PENELOPE’S TITUS 2 VIRTUE 19 lawful husband.” In contrast to Klytaimestra, Penelope uses her intellectual virtue of sober discretion to protect Odysseus’ rightful rule over his home. Both Greek words for “sober” and “discreet” in Titus 2 stem from the same root that carries the idea that one is temperate, or that one moderates and controls one’s desires, holds to one’s duty, is of sound mind, and is self-controlled. These are intellectual virtues. They are virtues that begin with knowing what is good and then patterning one’s emotions and actions to act on the good. While Penelope deeply grieves the loss of Odysseus, she never allows her sorrow to affect her pursuit of a well-ordered home. Penelope’s self-control over her grief enables her to be good, maintain her chastity, and be loving towards her son Telemachos. All of these virtues combined contribute towards her successful protection over her home in her husband’s absence. Homer’s depiction of Penelope thus gives us a portrait of how intellectual virtue affects other practical virtues, especially those that govern our home. A sound mind is the foundation upon which all other virtues of a young woman are built. Our actions adorn the doctrine we believe; actions show doctrine to be true and beautiful and good for us. Whereas Odysseus spends the epic chasing his desires to the detriment of his home, Penelope soundly chooses a well-ordered home as her ultimate good and subjects her desires in order to preserve it.
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