human civilizations. Sons have given great importance to serve their mothers, and mothers on their part have even risked their lives in order to safeguard the lives of their sons. It may be observed that the sons, particularly in the olden ages were considered to be a force that would protect and safeguard the life and honor of the mother when they grow up to become great warriors. The unique relationship between son and mother finds echo in many pieces of literature and mythology, and it seems that the heroic qualities attributed to sons who laid down their lives for their mothers is a common feature of all civilizations. It is however also true that some important tragedies have also been based on the importance and sanctity of the mother-son relationship. Sons who laid down their lives for their mothers are considered as pious, chivalrous and extremely affectionate; factors that make them legends in the eyes of the following generations. This paper will look at the mother and son relationship between Penelope and Telemachus in The Odyssey

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE A study conducted by Dr Pasco Fearon, from the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences was conducted to seek to clarify the extent to which bonds between children and their moms early in life affect children's later behavioral problems, such as aggression or hostility. The study looked at 69 studies involving almost 6,000 children aged 12 and younger. The quality of the relationship between children and their parents is important to children's development, but past research on the link between attachment and development has been inconsistent. The volume, range and diversity of earlier studies made it difficult to get a clear picture. However this new analysis has been able to pull together evidence from past research to answer a number of scientific questions around attachment. According to attachment theory, children with secure attachments expect and receive support and comfort from their care givers. In contrast, children with insecure attachments have requests discouraged, rejected, or responded to inconsistently, which is thought to make them vulnerable to developing behavioral problems. The studies included in the review used a range of methods for assessing children's behavior problems, including parent and teacher questionnaires and direct observations. Dr Fearon said: "The central question we posed was whether attachment insecurity was associated with behavior problems across all the studies conducted to date. The results showed quite clearly that the answer to this question is a firm yes. "More specifically, our analysis showed that children with insecure attachments to their mothers, particularly boys, had significantly more behavioral problems, even when the behavioral problems were measured years later." The study also recommends the need for treatment studies focusing on attachment and for more research on the significance of attachment between children and their fathers. Milano Harden, a Harvard University graduate student who is developing the Fatherhood Initiative, says a recent study that be and colleagues conducted indicates that mothers in profound ways affect a boys development. Its not so much their psycho-sexual development, but were talking about the clarification of the sons vocational and educational identities, says Harden. We often think of identities as having one dimension gender. But there is a complexity of identities. And if the appropriate identity is not nurtured, it will not spring forth. Family therapists

say that many of the problems that women have with men can be traced to how men were reared by their mothers. Considering the great number of who are born out of wedlock to impoverished, uneducated and often very young women, it is easy to blame societal ills, such as public education and drug-infested neighborhoods. However many negative environmental factors could be neutralized by mothers and parents in general taking steps to steer their sons (and daughters) in a more positive direction. Family counselors point that sons are affected by the mothers relationships with men and the male role models involved in a young mans life. They emphasize that if a husband is not present in the home, an effort should be made to involved male friends and family members grandfathers, uncles, cousins. It is really important that mothers go out of their way to let their sons see them in loving, respectful and positive relationships with men, whether they be co-workers or just friends, says Dr. Elmore. The mothers romantic interests also influence how a son eventually will interact with women. A son feels that what you say about men, you are saying about him, continues Dr. Elmore. Mothers who constantly idolize men or who constantly put men down are sending the wrong messages and images of the boy about himself, he says. It is important that a mother do as much as she possibly can to let her son see her engaged in a loving, positive relationship with a man. Thats how sons learn how to give love. Mothers cant show that alone The longer the relationship, the more consistent it is, the more committed the relationship, then the better it is for the son. Joyce Hamilton Berry, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in the Washington, D.C.