Penelope in a new Avatar. Review on Penelopiad, The - Margaret Atwood

The Penelopiad is a novella by Margaret Atwood. It is a probing, innovative and beautiful retelling of the myth of Odysseus form the perspective of his wife, Penelope. Odysseus had gone to fight on behalf of Agamemnon, and returns after two decades after the Trojan war ended. On return, he killed twelve maids of Penelope. This question forms the crux of the narrative. Another consideration is what was Penelope doing in the absence of her husband.

The myth is retold in a fresh manner, so that the reader is not at all bored. Helen of Troy makes some generous appearances in the novella (both are cousins). The story is narrated by Penelope while in Hades. The twelve maids are given a voice to express their outrage and anguish at being hanged for no reason of their own. Their narratives are different forms, a drama, a court trial, a folk song and others. Penelope’s family roots, ancient stories, customs, love life, domestic life are discovered. One can’t help smiling at the language.

Penelope is portrayed as being intelligent, but with all the human foibles of despair, jealousy, fear and depression. She also questions how the world could be so deceived by her husband’s cunning and lies for so long. His tales of bravery and adventure are given more human and prosaic touches. Overall, a good story- ancient but thoroughly modern in context.