Taking Her Seriously: Penelope and the Plot of Homer's Odyssey

by Richard Heitman

Taking Her Seriously is a reevaluation of Penelope, one of the most universally admired female characters in Western classical literature. Casting her in a new light, Richard Heitman emphasizes the courage, steadfastness, and integrity of this iconic figure while facing potentially tragic decisions. Homer's treatment of events in Ithaca and the motivations of Penelope throughout the denser books of the Odyssey reveal a complicated, serious, independent, and insightful thinker whose actions are crucial to guaranteeing the well-being of her home and a safe future for her son, and for Odysseus as well. Through this thematic approach to the text, Penelope comes into focus as a loving wife whose role is far more important than passive fidelity to a wandering husband. Her integrity and wisdom in Odysseus's absence sets the stage for his violent and triumphant return, and secures her place as a female role model in even the most modern of contexts. "[Heitman] provides a sensitive critical study of the Odyssey in which he strives to better appreciate the poem by focusing on the familial interactions in Ithaca . . . Heitman's interpretations . . . are unfailingly clear and thought-provoking. Highly recommended."
--- Choice "It is an example of a neat and valuable contribution which is both intelligible to non-specialists and inspiring for psychologists and classicists. It demonstrates that research into Homer still is . . . capable of extracting ever new exciting ideas from Homer's texts."
--- Bryn Mawr Classical Review

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 25, 2005

Reviews

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to the others I've read, this is a rather lazy analysis of Penelope's character: despite the claim of finally taking her seriously, it manages to be very hasty and short-sighted, focusing only on some details and points of view and completely ignoring others. By the end on the book, it didn't seem to me that Penelope had been understood satisfactorily.

[Elizabeth]

Unrated for reasons of not finishing.

It's really hard to track the argument in this book. The first several chapters are about telemachus, not Penelope. Couldn't force myself to continue inflicting it on my brain.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well reasoned analysis of The Odyssey's Penelope.

[Carys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Penelope so I obviously loved this book. Some really interesting ideas and i'm looking forward to reading it again.