The Penelopiad

As portrayed in Homer's Odyssey, Penelope - wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy - has become a symbol of wifely duty and devotion, enduring twenty years of waiting when her husband goes to fight in the Trojan War. When Odysseus finally comes home, he kills her suitors and then, in an act that served as little more than a footnote in Homer's original story, inexplicably hangs Penelope's twelve maids.Now, Penelope and her chorus of wronged maids tell their side of the story in a new stage version by Margaret Atwood, adapted from her own wry, witty and wise novel.The Penelopiad premiered with the Royal Shakespeare Company in association with Canada's National Arts Centre at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, in July 2007.. As she fends off the attentions of a hundred greedy suitors, travelling minstrels regale her with news of Odysseus' epic adventures around the Mediterranean - slaying monsters and grappling with amorous goddesses

"“The ever-faithful…" according to John P. Jones III. Penelope”… is how Homer invariably described the wife of Odysseus. I recently read and reviewed Classical Mythology: A Very Short Introduction. Among the numerous takeaways, the author, Helen Morales, stressed that the myths are variable over time, often to fit the particular needs of the teller in a later era. Different aspects of the myth are stressed or changed.Margar. Penelope and The Hanged Maids, a Satire on The Odyssey In The Penelopiad Margaret Atwood gives us a satirical view of the events of The Odyssey. Penelope and her twelve hanged maids speak to us from Hades in our own time, which allows the author to present her work with the convenience of modern perspectives on sex, class, and the gods. The tone remains light and unlabored throughout, even while implicating the patriarchal values of the . An Old tale Told From A New Perspective I did enjoy this book very much. Ever wonder what Persophone's life was like while Odysseus was off to war? Margaret Atwood gives her imaginative answer to that question in this book. With beguiling creativity, Atwood deftly tells of how Persephone acted as well as what she thought. There is subtle yet nasty humor here and songs (as in a Greek chorus) from her 12 youngest and prettie

. Some of her vocal caricatures seem over the top, but most voices maintain a resemblance to our perceptions of these mythic people. These dark figures speak straightforwardly in their accusations of Penelope and Odysseus, while, at other times, they make use of rhyming. This benefits the production by creating an eerie resonance and haunting demeanor that enhances this engaging tale.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. The maids are presented as a saddened chorus by a cloning of Merlington's voice. From Publishers Weekly Drawing on a range of sources, in addition to The Odyssey, Atwood scripts the narrative of P