In many works there are reflected common themes that enrich the tale and cause the reader to relate the theme to his own life. We often find ourselves more enthralled with stories that affect us in an emotional way. One topic that I have found recurring in the works that I have come across this semester is abandonment--specifically, the abandonment of women by their husbands or lovers. This abandonment can be physical or emotional. As …showed first 75 words of 1341 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1341 total…one she answers to is herself. I think the most important virtues I came across that the various types of people in the works had include loyalty, love, and the mental fortitude to deal with abandonment and not let it destroy them. Penelope from The Odyssey had all of these qualities, and I feel that she was one of the most respectable female characters I had encountered in the material I studied during this course.