-area, says the best way for a mother to teach her son to respect women is by demanding respect herself. Demand that he carry packages and groceries, that he open doors for you and other women, says Dr. Berry. Teach him to speak to women with respect and not call them names If a man loves, respects and reveres his mother, then most likely he will treat his woman the same way. If its a healthy relationship with his mother, thats good. How much is too much depends on how the mother parents. However, some mothers are so over protective the child becomes dependent. Ironically, this dependency negatively affect the sons development. Sometimes they shirk responsibility because they have never bad to be responsible; when made mistakes, mom made excuses. This dependency carries over into the sons relationships with women. There is the belief that no woman can take care of my son as well as I can, says Dr. Berry. A mother takes note of how her sons children are cared for, how meals are cooked, how the house is cleaned. She is concerned about her sons welfare. Ideally you are supposed to raise your children to grow up and move out on their own so that they can take care of themselves. Frequently, men will remain dependent on their mothers, and mothers enable this to happen. Mothers dont cut the cord. They become resources for their sons Some men believe that only their mothers can do it the right way. For instance, they say to their wives, `I want it to taste like mamas fried apples. Some mothers, unwittingly and sometimes unconsciously, try to replace departed

husbands with sons. Jawanza Kunjufu, Ph.D., gives a hypothetical situation in which a divorced mother reasons that her 13-to-16-year-old son can help move furniture, repair the car, do most of the physical work around the house. Some mothers like this arrangement, says Dr. Kunjufu, a noted author who runs a family counseling service in Chicago. So they encourage the son to remain at home until he is 40. He never has to leave. Thats why some males never marry. They can shack with their girl friends, and when she gets upset and wants to put him out, he can always return home to his mother. In an effort to have an intimate, loving relationship with their sons, many women, adds Dr. Elmore, mistakenly turn their sons into mothers confidant and pal. And that is something that works to the disadvantage of the relationship, he says. It works against the boy developing because it teaches him he is responsible for women rather than he is responsive to women. He feels he has to take away a womans hurt and pain. When he is an adult and into his own relationships, he pulls away from women, when he is not able to provide that kind of counsel. He feels that if his adult mother is so immature and needy, that tends to form his definition of what women are all about. It results in him having less respect for women. Another study discovered that a mothers relationship with her children during youth is important for the childs emotional growth. University of Reading researchers found that an insecure relationship between a mother and her son leads to more behavior problems later in childhood. The analysis by Dr. Pasco Fearon, from the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, looked at 69 studies involving almost 6,000 children aged 12 and younger. The quality of the relationship between children and their parents is important to childrens development, but past research on the link between attachment and development has been inconsistent. The volume, range and diversity of earlier studies made it difficult to get a clear picture. However this new analysis has been able to pull together evidence from past research to answer a number of scientific questions around attachment. According to attachment theory, children with secure attachments expect and receive support and comfort from their care givers. In contrast, children with insecure attachments have requests discouraged, rejected, or responded to inconsistently, which is thought to make them vulnerable to developing behavioral problems. The new research sought to clarify the extent to which bonds between children and their mothers early in life affect childrens later behavioral problems, such as aggression or hostility. The studies included in the review used a range of methods for assessing childrens behavior problems, including parent and teacher questionnaires and direct observations. Dr. Fearon said: The central question we posed was whether attachment

