Part 1 begins with Butler outlining the importance of his inquiry. He argues that the Odyssey was written not by Homer but by a woman, pointing to the abundance of early Greek poetesses as support. He summarizes the poem’s story and stresses the prominence of women throughout. Penelope takes center stage as Butler critiques attempts to whitewash her character and examines her portrayal from a female perspective. This section lays the foundation of his thesis by framing the question of authorship in terms of gender and narrative voice.