Comparing Odysseus And Penelope In Homer's Odyssey

Odysseus and Penelope
Once the suitors had been defeated and Odysseus emerged triumphant, Eurycleia scurried to Penelope’s side to declare the return of Odysseus and the fall of the suitors. A doubting Penelope had a hunch that the gods were trying to deceive her. She settled to test this victorious man who claimed to be her husband.
“Penelope, you must rise at once. Your husband is home—Odysseus is home! After twenty years, he has returned for you!” I exclaimed.
“No. You’re wrong. It can’t be right—that’s not my husband. I’m telling you, the gods are trying to build my hopes up, only for them to go crashing down once I realize that that man is not my husband,” said Penelope, doubtingly. “I will not give myself to just any man who claims to
How are you not speaking? How is nothing leaving your lips? Do you not feel any guilt for not running into your husband’s arms after twenty years of separation? Will you not interrogate him to determine who he truly is? How can you be calm knowing that your husband is in the room and you are not embracing him?” said Telemachus, enraged.
“Your behavior baffles me. You do not understand what you are saying. I am not speaking intentionally. If this man who claims to be Odysseus is who he makes himself out to be, then no words should be needed to bring us together. There should be an instant connection between us. There is something Odysseus knows that no one else has the privilege of knowing; it’s our little secret,” said Penelope, without moving her eyes off Odysseus. My heart sank. I thought after twenty years, Penelope had grown to trust me with even her most personal secrets. I thought I acted as her cornerstone. I learned that I was wrong.
A smile came across Odysseus’ face, and he spoke to Telemachus: “Please relax, for your mother may test me as she pleases. She will very quickly realize that I am Odysseus, and that these worn-out clothes and my dirt smudged face is only but a disguise. For you to see me as who I used to be, I must be bathed and freshly
I only dreamed of having such a love like Odysseus and Penelope.
At last, Odysseus broke down and wept into Penelope, his faithful and loyal wife, who he had yearned for twenty years. Few men can return after twenty years to find their wives still faithful and loving the way Odysseus had. The two hugged for what seemed like forever, and rejoiced, for the battle and difficulties were now behind them. For the first time in twenty years, Odysseus and Penelope enjoyed a blissful night and exchanged an endless number of stories. It was as though twenty years had come and gone, and nothing had changed. They were still the power couple everyone dreamed to be.
I craved love, for I had been a trustworthy servant for twenty years. I was, or I thought I was, Penelope’s cornerstone. If Penelope had not told me, her trusty servant, the secret about her and Odysseus’ bed, what was stopping her from keeping plenty of other secrets from me? One of these days, I will embark on a journey of love for myself. I am worthy, after all. I stayed by Penelope’s side for twenty years and listened to her cries for love, and complaints of loneliness. If anything, I deserve love more than Penelope…
(perspective changed from Book