What Madeline Miller has said about Penelope
2 quotes · 1 episode · Jul 12, 2026
Madeline Miller, American novelist and classics teacher, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles, has been quoted on Penelope 2 times in 1 episode of The Daily, most recently on July 12, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Miller says Penelope's shroud trick reveals both her cleverness and the gender roles of the period, since the suitors have no idea how long weaving takes.
“she knows that they have no idea how long it takes to weave a shroud. And so it's like a great trick that like really reveals sort of the gender roles of the time as well”
The Daily: What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything. (Jul 12, 2026) · Listen from 6:21
Miller argues the text clearly presents Penelope as Odysseus's equal, citing her final test of the immovable bed.
“So I think it's in the text that she is absolutely meant to be brilliant. But like him, I think she's a complicated figure”
The Daily: What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything. (Jul 12, 2026) · Listen from 32:57
Episodes
What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything.The Daily · Jul 12, 2026 · 51 min
Natalie Kitroeff talks with translator Emily Wilson and novelist Madeline Miller about the Odyssey ahead of Christopher Nolan's film adaptation.
Others on Penelope
- Tom Holland · 2 quotes
- Emily Wilson · 1 quote
Madeline Miller on other topics
- Literary translation · 2 quotes
- The Odyssey (2026 film) · 1 quote
- Telemachus · 1 quote
- Odysseus · 1 quote
- Circe (novel) · 1 quote