Editing Penelope (section)

=== The archery contest ===
After Penelope decides to take a second husband, she conducts a contest to find her next partner. In Book 21, Penelope hosts an archery contest. Each contestant must string Odysseus’ bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe heads. Sissa asserts that Penelope wants a husband of the same caliber as Odysseus. Thus, she does not want to settle for anything less than what she deserves. Even the concept of the archery contest itself emphasizes Penelope’s intelligence. Sissa notes that Penelope was already an “outsider” in Odysseus’ house. If Odysseus does not return, it is expected of Penelope to follow her new husband or return to her father. But, Penelope’s clever archery contest skips the extra step of returning to her father’s house as she can leave directly with the winner. Thus, Penelope’s archery contest asserts her independence as she takes control over her fate. Her future does not lie with her father or husband. Instead, as Sissa corroborates, Penelope’s decision to host the contest embodies her desire and decision-making process.