The Penelopiad

Main Characters and Their Development

• Penelope - the main character and narrator, wife of Odysseus. In the book, she is portrayed as an intelligent and insightful woman who tells her story from the afterlife. Penelope reconsiders her life and role in the myth, revealing her feelings and experiences that were not accounted for in traditional versions of the myth.
• Odysseus - Penelope's husband, a legendary hero known for his adventures and cunning. In The Penelopiad, he is depicted from Penelope's perspective, allowing a new view of him as a man with flaws and weaknesses.
• The Twelve Maids - they play a crucial role in the narrative, serving as a chorus that comments on events and expresses their feelings. Their fate is tragic, as they were executed by Odysseus's order, and in the book, they are given the chance to tell their side of the story.
• Telemachus - the son of Penelope and Odysseus, depicted as a young man striving to assert his authority and independence. His relationships with his mother and father are complex and fraught with conflict.