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Comment 15 of 75, added on April 24th, 2006 at 6:53 PM.
I really enjoyed every comment and I do belive is ok to disagree without
calling people names. Next, please analyze the title and look at the
figurative meaning of this poem. Everybody went for the literary meaning.
It is an "Ancient" gesture. And that is that women are ment to tend for
their husbands. It is an "Ancient" tradition. "The apron" symbolizes the
domestic nature of women who were content to tend to their husbands.
Considering Milay's sexual orientation one might conclude that she wants to
break the traditions and not follow the "ancient" ones.
The poem is a symbolic poem that relates to the family life. One can always
try to speculate but unless you are the poet that is all one can do.
Anca from United States
Comment 14 of 75, added on March 20th, 2006 at 5:35 PM.
I agree with Martha in that the gesture is the wiping of her eyes on her
apron, but I think it's a little more than that too. It's the fact that
she IS wiping them, not just sitting there and sobbing in utter
hopelessness and misery. Penelope is very strong--not knowing if her
husband is still alive or not, but determined to stay faithful to him.
Imagine having to weave all day and unweave all night for three years; I
think I'd go completely crazy.
The point is, I don't really think that the author was referring to a lost
husband in her poem. Rather, she was referring to the fear you get when
you are fighting something that seems inevitable, and don't know if your
efforts are ever going to pay off. Penelope really didn't have any idea if
Odysseus was going to make it back or not; she operated for ten years in
uncertainty. There are times when the struggle just seems to crash down on
you all at once, and you cry because you just don't know what to do. But
the strength of Penelope, and of the author, is shown by the gesture of
wiping their eyes on their aprons. You cry, you wipe the tears and you
keep fighting. It's a kind of strength Odysseus did not possess. And
that, I believe, is what the poem is really about.
Brittani from United States
Comment 13 of 75, added on February 13th, 2006 at 7:02 PM.
The gesture is wiping tears from your eyes on your apron. Women have done
this since forever. Penelope cries because Ulysses has been gone for 20
years and she is alone at home, raising a son, ruling a kingdom and keeping
away suitors who want to force a marriage on her.She does this by weaving a
shroud during the day and unravelling it at night. Her life has been hard
without her husband. While she is struggling and not even knowing if her
husband will return, Ulysses, her husband, is off fighting monsters and
enemies, but he is also having adventures and women are loving his heroic
image. He is the hero of the poem, but when he cries, he often cries for
show. Ulysses likes being the center and will take advantage of any
situation to make himself look good. The question posed by the poem is who
has the more difficult position during war; is it the man who is away
risking his life, but living glories and receiving adulation, or is the
woman who stays at home waiting, worrying, and keeping the homeland
together? To me, Millay thinks that Penelope and all women suffer the most
and get the least credit. Wiping your eyes on your apron is an ancient
getsture, and taking an ill-deserved secondary role to the hardship of a
warrior is also an ancient role. Penelope, and all women in wartime, really
cried and still dry today; not knowing what is happening is worse than
being there.
MArtha from Australia
Comment 12 of 75, added on December 28th, 2005 at 6:46 AM.
mage's critique of this poem is right on the money.
bob wallace from United States
Comment 11 of 75, added on December 17th, 2005 at 1:31 PM.
Characters: The woman who is crying(Penelope) and the man who made her
cry(Odysseus)
Theme: Every gesture is made by a cause and an effect~ Cause is Odysseus
leaving effect is Penelope crying
Setting: Not positively sure but probably Ithaca
Symbols: The way "Penelope" crys is smbolic to how everybody cries and also
the way she wipes her eyes on her dress(or whatever)
By the way Kyle, your the stupid one
Maddy from United States
Comment 10 of 75, added on December 1st, 2005 at 7:41 AM.
I think there is more to the gesture than love or crying. The poem mentions
"Ulysses did this too./ But only as a gesture". If the gesture is
love, than Ulysses is simply doing it as if it is no big deal--I don't
think the poem is trying to get a message across like that. A gesture most
nearly means a movement of the part of the body, esp. a hand or the head to
express an idea or meaning. Ulysses is very much in love with
Penelope--thus why he returns home after all the sumptuous temptations he
encounters on his voyage, so why would he show just a small movement of his
love to appease the throng? Or maybe I am just not understanding the poem.
codes from United States
Comment 9 of 75, added on November 20th, 2005 at 2:33 PM.
Like Melanie, I believe the ancient gesture is one of crying, or maybe
love. However, I think that this refers to the scene of the Odyssy,
reflecting Penelope's loyalty in hoping that Odysseus will come home one
day.
Kathy from United States
Comment 8 of 75, added on November 16th, 2005 at 12:22 PM.
The gesture she refers to is the act of crying. However, I don't think
this poem implies that the modern-day husband is at war...perhaps he just
left, or perhaps they are divorced. I would even suggest that Ulysses
represents all men and Penelope all women.
She is really commenting on a universal pattern which is unfortunately tied
to gender roles: those who leave, and those left behind.
Melanie from United States
Comment 7 of 75, added on November 15th, 2005 at 4:27 PM.
What is the gesture she is talking about?
Gianna from United States
Comment 6 of 75, added on March 2nd, 2005 at 7:29 PM.
Hey, I have to memorize this poem and recite it in school tomorrow i only
know all of it! Isnt that terrible!!!!!!
sade from United States
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] 8
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I really enjoyed every comment and I do belive is ok to disagree without
calling people names. Next, please analyze the title and look at the
figurative meaning of this poem. Everybody went for the literary meaning.
It is an "Ancient" gesture. And that is that women are ment to tend for
their husbands. It is an "Ancient" tradition. "The apron" symbolizes the
domestic nature of women who were content to tend to their husbands.
Considering Milay's sexual orientation one might conclude that she wants to
break the traditions and not follow the "ancient" ones.
The poem is a symbolic poem that relates to the family life. One can always
try to speculate but unless you are the poet that is all one can do.
Anca from United States