insecurity was associated with behavior problems across all the studies conducted to date. The results showed quite clearly that the answer to this question is a firm yes. More specifically, our analysis showed that children with insecure attachments to their mothers, particularly boys, had significantly more behavioral problems, even when the behavioral problems were measured years later. The study also recommends the need for treatment studies focusing on attachment and for more research on the significance of attachment between children and their fathers. Adrienne Rich, feminist, writer, researcher and mother once stated, "if could have one wish for my own sons, it is that they should have the courage of women" (1976,p.214). Current statistics demonstrate that adolescent boys are more likely to be unemployed, to die from suicide or bad health, to have term psychological problems, to contribute in disproportionately large numbers to crime statistics. One of the explanations for this situation that is gaining currency in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA, is that the current generation of boys is fatherless. The 1996 census counted 168,255 one-parent families, accounting for 17.7 percent of all family structures. Of these 83.1 percent, or a total of 139,819 one-parent families, were headed by women. Mothers from intact heterosexual relationships report experiences of ostensibly raising their children on their own. And yet there is silence about the mother, her realities and the integral part she has to play in addressing the highlighted concerns. It appears she is encouraged to withdraw any influence she may have on the adolescent son and actively promote involvement by the father. The research project investigates the mother and adolescent son relationship, the interventions to this relationship and the impact of these interventions on the mother and son. Using feminist participatory action research theory, as distinct from action research, its concerned with the following methodological questions; deconstructing the 'participant-empowerment' agenda; examining the insider/outsider relationship, when the subject-object relationship between researcher and researched that occurs in conventional research is converted into a subject-subject relationship; and negotiating a community and socialchange based feminist research that is also located within the academy. The research methods used in the project include a longitudinal focus group, focus group sessions and interviews that were audiotaped and transcribed, semi-structured individual one-off interviews that were audiotaped and transcribed, journaling, drawing interpretation and a review of literature. The findings of this study demonstrate that the mother-adolescent son relationship is disrupted by marginalising and disenfranchising and that these interventions disempower the mother. The research has shown that a major agent in the incapacitation of the mother-headed family is the lack of adequate resources available. The insufficiency of State support for the family intensifies these difficulties. The research has shown that the strength, confidence and enhanced self-esteem of the mother contributes positively to her ability to parent her adolescent son. The participants have also been able to demonstrate that the diversity of family and community structures can provide necessary and positive role models for male children. By combining participatory action research with feminist research principles, the project also provides a transferable example of the ability of these two approaches to inform and enrich each other.

CHAPTER III DISCUSSIONS AND ANALYSIS The Odyssey The Odysseyfamiliar to most of us although likely read by fewis widely known as an epic love story: Odysseus beats the odds of multiple sea storms, encounters with murderous gods and monsters, and even death itself to reunite with his ever-faithful Penelope. Our cultural memory of this text is curious given that, in keeping with what we know about the historical treatment of women in Homers Greece, the story consistently portrays women as mere possessions to be traded among men, symbolic of bonds between upper-class households. Pierre Brul writes of marriage during the period: Matrimonial transactions set in motion a transhumance of wealththe flocks brought by the suitor, the dazzling gifts of the future husband, garments and jewelry (theoretically for the bride, but as she will live with her husband, these riches are merely for ostentation, hardly have they come out of the coffers than they are put back in them), the dazzling gifts of the father, which form the true payback of the transaction. They legitimize the marriage and the children-to-come, and are the basis of the alliance between the houses. (68) In The Odyssey, much of the action of the plot is actually spurred by the intricacies of this system of exchange between men. Odysseus and Penelopes son, Telemachus, is fearful that his mother will soon settle on a suitor, which would result in Telemachuss inheritance transferring to the possession of a step-father and later probably halfbrothers. Penelope is allowed to make a decision regarding her fate instead of a male caretaker only because of her very unusual circumstances: she is assumed to be widowed and has no male children of a legal age. Nearing the age of rightful ownership over his mother in the absence of her husband, Telemachus is convinced by the goddess Athene (who reminds him that mothers are apt to forget about sons of