Odysseus, Telemachus, and Penelope: Character Analysis

Odysseus, Telemachus, and Penelope are the three main human characters in The Odyssey. Select one of these characters and write an essay in which you discuss this character’s journey as he/she faces and overcomes adversity and attains his/her goal. Integrate within your discussion to what extent the character’s journey is impeded by or helped by the gods(FATE) and to what extent their journey depends upon their own choices and actions (FREE WILL).
Your response to the question posted must be 500 words.

The Odyssey is an epic poem about King Odysseus’ leaving his wife Penelope and infant son Telemachus behind to fight a nine year war but in doing so has angered “the Gods” particularly Poseidon as a result of Odysseus blinding his Cyclops son “earthquake god” (page 80, line 88) wand curses Odysseus’ ability to travel back home to Ithaca in a reasonable amount of time to his wife and now maturing son. As a result of Odysseus’ delayed return of ten years this poem unfolds over twenty years leaving Penelope to endure the exposure to many suitors taking up residence in the home she shared with her husband who are after her hand in marriage to gain the wealth of Odysseus.
Penelope never loses hope and faith in her loves return to her and her son. She responds to her suitors by not directly saying no to marriage but instead uses a lengthy delay tactic “she set up a great loom in the royal halls and she began to weave, and the weaving finespun, the yarns endless, and she would lead us on: Young men, my suitors, now that King Odysseus is no more, go slowly, keen as you are to marry me, until I can finish off this web….so my weaving won’t all fray and come to nothing. This is a shroud for old lord Laertes, for that day when the deadly fate that lays us out at last will take him down. Yes, if a man of such wealth should lie in state without a shroud for cover.” (page 96, lines 101-113) As depicted by the poem, Penelope would weave by day and unravel her work by candlelight at night therefore delaying her completion of the shroud and keeping her suitors at bay for three years.
Then, Penelope finds out through word from the herald Medon that the suitors were planning to kill her son Telemachus “They’re poised to cut Telemachuss down with bronze swords on his way back home. He’s sailed off, you see…for news of his father-to sacred Pylos first, then out to the sunny hills of Lacedaemon.” In response to this tragic news, Penelope prayed to Athena to protect her son. Athena sent Penelope a female form to visit her in her sleep “Sleeping, Penelope, your heart so wrung with sorrow? No need, I tell you, no, the gods who live at ease can’t bear to let you weep and rack your spirit. Your son will come home-it is decreed. He’s never wronged the gods in any way.