Hektor and Penelope: Virtuous Characters

Though different works, both the Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer each contain one outstanding character that excels in virtue. Even when forced to live with a dilemma that he or she did not cause, both Hektor, in the Iliad, and Penelope, in the Odyssey, remain virtuous. This becomes clear through their rigid fidelity to their spouses, their piety to the gods, and their resolute natures in the situations presented to them.

The unfortunate circumstances in which both Hektor and Penelope find themselves not been caused by either of them by any means. Their problems are a result of the adulterous relationship of Paris and Helen, which has caused the Trojan War. Hektor is required to fight a war that he does not support, which he realizes and points out to be the fault of his brother, Paris: “Evil Paris,…/better had you never been born,…/Truly I could have wished it so; it would be far better than to have you with us to our shame,” “the Trojans are cowards in truth, else long before this you had worn a mantle of flying stones for the wrong you did us.” (Iliad Book Three lines 39-42, 56-57). Penelope is forced to endure life without her husband, Odysseus, and the burden of many suitors trying to seduce her, despite her unwillingness to remarry: “all these are my suitors against my will, and they wear my house out./Therefore, I pay no attention to strangers, nor to suppliants,/nor yet to heralds, who are in the public service, but always/I waste away at the inward heart, longing for Odysseus” (Odyssey Book XIX lines 133-136).

Even when tempted by the seduction of others, both Hektor and Penelope remain loyal to their spouses, Andromanche and Odysseus, respectively. Helen attempts to seduce Hektor in order to keep him out of battle, however he unwaveringly turns her down: “Do not, Helen,/ make me sit with you, though you love me. You will not persuade me./…I am going first to my own house, so I can visit/…my own people, my beloved wife”. (Iliad Book Six lines 359-366) Hektor, rather than even considering adultery, leaves quickly in order to speak with his own wife before he leaves again for battle. The charm that Helen has over Menelaos and Paris holds no sway over Hektor, who is faithful to Adromanche and his own people. The attempts to seduce Penelope are far more persistent and by many men. As Odysseus is held up on his voyage home, he is presumed dead and therefore Penelope a widow. As a widow she is expected to remarry. Yet in spite of the social pressure to remarry, she keeps hope that Odysseus is still alive and remains faithful to him by any means possible. For instance, in order to stall the marriage, Penelope tells the suitors that she will marry after completing a burial shroud for Laertes, Odysseus’ father, but every night unravels the work that she had done that day. This shows her hope that Odysseus is still alive, as Laertes is a metaphor for Odysseus and her refusal to believe him dead. Penelope is also always modest when dealing with the suitors, as a married woman should be: “I will not go alone among men. I think that immodest.” (Odyssey Book XIII line 184). Penelope also proves her fidelity when she tests Odysseus in order to make sure that it is truly him that has come home. She tests him by tricking him into “describing/ our [their] bed, which no other mortal man beside has ever seen” (Odyssey Book XXVIII lines 225-226). This proves that Penelope has been faithful to Odysseus, for she has never even allowed another man into their bedroom.

Both Hektor and Penelope also remain pious in the face of difficulty. Instead of scorning the gods when things start to go wrong, Hektor makes sacrifices to them in order to appease them. Even as the Achaians, supported by Athene, are destroying the Trojans, Hektor, by Helenos suggestion, rallies the elder men and women to make sacrifices to Athene so that she will spare their city: “tell/the elder men who sit as counselors, and our own wives,/to make their prayer to the immortals and promise them hecatombs.” (Iliad Book Six lines 113-115) Hektor also shows