a previous marriage when they bear sons for a new husband) to put Penelope in her place, to usurp her tenuous claim to decision rights over her future and to bring his father back in order to ensure a return to the rightful patriarchal order of the household. In this way, The Odyssey is less a love story than a French Feminist nightmare, a bildungsroman in which Telemachus comes of age by learning to recognize Penelope as (m)other. This claim is demonstrated perhaps most persuasively in the texts continual upholding of a matricidal model of manhood. Indeed, less than seven pages into the more than 250-page text, we are introduced to perhaps the single most important contextual frame of this story: the widespread celebration of Orestess killing of his mother and her lover, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, in revenge for the murder of his father, Agamemnon. Athenea motherless goddess, borne of Zeus alone, we must rememberscolds Telemachus for his apparently tardy development of manhood, saying, You are too old to plead infancy any longer; have you not heard how people are singing Orestes

praises for having killed his fathers murderer, Aegisthus? You are a fine, smart-looking fellow; show your mettle, then, and make yourself a name in story (7). Athene here references the story of Orestess matricide in the larger context of suggesting that Telemachus kill off his mothers suitors, who are leaching off of the (now dwindling) wealth of his household. The goddess insinuates, then, that in both Orestess and Telemachuss cases, murder is justified in order to protect the rightful assets of the young sons of politically powerful war heroes. Whether the victims are mothers or lecherous men in pursuit of Odysseuss wife and fortunes is of little consequence. In fact, Athene does not even mention Clytemnestra by name, which, again, points to her interpretation of Orestess matricide as less important than his reclaiming of his fathers property. In this way, Orestes is celebrated throughout the text as hero despite his killing of his own mother. In a later scene, though, the issue of matricide is finally addressed more directly. Nestor explains to Telemachus Clytemnestras complicity with Aegisthuss treachery against Agamemnon, which led to her murder at the hands of her son, At first [Clytemnestra] would have nothing to do with the scheme, for she was of good natural disposition; moreover, there was a bard with her, to whom Agamemnon had given strict orders on setting out for Troy, that he was to keep guard over his wife; but when heaven had counseled her destruction, Aegisthus carried this bard off to a desert island . . . after which she went willingly enough to the house of Aegisthus (25). This version of the Clytemnestra/Aegisthus myth is telling in several ways. First of all, it entirely omits the event that many versions of the story suggest led to Clytemnestras eventual alliance with her husbands enemy, Agamemnons sacrifice of their adolescent daughter, Ighigenia, to the gods in exchange for the guarantee of success in the Trojan War. Indeed, Clytemnestra joined with Aegisthus an angry mother seeking revenge for her daughters brutal murder. Also, Nestor portrays Clytemnestra as a mindless being in keeping with the perception of women as little more than chattel during this period, according to Brul (75)in need of shepherding by a male bard in Agamemnons absence and easily led astray after the bards abandonment. Given her object status as well as her inclinationif not held in check by patriarchal forcestoward animalistic behavior, then, it is little wonder that Telemachus is able to learn to perceive his initial obedience to the (m)other as an impediment to his achievement of male subjectivity. Indeed, before leaving to attempt to retrieve his father, Telemachus signals his newfound manhood by relieving his mother of her duties as interim head-of-household. After she criticizes the musical choices of the household bard, Telemachus instructs Penelope, Go then, within the house and busy yourself with your daily duties, your loom, your distaff, and the ordering of your servants; for speech is a mans matter, and mine above all othersfor it is I who am master here. Telemachus, thus, silences Penelopes expression of opinions regarding the public space of the household and banishes her to manage the more inconsequential womens sphere of spinning and weaving. In a later scene, after he has reunited with Odysseus and secretly plotted with his father to defeat Penelopes suitors, Telemachus takes yet another opportunity to assert his mastery over his mother. Not knowing that Odysseus has returned in the disguise of a beggar, Penelope has reluctantly agreed to let him participate in the bow

