Ithaka

Ithaka a 360 page book by Adele Geras is a novel about what was happening back in Ithaka while Odysseus was gone on his adventures for twenty years. It is a very interesting book containing many of the events that you know from the Odyssey happened in Ithaka. This included Telemachus sailing off to find information about his father, Penelope unweaving the shroud that she said she would finish and then choose a husband, and Odysseus coming back disguised as a beggar and killing all the suitors. The protagonist in the novel is Klymene, a maid to Penelope. Klymene is a character with a lot of depth, she has both good and bad qualities which make her seem very human. Klymene is a devoted maid and is always trying to help Penelope. Although Klymene is not always able to do much she is always there to give good advice and moral support to not only Penelope, but her twin brother Ikarios, and Telemachus. Klymene helps Penelope in many ways, she not only gives moral support, but she also helps to unweave the shroud, keep the affair between Penelope and Leodes a secret, and Klymene helped in Odysseus' plan of getting rid of the suitors. This shows that Klymene is a very compassionate and intelligent character, who is not afraid to do what she thinks is right. But, Klymene also has some human flaws. She is jealous of Melantho, a woman who dates Telemachus, a man Klymene has a crush on. Klymene also doesn't enjoy working in the kitchens with her grandmother and frequently tries to avoid those duties and do a more enjoyable job for her and help the queen. But, overall Klymene has an always willing to help attitude and is kind. Also, Klymene is forgiving, this is probably best shown when she is able to forgive Melantho for leading Ikarios into a fatal trap. All of these qualities make Klymene seem very real and human. She has good qualities as well as flaws that allow the reader to identify well with her character.