Odysseus is the BEST Greek Mythological character because his entire story is like “I just wanna see my wife again please gods let me see my wife and son” for ten fucking years after already being away for ten years at war. Like Odysseus and Penelope truly love each other and it’s rare to find a marriage in Greek Mythology that is as stable and loving as theirs. And yes I say that even with Odysseus’ trip to Calypso’s island and the fact that he immediately murders 108 men when he gets home, but they had it coming.
But let’s talk about their bed. Let’s talk about Odysseus and Penelope’s bed. When Odysseus finally gets home he disguises himself as a beggar(after meeting his son for like the first time) to spy on the court and Penelope. When he is assured that his wife has stayed faithful and isn’t in danger, he reveals himself to her. Penelope wants to make sure it’s Odysseus and not another suitor trying to trick her, so she’s all “oh my husband so happy to see you but before we get to making sweet homecoming love can you move our bed? I want it to be against the opposite wall.” Someone not Odysseus, who was not aware of their bed, would have been like “yeah whatever” but Odysseus is like “you know that’s impossible, our bed is a tree.” And it is. Where their bedroom is there was an olive tree growing, and they built around it, and carved out their bed from its boughs. The tree is still planted, still alive, and immovable. The bed is representative of their marriage: sturdy, stable, alive, unmoving, and a gift from the heavens(olive trees had special significance). In the very same scene after Penelope confirms it’s Odysseus he tells her that he and Telemachus(their son) need to kill the suitors that have been making a mess of the place, so he tells Penelope to get all of her servant girls and bring them into their bedroom and hide there, because no one would dare enter the bedroom of a noble lady. Thus the bedroom takes on more significance, as a place of security and safety. A place where no blood shall ever be spilled.
This SHOULD be the marriage that gets woobified, not Hades and Persephone. I know everyone loves that kind of dynamic but Persephone WAS NOT A WILLING PART OF THE MARRIAGE. Penelope stayed faithful to Odysseus for 20 YEARS because she never doubted that the love of her life was out there somewhere doing the same. Like I’m not trying to be trad or whatever the fuck, I’m just reading the Odyssey and getting emotional. Whoever made that post that was like “the best straight man characters are the ones that are just like ‘I really fucking love my wife’” hit it right on the nose, man. The Odyssey is a breath of fresh air after like, all the other myths.
