# Penelope — The Odyssey character guide

> Penelope in The Odyssey by Homer.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** discreet Penelope, sage Penelope, the chaste Penelope, sorrowful Penelope

**First appearance:** 0001-the-odyssey

## Snapshot

Ulysses' faithful, cunning wife, who holds off a hall full of suitors for years with grief, wit, and a loom she unravels each night.

## Who they are

Penelope rules Ithaca in her husband's absence while a crowd of arrogant suitors eats her stores and demands her hand. Her famous weaving trick buys time, but her real weapon is a wary heart that refuses to be deceived by hope. When Eurycleia announces Ulysses has returned, Penelope's disbelief shows how deeply she has armored herself against false comfort—and how much is at stake in recognizing the truth.

## Relationships

### [Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/ulysses)

_romantic_

Penelope is the faithful wife of Ulysses, enduring years of separation and suitors while remaining devoted to him.

### [Telemachus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/telemachus)

_family_

Penelope is the mother of Telemachus, and they share a bond of worry and mutual support during Ulysses' absence.

### [Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/ulysses)

_romantic_

Penelope is the faithful wife of Ulysses, enduring years of separation and suitors while remaining devoted to him.

### [Ulysses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/ulysses)

_romantic_

Penelope is the faithful wife of Ulysses, enduring years of separation and suitors while remaining devoted to him.

### [Telemachus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/telemachus)

_family_

Penelope is the mother of Telemachus, and they share a bond of worry and mutual support during Ulysses' absence.

### [Telemachus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/telemachus)

_family_

Penelope is the mother of Telemachus, and they share a bond of worry and mutual support during Ulysses' absence.

## In the story

### [The Odyssey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/chapters/the-odyssey)

The faithful wife of Ulysses, who cleverly delays remarrying the suitors.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters/penelope
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_odyssey_se/characters