Womens Roles in the Odyssey - 1337 Words

Women play a significant role in the text that forms an important part of The Odyssey, an epic written by Homer in the 7th century B.C. Within the poem there are three basic types of women: the goddess, the seductress, and the good hostess/wife. Each role helps to create a different kind of element and is essential to the completion of the story. The first female in the Odyssey to be seen in full effect is the beautiful goddess. Although she is a supernatural being in all of the epic poem she is in a position to pity the mortals, which in turn puts in her a position to stay by Odyssey side to help him throughout his long journey back home. Athena is the most eminent example of this role; at the beginning of the book she is seen†¦show more content†¦But when Odysseus passed by them and escaped the great struggle the Seirenes were so distressed to see a man hear their song and escape that they eventually threw themselves into the ocean water and drowned. Kirke tries to seduce Odysseus before she helps him, and the beautiful Kalypso tempts him with sexual mentioning s and the value of having immortality. Kalypso never wanted to and will not release Odysseus to go home to Ithaca, until Athena comes to Odysseus s aid. It is the job of the hero to resist the temptation of the seductresses because if he does not then h e would have eventually been brought to his downfall. In direct contrast with the seductresses is the good hostess and wife of Odysseus, Penelope. Penelope is the most important of these womanly characters in the epic poem. She is the image of determination, prolongation and hoping for years before her husband Odysseus would return home to her and her son, Telemakhos. Even the intimidating suitors do not try to get her away from her devotedness. This actually is probably what kept the suitors wanting Penelope even more throughout the epic, when Odysseus was gone. Along with Penelope is Eurykleia who matches Penelope in her determination to her job as Telemakhos nurse. Nausikaa is also a good example of aShow MoreRelated Essay on Women in Iliad, Odyssey, and the Bible1544 Words   |  7 PagesRole of Women in Iliad, Odyssey, and the Bible Much is known of men in ancient civilizations, from the famous philosophers and mathematicians of Greece to the patriarchs and subsequent kings of the nation of Israel. It would seem, however, that history has forgotten the women of these times. What of the famous female thinkers of Ancient Greece, the distinguished stateswomen of Rome? What power did they hold? What was their position in societies of the distant past? A glimpse into the roles andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Odyssey 1689 Words   |  7 PagesThe Odyssey begins by describing Odysseus, a â€Å"man of twists and turns† (Homer 1996: 1) showing that this book is focused on the men, rather than the women. Shortly after, the first description of any womanly figure is â€Å"bewitching† (Homer 1996: 2), which shows that as the epic progresses, the description of most female adversaries would be negative. In Hippolytus, Aphrodite begins by saying that she â€Å"treats well who revere her power† but â€Å"tr ips up those who are proud (averse) to her† (Euripides 2001:Read MoreThe Penelopiad Analysis958 Words   |  4 Pagesnovel ‘The Odyssey’ . In an interview, Atwood explained her beliefs on the gender roles surround The Odyssey thus incorporating this as well as other materials into ‘The Penelopiad’ by stating: â€Å"There is an argument that has been made quite thoroughly that The Iliad and The Odyssey were written by two different people, and that the person who wrote The Odyssey was a woman.’ Atwood then carries on to explain her argument stating how several people have made the argument of how ‘The Odyssey’ was writtenRead MoreWomen in the Odyssey by Homer Essay examples684 Words   |  3 PagesThe Odyssey by Homer encompasses a rather modern idea of women and their role for its time. Homer portrays women as creatures who are strong but are ultimately defeated. It is true that in most stories they are portrayed as being weaker, but the women in this poem are oddly strong or have a very strong presence. The three main examples are Calypso, Athena, and the Lotus Flower. Each of these examples has a predominant presence in The Odyssey making them sturdy objects. At first the goddess CalypsoRead Morecritical evaluation essay764 Words   |  4 Pageswhat they are really after; and what they are after, in common with all the rest of the struggling world, is freedom† (Eastman). The women’s rights movement had many women who fought for women’s rights, some of these women included Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott and many more. These women worked extremely hard as activist for women’s rights. The fight lasted for many years, but they day finally came and women got the right to vote and now they could begin. History.houseRead More The Role of Women in Ancient Greece as Depicted in Homer’s The Odyssey897 Words   |  4 PagesThe Role of Women in Ancient Greece as Depicted in Homer’s The Odyssey Women as Citizens For this informative report I will attempt to point out the roles women and how they are viewed in ancient Greece. I will then show how these views are present in Homer’s The Odyssey. How are women, goddess or mortal, conveyed in The Odyssey? The Odyssey was written around 700 BC during the Archaic period (750 – 550 BC). This was a time of great economical and social change in Greek history dueRead MoreEssay on Women In The Odyssey803 Words   |  4 Pagesliterature composed during the era when the Odyssey was written was directed by men. Woman characters were valued but the only participated in affairs when they had the permission of men. The men, for the most part, directed the womens lives. The themes used in literature were on the subjects that men would be interested in; combat; warriors, and rulers. Domestic affairs, for the most part, were not noted. There is a immense contrast between the Odyssey and other epic poetry of the period. ThereRead MoreHelen Of The And The Odyssey1342 Words   |  6 Pagesnarrator is constantly trying to fit her into the box created the legacy of Helen of Tory/Odyssey. However, Helen of Omeros’ strong will and personality and overall uniqueness is still able to shine th rough, despite the narrator’s biases, and we are able to see the individual differences between the two women and their connection to the evolution of Helen throughout history. We only catch a glimpse of Helen in the Odyssey, but Helen in Walcott’s Omeros is portrayed much deeper. The word/name Helen, in generalRead MoreLeda And The Swan Poem Analysis1260 Words   |  6 Pagesall, â€Å"Siren Song† by Margaret Atwood expresses the dullness and anguish that the sirens endured within the epic â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer. Atwood showcases the Siren’s loathsomeness as â€Å"I dont enjoy it here, squatting on this island, looking picturesque and mythical† (Perrines Literature 13-15). Overall, Atwood twisted the ideals that were once presented of the sirens within â€Å"The Odyssey†, so by expressing their dullness, it asserts a power towards the sirens and makes them more humanesque. Mainly presentedRead MoreSummary Of The Odyssey 1537 Words   |  7 Pages Senior IX English September 22, 2014 The Importance of Perspectives in The Odyssey and The Penelopiad Margaret Atwood writes in her novel The Penelopiad â€Å"I’ve chosen to give the telling of the story to Penelope and the twelve hanged maids...which focus on two questions that must pose themselves after any close reading of The Odyssey: what led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?† The Odyssey tells the story of the long journey of Odysseus’s return home to Ithaca after