The Penelopiad

by

Margaret Atwood

The Penelopiad: Chapter 29 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
The final chapter of The Penelopiad is in the form of a poem narrated by the Maids. They say that they were voiceless, nameless, and without any choice, and that they unfairly took the blame. Now, they say, they follow Odysseus and call out to him. The Maids transform into owls and then fly away.
In the closing section of the text, the Maids remind the reader that, as slave women, they lacked voices and names to tell their story, and as a result, they were unable to defend themselves against slander. In a nod to other Greek tales of metamorphosis, Atwood then ends her book on this haunting note.
Themes
Storytelling, Textual Authority, and Falsehoods Theme Icon
Class, Womanhood, and Violence Theme Icon
Antiquity, Modernity, and Progress for Women Theme Icon
Christianity vs. Greek Religion Theme Icon