stringing contest to win her hand in marriage. Telemachus again orders her into the house, saying, This bow is a mans matter, and mine above all others, for it is I who am master here (231). In both of these instances, Telemachus asserts his own subjectivity by way of reinforcing his mothers objectivity as a woman in his charge. Telemachus goes on to demonstrate that he is equal in strength and bravery to father, as the outnumbered pair proceed to massacre Penelopes suitors after Odysseus successfully strings his own bow and reveals himself to the other men. In the final scenes, then, Telemachus reaches a point of full identification with Odysseus; no longer a child under his mothers care, he asserts his manhood by fighting side-by-side with his warrior father. When Penelope hesitates in her acceptance of Odysseuss return, Telemachus again shows his allegiance to his father over his mother: Motherbut you are so hard that I cannot call you such a namewhy do you keep away from my father in this way? . . . No other woman could bear to keep away from her husband . . . but your heart always was as hard as a stone (246). Here, Telemachus constructs his mothera woman who, as the story reminds us repeatedly, has mourned the absence of her husband for 20 long yearsas an other, insensitive and inhuman in her resistance to his father, the model that Telemachus must approximate in order to attain subjectivity as a man. The disagreement between Telemachus and Penelope The disagreement between Telemachus and Penelope arises from differing opinions on the entertainment of Phemius. Phemius is singing the tale of the Greek warriors of Troy and their homecomings when Penelope descends from her chambers to protest this choice of music. She scolds him, and orders him to stop because he has reminded her of Odysseus, whos long lost at sea. Telemachus rebukes his mother by protesting that the bard has the right to sing anything he wishes. He then sends his mother off to her chambers, declaring that he is the master of the house. This clash between Penelope and Telemachus was caused by both. Penelopes fault was that she did not stop to consider Telemachus feelings on the subject. She is so engrossed in her own pain for her lost love that she is blind to the problems of her son. She does not see his insecurities on his past and especially his future, or his lack of confidence in himself. Most of all, she is ignorant to his inner struggle between love and hate for Odysseus. She does not realize his need to learn of his legacy, she only sees her grief and her pain. . She is very detached from the world, and focuses on her grief and pain. Because she is so preoccupied with her own problems, she has neglected her duties as a mother. She, in her distress, has pushed her son away from her. This disagreement over Phemius only shows the deep chasm that has come between them. As for Telemachus, he makes the same mistakes as his mother in that he refuses to see her side of the issue. He, too, is deeply engrossed in his problems that he does not see the deep extent of his mothers pain. Him ordering her to leave is a sign that he believes her feelings to be almost inconsequential compared to his. His eagerness to learn of Odysseus great deeds seems to overshadow the sadness his mother feels. The tales of the Trojan War are the only way in which he can come to know his father, who he does not remember, since Penelope obviously avoids the topic entirely. He needs to

know his legacy. Most importantly, he is searching for a way to justify his fathers absence, and to justify why he has left Ithaca in such a state of disorder. However, his quest for his legacy was not the only reason he had for defending Phemius The changing role of Telemachus In the beginning of the story, we see Telemachus deeply concerned about the plight that has befallen his household. Even though he knows that the crowd of suitors has come to marry his mother, he is no position to drive them out of his home. We see a helpless child in Telemachus who is constrained to even take care of the guests who have come to his house with a wrong intention. Telemachus only displays pain at the way the house is being monopolized by the crowd of suitors and it seems that he is either not concerned or aware of the moral problems posed by the long list of men in his house, who wishes to marry his mother. We can also see another dimension to the love that Telemachus has for his parents. It may be said that he is more concerned about his father's health than his mother's honor. This could also be because men were considered to be guardians of the house and Telemachus naturally felt unsafe in the absence of his father. In book 1, we see Telemachus brooding over the return of his father, and even though he is weary of the people who have monopolized his house and even when he thinks about how his father would vanquish them had he been in the house, he provides the guests with food and appoint servants to take care of their every need [Homer, book 1] Telemachus is also a bruised soul and it is his ego that prompts him to search for his father who is considered to be dead. His young mind is not able to bear the dishonor that the society has meted out to him and his mother. The fact that he leaves his mother in order to find his father speaks of the relative importance that he gives for his father. This is because he is humiliated by the scores of men who have flocked at his house in order to marry his mother. He is pained that he