Are Cunning and Disguise Really Good Traits ?

Disguise and Cunning

            These days you don’t know who is lying and who is telling the truth. Even I have been lying over the past years. My own son left me the other day and set sail to find his long gone father. Some people frown upon the cunning and disguise that is talked about in today’s society, but I have found it to be necessary at times to tell the occasional lie. I have been living in a house infested by sluggish suitors for the past few years. All of them fighting to receive my love. I have greatly missed Odysseus over the past twenty years, and I have not considered remarrying any of the suitors.

            I had to make a plan to trick them into thinking I would marry, but truly I do not. I set up my sewing materials in the great halls of my palace, and declared that I would remarry once I had finished sewing a great blanket. All day long the suitors would watch me sew and waiting for me to finish. I made sufficient progress every day, but at night with the aid of a few of my maids we unspool all of the day’s work and start again the next day. I planned do this until my love Odysseus comes home. My plan was eventually foiled and the suitors found out about my scheme. My cunning was frowned upon by all of the suitors, but for me and my son Telemachus we knew this scheme was an appropriate way to buy time.

            There are times when disguise and cunning are used for all of the wrong reasons. For example the story of Agamemnon’s son Aegisthus. Aegisthus was a kind soul, I had gotten to know the story of him after Odysseus and Agamemnon became such great friends after fighting in the Trojan War. News would pass home about the stories of the two great warriors in battle. Aegisthus had disguised himself during the war and had attacked and killed Orestes father. Orestes was not usually a violent soul, but he was provoked by the cunning of Aegisthus. Orestes devised a plan to regain his revenge and he himself disguised himself in the city and murdered Aegisthus. I would never use my skills in disguise to kill someone and I find it wrong that anybody would kill people while not in matters of self defense but in shrill rage.

            My favorite story of disguise and cunning and the great advantage that it gives people during war is the story of my own husband Odysseus and his army’s great plan to build the Trojan horse. The story of the Trojan horse is that while setting a siege outside the Trojan walls Odysseus and his men built a great wooden horse tall as the skies and hid inside it. The horse was given as a gift to the Trojan people as an end to the war, but at night Odysseus and his men popped out and captured all of the Trojan people. This technique won the war and saved the lives of many people from Ithaca who would otherwise have died. These are just my views on the theme of cunning and disguise. I would love to hear some other thoughts about the topic.

<-Trojan Horse

Goodnight! Be ready for another blog soon.

First Blog!!

Hey, it’s Penelope! Recently, I have been finishing household tasks such as cooking and cleaning much earlier than I used to and have found lots of time to blog. I actually have been wanting to blog for the past few months, but haven’t been able to find the time.  For the past 20 years my husband Odysseus has been missing. It is very troubling because I am not sure if he is dead or alive. I cry most of the time. He is known throughout our hometown of Ithaca as a hero; famous for his cunning plan of hiding troops in a large wooden horse during the Trojan War. Whenever I go down to the market to pick up some fresh produce, people always ask me about Odysseus. I must hold back tears when I tell them that Ithaca’s hero has been gone for quite some time. Anyway…since then a host of suitors have inhabited my home. I mean, I really don’t blame them; I’m beautiful, my house is large and comfortable and my son, Telemachus is great company. But it wouldn’t hurt if they would lend me a hand around the house.  They gobble up all my food and I haven’t seen the house completely clean for years. It’s as if I’m living with a hundred swine. All they want is my hand in marriage, and they will not stop their quest until I marry one. But all I can ever think about is Odysseus, and I must remain faithful just in case he still walks the earth. To lift my spirits, Telemachus bought me this nice iPhone so that I can finally try blogging. I must admit it has helped keep me sane because I finally have someone to vent to. Also, beating my high score on Angry Birds is keeping me entertained. So thanks readers, for supplying an outlet. I really wish Odysseus were here though, so that the three of us could be a family again. Telemachus has missed a lot of his development since his dad left when he was so young. Plus, he’d clear my home of these suitors in one swoop. If only he could see the mess these ungrateful, manipulating ingrates have down to our palace. They walk all over Telemachus, always calling him a spineless baby. Because I am a woman, there is not much I can do to help the situation. So I remain passive and friendly, even though they truly do not deserve my hospitality. I find tranquility in weaving a web with lovely yarns Odysseus’ mother gave to me when we got married. The yarn is made of the finest wools and the bright bold colors come from wild berries and flowers.

Tonight I didn’t cook, but let the men eat the lamb I cooked last night. I wasn’t hungry. Instead I found refuge in my bedroom from the reckless singing and dancing from the suitors downstairs. After this blog, I may do a little weaving and check out early. Good night!