Summary & Analysis - The Penelopiad: Based On The Book By Margaret Atwood

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

THE PENELOPIAD

BASED ON THE BOOK BY MARGARET ATWOOD

SUMMARY WRITTEN BY: BOOK SUMMARY STATION

CONTENT

The Afterlife and Beginnings

The Race for a Bride

First Years in Ithaca and a Telling Scar

The Trojan War Beckons

Two Decades of Solitude and Intrusion

The Shroud of Delay

A Son's Search and Distant Rumours

A Beggar's Arrival and a Test of Strength

Bloodshed and Silence

General Analysis

ABOUT THE ORIGINAL BOOK

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood offers a compelling retelling of a classic myth from the perspective of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, as she reflects on her life and her husband's long absence from the afterlife. Woven into her narrative is the haunting voice of the twelve maids who were hanged upon Odysseus's return. The story explores Penelope's experiences managing her household and fending off numerous suitors while her husband was away fighting the Trojan War and journeying home. Through Penelope and the maids, Atwood delves into themes of fidelity, deception, power dynamics between men and women, and the often-untold stories behind legendary events. The chorus of maids provides a unique commentary, questioning the traditional heroic narrative.

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Release date

Audiobook: 25 April 2025