Ulysses’ scenes with Penelope are similarly deep in their multilayered meaning their lyrical exchanges center on the love they share, the family they have begun together, the home they have cultivated, and the inevitable separation facing them: “We do not always steer the course of our vessel. When Agamemnon and Ulysses debate the merits of war and conquest, as opposed to the serenity of marriage and peace between men, readers are able to peek into history that reflects the present – the question of knowing when to fight, and what is worth fighting for. The exchanges between characters are cleverly penned vehicles for the exploration of ideas and themes, rather than basic strings of dialogue to progress the plot. Whether she is advising her troubled son, rebuffing hungry suitors, or defending her husband’s honor, Zenovia has polished the vision of Penelope as an independent, fearless, and unforgettable figure. However, Penelope – a figure too often overshadowed in history – stands as the focal point. The eternal relationship between Ulysses and Penelope is at the forefront, as well as the machinations that led Ulysses to sea, to Troy, and to his epically long post-war absence. This work is written in the style of dramatic verse, with only a handful of acts and scenes, but stunning in its poetic grace and depth of storytelling. The titular characters have been studied and admired for more than 2,500 years, so any author exploring such legendary lives must bring something truly original to the table, which Zenovia certainly achieves. An unforgettable story of love, longing, and loss comes to life on a new stage in Penelope and Ulysses by Zenovia.

Penelope ulysses