'..His eyes were wet with weeping, as
they always were. Life with its sweetness
was ebbing away in the tears he shed for
his lost home...... the days found him
sitting on the rocks or sands, torturing
himself with tears...' Book 5, line 151-156.
Husband and Wife
Penelope and Odysseus
Odysseus has the power, as a man, over his wife.
Odysseus is able to sleep with other women and not be
reprimanded, whereas Penelope must stay chaste.
When Odysseus arrived home he did not want Penelope to know until after he had a chance
to make sure she had been chaste.
Zeus
Power over the other Gods.
E.G. Zeus has the power to command Calypso to free
Odysseus
"...when Zeus, who bears the aegis, makes up his mind, it is
impossible for any other god to thwart him or evade his
will." Hermes, book 5, line 102-104
Mother and Son
Penelope and Telemachus
Telemachus has power over his mother as the 'man of the
house' while his father is away.
".. Go to your quarters now and attend to your own work, the
loom and the spindle, and tell the servants to get with theirs.
Making decisions must be men's concern, and mine in
particular, for I am master in this house." Telemachus, Book 1,
line 354-359.