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Meanwhile the suitors were closing in like hyenas eyeing the prize woman and her physical and monetary assets. To fence them off, Penelope concocted up a scheme with her 12 maids in which the latter would sacrifice their bodies to satisfy the lusts of the suitors, thereby sparing Atwood of a Penelope rape scene. The maids were less fortunate. (Lesson #3: Always read the fine prints of your employment contract.)
When a tired Odysseus came home and found his house full of men, he did what any rational husband would have done - he killed all the suitors and hanged the 12 maids for not keeping the place clean. While Homer concluded his story by saying Odysseus and Penelope lived happily thereafter, Atwood couldn't help but pointed out the gender inequality and the raw deal given to the thirteen women of ancient Greece. After death, Penelope and the 12 maids ended up in Hades, which is sort of a dead zone in hell (i.e. very dead) and they were stuck there for eternity; while Odysseus was no where to be found, probably womanizing with the likes of Helen of Troy in heaven.
The maids were obviously bitter about the whole experience and their unison monologues, songs and dance of death told the sad story of woman slaves in those days. (Lesson #4: Gender Equity is still an issue, three thousand years after Homer.)
When a tired Odysseus came home and found his house full of men, he did what any rational husband would have done - he killed all the suitors and hanged the 12 maids for not keeping the place clean. While Homer concluded his story by saying Odysseus and Penelope lived happily thereafter, Atwood couldn't help but pointed out the gender inequality and the raw deal given to the thirteen women of ancient Greece. After death, Penelope and the 12 maids ended up in Hades, which is sort of a dead zone in hell (i.e. very dead) and they were stuck there for eternity; while Odysseus was no where to be found, probably womanizing with the likes of Helen of Troy in heaven.
The maids were obviously bitter about the whole experience and their unison monologues, songs and dance of death told the sad story of woman slaves in those days. (Lesson #4: Gender Equity is still an issue, three thousand years after Homer.)
...... to be continued 下續
4 comments:
In defense of Helen.
Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, the face that launched a thousand ships. Well, she won't launch my ship for sure. Penelope is a hundred times of woman than she is. In Homer's epic poem, she is just a beautiful prize that the Greek and Trojan men fought for...but what is new?
In any event, when ancient Greeks died, they went to underworld. It is not the Christian concept of heaven and hell. Even the greatest of the Greek heros like Achilles were sent there by Hermes. They do have good section for their heros and hellish section for bad people. People like me perhaps will end up in the middle section and eventually evaporate into nothing.
I like Greek mythology.
Keith: I must say I don't know one hell from another. Perhaps innocence is bliss. As you can tell, I am already pleading innocent before judgment day!!!
As for Helen of Troy, I think she has the last laugh ... because every time a man "launches a ship", the brand name "Trojan" is associated forever with Helen, and not Penelope.
ps: Because of this joke, I will probably end up seeing Penelope and the maids.
So, you will launch your ship for Penelope too. Hope we won't collide. :-)
Funneeey!!
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