Penelopiad Paper

Farnham 1
Sam Farnham
English 9 D Block
May 23, 2019 December 11, 2018
Matriarchal Madness Formatted: Font: Not Bold
Justice is ambiguous; different people have various, contrasting definitions of justice.
How does one truly achieve justice? Many ponder the answer, but few ever comprehend its true
meaning. The true meaning of justice is the receival of fair treatment and consequences. In
Margaret Atwood's novel, The Penelopiad, the maids countlessly allude to an underlying theme
of gender inequality and injustice. The formation of a matriarchal society in Ithaca during
Odysseus’s voyage threatens him and he therefore chooses to punish the maids. Although the
maids forever haunt Odysseus, Atwood conveys that their ongoing pain and search for justice
will last forever; therefore, they do did not achieve justice.
After severely punishing the maids, Odysseus still escapes his deserved consequences.
During the trial of Odysseus, the maids scream, “You've forgotten about us! What about our
case? You can't let him off!” (Atwood 177). The maids present this trial to symbolize how
Odysseus escapes his punishments for murdering the maids. During this trial, the The maids
argue are arguing with the judge of Odysseus’s hypothetical trial; they believe that the judge
should try Odysseus for their murder, not just the murder of the suitors. The fact that only the
suitors receive a formal court case supports an overarching theme of male dominance. To
conclude Odysseus’s trial, the judge states, “It would be unfortunate if this regrettable but minor
incident were allowed to stand as a blot on an otherwise exceedingly distinguished career”
(Atwood 182). The judge letting Odysseus off the case displays a similar concept: the concept
that famous and influential people powerful male figures are above the law; this concept is sadly
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still present in the world today. The failure to receive justice in court symbolizes the overall
unjust treatment of the maids. Penelope, in addition to Odysseus, is to blame for the injustice
surrounding the maids and their deaths.
Penelope does not speak up for the maids even though she is the cause of their undoing.
After hearing the news of the maids’ murder Penelope says, “What could I do? Lamentation
wouldn't bring my lovely girls back to life… Dead is dead, I told myself" (Atwood 160).
Penelope acts like she cannot help the maids when, in reality, she is capable of abolishing their
death sentences is too afraid to tell Odysseus the truth about her involvement with the maids.
Penelope does not tell Odysseus about her communication with the maids because she is too self-
absorbed of herself and fearful of Odysseus to take the blame for her own actions. Towards the
end of The Penelopiad, the maids point out, “We took the blame/ it was not fair" (195). The
maids are talking about how they “took the blame” for Penelope’s decision to spy on the suitors.
Even after the brutal torture and execution of the maids, Penelope still does not speak up for
them; therefore, Penelope is an impediment to the maids and their search for justice. Penelope
does not justify or defend the maids’ actions.
In “An Anthropology Lecture,” the maids argue that their deaths represent a significant
Greek value, male dominance. The maids believe that Odysseus represents patriarchy and they
symbolize matriarchy; therefore, the cruel torture and murder of the maids represents the
upheaval of matriarchy upon Odysseus’s return to Ithaca. When Odysseus returns, he
immediately takes over Penelope’s kingdom without asking for her permission thus dominating
her female society. Sadly, male dominance is still very prevalent in the world today; males, too
often, use their power for malice instead of striving for equality, and females, like the maids, still
suffer from the many injustices and inequalities of modern-day society.

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Works Cited
Atwood, Margaret. The Penelopiad. Canongate Books. 2005 Print.

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Farnham 1

May 23, 2019 December 11, 2018

Matriarchal Madness Formatted: Font: Not Bold

Justice is ambiguous; different people have various, contrasting definitions of justice.

will last forever; therefore, they do did not achieve justice.

incident were allowed to stand as a blot on an otherwise exceedingly distinguished career”

surrounding the maids and their deaths.

does not justify or defend the maids’ actions.

upheaval of matriarchy upon Odysseus’s return to Ithaca. When Odysseus returns, he

suffer from the many injustices and inequalities of modern-day society.

Atwood, Margaret. The Penelopiad. Canongate Books. 2005 Print.

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