Queens in Homer and Claire North's Ithaca

“A Portrayal of Queens: a comparison between Homer and Claire North”? 

 Written by a Year 11 student at Queen's Gate School, London

Penelope: 

Penelope is often seen as the faithful wife who waits for her husband's return, weaving her loom while mourning the death of Odysseus. However, she is much more than just that. In Homer’s Odyssey, Penelope is also depicted as cunning and intelligent, a perfect match for Odysseus and the ideal queen of her time. Before diving deeper into Penelope’s story, it’s also important to understand what the perfect queen was like to the Greeks. 

To an ancient audience, the ideal queen was one who honored and listened to her husband. She was expected to be loyal, humble, and deferential to men, never seeking the spotlight. Penelope fits this role perfectly. She is cunning, yet she does not boast about it. Instead, she works quietly, providing guidance in a subtle way. 

An example of Penelope’s cunning in the Odyssey is when she delays the suitors who are pressuring her to remarry. She tells them that she will choose a new husband once she finishes weaving a shroud for her father-in-law, Laertes. However, each night, she secretly unravels her work, ensuring that the shroud is never completed: “And I have to think out tricks to fool them with. The first was a real inspiration. I set up a great web on my loom here and started weaving...” This act of deception allows her to remain faithful to Odysseus while buying time in the hope of his return. 

While Homer’s Odyssey focuses largely on Penelope’s obedience and her role as a good wife, modern retellings offer a more well-rounded view and interpretation of her character. In Claire North’s Ithaca, for example, Penelope is portrayed not just as a loyal wife, but as a woman of depth, strength, and resilience. North captures Penelope’s actions in a way that aligns with the expectations of her time, but she also gives us a glimpse into the inner workings of Penelope’s mind. 

In Ithaca, Penelope is shown to be more than just a passive figure waiting for her husband’s return. North’s Penelope is a ruler in her own right, dealing with the pressures of maintaining her household and protecting her son, Telemachus. She is thoughtful, strategic, and aware of the dangerous power dynamics around her. “For some silence is weakness; for a great queen, it is a weapon.” This portrayal highlights her strength as a leader and her ability to navigate a world where women were often overlooked or underestimated. It also emphasizes how Penelope uses silence and subtlety to her advantage, wielding her power in a way that would not draw unnecessary attention to herself. 

Penelope’s cunning nature is further explored in Ithaca as she carefully manages the suitors and maintains control over her household. North’s portrayal emphasizes that Penelope’s intelligence and patience are her greatest weapons, 

allowing her to protect her family and kingdom even in the absence of Odysseus. The novel presents Penelope not just as a faithful wife, but as a queen who possesses the qualities of a true ruler—wisdom, foresight, and the ability to outmanoeuvre those who would undermine her. 

In conclusion, Penelope's portrayal has evolved over time, from the obedient, loyal wife in Homer’s Odyssey to a more complex and powerful figure in modern retellings like Claire North’s Ithaca. Through these stories, we see that Penelope is not only a symbol of fidelity but also a representation of strength, intelligence, and the quiet power that comes from working in the shadows. 

Clytemnestra: 

Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon, stands as one of the most formidable women in Greek mythology, renowned for her power. Unlike many queens of her time, who often served as mere puppets to their husbands or fathers, Clytemnestra took control of the kingdom in Agamemnon's absence during the Trojan War. During the ten years he was away, she reigned as a queen and had power not often given to women in ancient Greece. 

In the traditional telling of her story, Clytemnestra is often cast in a bad light. She is depicted as a vengeful queen, an unfaithful wife, and a neglectful mother. This portrayal reflects the expectations of women in a patriarchal society, where any woman taking power, was met with suspicion. Her act of murdering Agamemnon upon his return was typically viewed as being driven by a thirst for power and revenge. However, over time, modern audiences have reinterpreted the reasoning behind her actions to mean much more. 

One of the main reasons behind Clytemnestra’s actions is her pursuit of justice. Agamemnon’s sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia, to appease the goddess Artemis and secure safe passage to Troy, fuels Clytemnestra’s desire for revenge. From this perspective, her murder of Agamemnon can be seen not as a grab for power, but as an act of retribution for the loss of her child. In this light, Clytemnestra’s actions, while extreme, can be understood as a response to the deep pain and betrayal she experienced. 

Her story is further explored in Claire North’s Ithaca, where Clytemnestra is portrayed with more depth, focusing on her emotions. Described as “the queen of honest revelation and level-headed merit,” North’s depiction emphasizes her intelligence and rationality—qualities often downplayed in traditional accounts. This description highlights her true capabilities and offers a better understanding of who she really was. 

The way Clytemnestra’s story has changed over time shows how society’s views on women and power have shifted. In ancient Greece, she was seen as a villain because she did not fit the typical gender roles. But in modern interpretations, 

she’s often seen as a tragic figure—a woman pushed to the edge by those around her, who takes control of her own fate. This change in how her story is told highlights how our understanding of characters can be shaped by the time and culture we live in. 

Comparison 

In Greek mythology, Penelope and Clytemnestra are often seen as two very different examples of what it means to be a woman and a queen. Penelope, the loyal wife of Odysseus, is usually celebrated for her faithfulness, patience, and domestic virtues. On the other hand, Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon, is often labelled as the "bad wife," known for her treachery, vengeance, and quest for power. 

However, a quote from the book Ithaca has always made me pause:  

“Clytemnestra, who chose to be a woman, a mother, a lover, and a queen, burnt the brightest and could not live long being so many things at once, too beautiful and great for this earth. But Penelope - Penelope is the one who sacrifices all, to be a queen and nothing more. This too, though it wounds me, though I wish it were any other way...” 

This quote shows the power of both women but in very different ways. Clytemnestra was someone who fully embraced all her roles in life, as a mother, a lover, and a queen, without holding back. Her boldness and refusal to follow the norms of society led to her tragic end. She makes sure everyone knows she was there, even if it costs her everything. 

Penelope, on the other hand, showed a quieter kind of strength. Her power comes from her ability to endure, to navigate difficult situations from the shadows, and to stay committed to her role as queen. She sacrifices her personal desires, and even her happiness, to protect her kingdom. Penelope's strength is more subtle and long-lasting, as she fights her battles quietly, without leaving a trace. 

So, both women are strong and resilient in their own ways. Clytemnestra’s story is one of defiance and tragedy, and as Clare North said, burning bright but fading too soon. Penelope’s story is about quiet perseverance, her influence felt in the long shadows she casts over Ithaca. 

In a way, Clytemnestra and Penelope represent two different paths for women in a world dominated by men: one of bold defiance and one of strategic endurance. Neither path is easy, and both require immense strength, but their stories show us no singular way to embody power and queenship.