Penelope is the wife of Odysseus and exemplifies the feminine virtue by staying loyal to her husband for twenty years in his absence. The significance of feminine virtue needs to be exemplified at critical moments by the female characters. One of the most crucial moments where this characteristic must be demonstrated is when the woman comes into contact with other men who are not her husband. In The Odyssey, Penelope continues to keep the suitors, led by Antinous and including Agelaus, Amphinomus, Ctessippus, Demoptolemus, Elatus, Euryades, Eurymachus and Peisandros, at bay for twenty years. Despite their aggressive advances to marry her, she uses her cleverness to deceive them. One of the suitors explains to her son an incident of her cunningness. “And she said to us: ‘young men, my suitors, now my lord is dead, let me finish my weaving before I marry…it is a shroud I weave for lord Laertes.’ So everyday she wove on the great loom—but every night…she unwove it” (ii.100-113). Penelope remained the good wife archetype by continuously deceiving them. She did not have the protection or guidance of Odysseus however, she was able to make her own decision, through her desire to remain faithful, to ensure that she would only belong to him.
To die for one’s husband or by his side is considered an honorable death for a true good wife. A woman who can die with her husband because she cannot stand to be alive without him is noble. Why? A woman’s existence revolves around her husband’s existence. If she does not have one, especially if she doesn’t have children, her purpose in life is not being fulfilled. Penelope’s case was different than Draupadi’s. She not only had a son, but she was considering remarrying since Odysseus had not returned yet. Her life revolved on ensuring Odysseus kingdom remained under him even though he was not there. Yet when he returned, she immediately questioned if it was him or not thinking his return could be a trick. When she realized it was him, her devotion to him no matter what was manifested through her pleas for him not to be angry with her. “Do not rage at me, Odysseus! Forgive me don’t be angry. I could not welcome you with love on sight! I armed myself long ago against the frauds of men, imposters who might come…You make my stiff heart know that I am yours” (xxiii. 236-258). Her commitment to her husband demonstrated her feminine virtue because she did not give in to Odysseus so easily since she did not have proof it was truly him. It could have been an imposter, but once Odysseus proved himself thoroughly, she confessed how her dedication to him to the very end was able to keep her alive and keep his kingdom alive for so many years.