cannot do anything to save his mother other than bring back his father whose mere presence would drive all the suitors away. We see that Telemachus undertakes to make a very dangerous mission and is not concerned about the threats to his life that such a journey could pose. Here Homer very lucidly explains the position of the man in the ancient Greek household. If the household is devoid of men, it becomes a haven for the unruly elements of the society. Telemachus understands this and so takes the decision to travel. Hence, it would be correct to say that Telemachus went in search of Ulysses for two reasons 1. To bring back the joy and respect that his mother deserves and 2. To rediscover his lost authority and power over his household. Hence, it may be said that Telemachus had both selfish as well as non-selfish reasons to undertake the journey to find his father. We also see that Telemachus' relation to his mother changes as he matures. In the beginning of the story we can see that he is but a meek boy who has no control over the events that are happening at his house. However as the story progresses we see Telemachus growing stronger and assuming a

protective role. We see that he values honor and respect more when he is mature, and so deems it fit that he must find his father in order to regain the lost respect that is due to his mother. He finds alternate ways and means to safeguard his mother, and so even though he is powerless by himself to drive away all the suitors or prevent them from monopolizing the events in the house, he decides to undertake a risky journey to bring back his father who would then drive away the sinister suitors [Himmelhoch, 2000] Penelope, Telemachus' mother, although clever, cannot hold on against the suitors. It must be said that she has succeeded in raising Telemachus almost single handedly in the absence of his father and so she expected her son to safeguard her honor against a bunch of people who had no virtues. Here we see a reversal of roles between Penelope and Telemachus. Penelope cared and looked after Telemachus when he was a child and he was repaying her by trying to find out his father whose presence would help her to regain her lost reputation. However the mother maintains the same love that she had for her kid. She is grief stricken when she learns that Telemachus has risked his life in order to save her life. Moreover Telemachus has no other option than to bargain for his mother's reputation from the suitors. Hence he had to agree to find his father in twelve months time, or arrange his mother's wedding with someone else. Here we see that Telemachus assumes the role of a father as he matures. There is definitely a change of role between mother and son and the son becomes more dominant as he matures. "Make up your mind to it and bear it; Ulysses is not the only man who never came back from Troy, but many another went down as well as he. Go, then, within the house and busy yourself with your daily duties, your loom, your distaff, and the ordering of your servants; for speech is man's matter, and mine above all others- for it is I who am master here." [Homer, Book 1] Penelopes distress Being a woman in Ancient Greece does not yield fair rights to women. Unfortunately, even clever women, such as Penelope, had to comply with these rules. Godlike Odysseuss wife, Penelope, reflects the image of a woman living in the ancient Greek time period. In the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, Homer portrays Penelope as an ancient Greek woman. Since Penelope is living in ancient Greece, she has to abide by the Greek societys rules prevalent at that time. In the society that Penelope lives in, women do not receive the same rights men do. In ancient Greece, a woman could be pressured to marry a man, a woman could not control any property at all, and a woman cannot even command respect from her own servants. In the Odyssey, Penelope is being pressured to marry the suitors that very rudely stay at her house. Penelope is being pressured from multiple sides to marry the suitors. From one side there is the Greek society saying that your husband is gone, so you should re-marry and then there are the suitors themselves pressuring Penelope the most to marry one of them. Telemachus even considers pressuring his mother into marrying one of the suitors. The Greek society has built up general standards that almost everyone follows. One of these standards is that if a woman becomes a widow,

