Penelope's Endurance and Cunning

Penelope's steadfast fidelity and her clever strategies to delay the suitors.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Weaving Trick

The Shroud of Laertes The Plan Penelope tells the suitors she will marry after she finishes weaving a shroud for Laertes. She weaves by day and unravels by night. The Deception For three years, she fools the suitors. They grow impatient but are held off. The Betrayal A maid betrays her secret. The suitors force her to finish the shroud.

Encouraging the Suitors

Penelope's Ambiguity Mixed Signals Penelope sometimes appears before the suitors, giving them hope. She accepts gifts but never commits. The Dream of the Eagle She tells the beggar about her dream of an eagle killing her geese, which she interprets as a sign. The Bow Contest She devises the contest of the bow as a final delay, hoping that only Odysseus can win.

The Test of the Bed

Penelope's Final Test Caution Even after being told Odysseus has returned, Penelope is cautious. She tests him by asking about their bed. The Secret Odysseus describes how he built the bed around an olive tree, a secret only they know. Recognition and Joy Penelope embraces him, and they are reunited. Her cunning and fidelity are rewarded.

For three years during Odysseus's absence

Throughout the story

After the slaughter