Exploring Creative Writing During Covid-19 – Ruthie

This short story is part of a larger collection of short stories that I’ve written during my Senior Project experience. They are stand alone pieces and do not need to be read together. This particular piece was inspired by a course that I took in my second/last trimester of senior year called The Odyssey, Remixed. If the names looked familiar to you, that’s the reason. In this class we talked about the different lenses through which we can read Homer’s Odyssey. One assignment we were given was to write a letter from one character in the epic poem to another, but while looking at the story from a different point of view. The lens I decided to write through was present day. However, the present day then and the present day now are completely different, so I decided to use that prompt and try again. I also chose different characters to write to each other. 

In The Odyssey, Remixed, we talked about how both Odysseus and Penelope were on the frontlines, but fighting different battles. Odysseus was physically at the frontlines fighting a war, but Penelope’s war was much more understated. Her war was in her home, fighting a vicious battle against the suitors while also being a single mother. In current times, fighting Covid-19 has been referred to as a war, and our president has declared himself a wartime president. But there have also been major battles and losses on the homefront where Penelope would be in this situation. Also Telemachus in The Odyssey is sheltered and coddled, which mirrors how this generation of grade school kids are, both mentally and physically.

I will be sharing a two minute presentation during the allotted presentation time where I will discuss more of my process and the hardships of writing during Covid-19.