then she should re-marry. The suitors are persistently waiting for Penelope to marry one of them. During their wait, the suitors treat Odysseus property very carelessly and waste it away. In ancient Greece, if a man wanted to marry a woman, he would go to her father to ask him, if he could have his daughters hand in marriage. However in Penelopes case, she has no one to give her away so shes, free for the taking. The reason Penelope did not marry was because she still had hope that Odysseus was alive and was making an effort to come back. Penelope did agree to marry the suitors after she finished making a quilt. But what she did not tell the suitors was that she was undoing it by night. And all this time Penelope had to let them stay in her house, on her property because she did not have control over it. Penelope cannot command complete ownership of her house and land. Penelope only owns the property by name, since shes the wife of the man who truly owns it. Telemachus who is the next male in Odysseus family now owns the house and land. Telemachus does not like the suitors being there in his land and house. Yet he cannot do anything since they are there to marry his mother, so he has to try and be a gracious host. Penelope and Telemachus cannot control the suitors behavior even though Telemachus is a man and the suitors are on his property. If Penelope were to marry a suitor, she would have to leave everything behind because she is marrying someone and starting a new life with them. If she marries a suitor, she is then bound to the suitor and his property, never actually owning property and land herself. And while ancient Greek women cannot own property, they cant even control the servants on the property. Penelope cannot command respect from even her most lowly servants. Only if Penelopes husband, Odysseus, is there, will the servants listen to her. But the suitors can get more respect out of the servants than Penelope just because of their gender. The servants disrespect Penelope further by associating with the suitors. A woman in modern times could never have such low respect that even her servants will not listen to her. In modern times, an actress probably has many servants each assigned to a specific task like cooking or cleaning. The actresss servant will listen to the actress instantly because a modern woman has more respect than an ancient Greek woman. Another reason why a servant would listen to a modern actress and not an ancient Greek woman is because the actress is considered important; the women in ancient Greece are not. It also depends on the type of society; The Greeks thought the male was the most beautiful thing so they cast women aside. But the Amazonian culture prized women beyond men. Penelope is depicted as a clever and quick-witted woman. However those attributes count for very little if that person is an ancient Greek woman. In ancient Greece the woman does not have a very significant role or genuine respect. Penelope represents a woman of her time because she is still bound by the rules society had placed on women. Todays culture can never let a woman reach a condition so low that she can continuously be pressured to marry someone, or where she cannot control property or even command respect from her very own servants.

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION Being a single mother is one of the most difficult tasks to deal with. Not only is it hard for the mother, but its just as hard for the child who lacks the presence of a fatherly figure. Penelope and infant Telemachus only had each other after Odysseuss disappearance after Troy. While dealing with her heartbreak and loss of her dear husband, Penelope never failed to give Telemachus constant loving care and did her best to guide him through his chaotic life It seems that the story does encourage an applied ideal on motherhood. Penelope has displayed rare courage and wit in brining up Telemachus even though her husband is away. Her role underlines the need for women to raise their standards and take care of the family in the face of adversity. Even though the powerful Ulysses was not at home, she did not that affect the proper growth and upbringing of his son. Hence, she has displayed the power and responsibility that goes with being a mother. Telemachus also performs much beyond his role as a son. He undertakes the journey in order to bring back the respect that is due to Penelope, and embarks on the journey without his mother knowing it, lest she may prevent him from undertaking it. Hence, it may be seen that he is ready to take risks and even endanger his life in order to safeguard the honor of his mother. He considers his life as much below in value when compared to the honor of Penelope. References: 1. Fearon, RP et al. The Significance of Insecure Attachment and Disorganization in the Development of Childrens Externalizing Behavior: A Meta-Analytic Study. Child Development, 2010; 81 (2): 435 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01405.x 2. Nauert PhD, R. (2010). Mother-Son Relationship Important for Emotional Growth. Psych Central. Retrieved on October 2, 2011, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/03/26/mother-son-relationship-important-foremotional-growth/12408.html 3. Linda Rennie Forcey; Mothers of Sons: Toward an Understanding of Responsibility. Retrieved from: http://www.questia.com/library /psychology/relationships-and-the-family/family/mothers-and-sons.jsp. September 28, 2011 4. Brule, Pierre. Women of Ancient Greece. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2003. 5. Homer. The Odyssey. Ed. Harry Shefter. Trans. Samuel Butler. New York: Washington Square P, 1969. Brule, Pierre. Women of Ancient Greece. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2003.