On the other hand, Penelope also displays cunning and wit, and is not always helpless. For example, she often uses clever tactics to delay the suitors proposal’s to her. She believes she cannot reject them outright, and the Suitors see themselves as the victims of this situation, telling Telemachus that “it is your own mother, that incomparable schemer who is the culprit.” This is because she said she would marry one of the suitors after she had woven a funeral shroud for Laertes, but every night she would undo what she had done that day, until she was caught. This would possibly suggest that Penelope cannot be trusted, and this is a theme throughout the Odyssey in terms of women. When Odysseus reaches the afterlife and speaks to Agamemnon, he says “never be too trustful, even of your wife” because “Women are no longer to be trusted.” However he also says that Penelope is wise and loyal, and would never kill Odysseus, showing that people have a lot of respect for her and she is regarded as an excellent wife. This also reflects well on Odysseus, and it appears that one of Penelope’s functions in the story is to bring glory to Odysseus, through her reputation.
When Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, he is disguised as a beggar and so Penelope does not appear to recognise him. After the suitors beat and humiliate the disguised Odysseus, she requests an audience with him because she feels sympathetic, showing her caring nature. At this point in the story, because Telemachus has grown up through his journey, Penelope considers the instructions that Odysseus left her with before he went to Troy. He told that if he hadn’t returned when Telemachus was old enough to grow a beard that she should remarry. Penelope says that she sees “approaching me the night when I must accept a detestable union.” Showing again her loyalty to Odysseus, she is willing to do something that will make her unhappy because it is what Odysseus asked her to do, showing obedience to her husband. This would have been a good quality for a woman in Ancient Greek times to have, as women were submissive to their husbands. Therefore to a contemporary audience this would have made her even more honourable, despite the fact that she would be being unfaithful to Odysseus. Odysseus himself approves of the idea, because Penelope uses this possible union to persuade the suitors to give her gifts. He is described as being “delighted at her words, because she was extorting gifts from her suitors” This shows how alike the couple actually are, they are both materialistic and her desire for gifts is useful to Odysseus as it will bring him more glory when he returns, as he does not intend for a marriage to actually take place.
In order to decide which suitor would be best for her to marry, Penelope sets up a test. She creates a contest of archery, where the suitors had to shoot through 12 axes without hitting any of them. It was one of Odysseus’ skills, and Penelope knows this. At this point Penelope is supposedly still unaware that Odysseus is in the palace, although she has been told multiple times by many people that he may be on his way, however the setting up of this test appears to show otherwise, as she knows no-one is capable of completing the task but Odysseus. Odysseus encourages this contest, knowing that this is his chance to reveal his true identity and claim his glory. Through her wit and cunning Penelope makes this triumph possible, and so the reader is left to doubt whether she is aware of Odysseus or not.