How are women portrayed in Homer's Odyssey?
In Homer's Odyssey, the women are portrayed in many different ways, some are said to be wise while others are cruel, but many are treated differently from the opposite gender. One of the women in the story, Penelope, was portrayed as very wise but because of her gender she was expected to obey many of the men.
Why is the Odyssey considered a women's epic?
But The Odyssey was often considered a women’s epic because women played an important role. Women in The Odyssey are portrayed as powerful, wise and controlling because they ensure that the illusion of male success will go on - they speak as men through women. 1380 Words 6 Pages Better Essays Read More Satisfactory Essays
How do you analyze the female characters in the Odyssey?
By analyzing the female characters of “The Odyssey”, readers can understand the role of women in this epic. Along with the belief that women played a secondary role to men in Greek society, the female characters displayed certain traits that could not be shown by the men.
What are the three types of women in the Odyssey?
The women form an important part of the folk epic “The Odyssey”. Within the story there are three main types of women: the goddess, the seductress, and the good hostess/wife. Each particular female character adds a different element and is essential to the telling of the story.
What is the role of women in the Odyssey?
In most historical writing, women appear submissive and weak. However in The Odyssey, depicted by Gareth Hinds, it shows women to be welcoming, kind and smart. As Odysseus is traveling to his home Ithaca, he has a lot of trouble along the way, without the help of women he would not have been able to get home. Women are portrayed positively in the The Odyssey shown by characters such as the Nausicaa, the Daughter of the Old Man of the Sea and Odysseus’s wife Penelope.
Who is the last woman to help Odysseus?
The last woman to help Odysseus on his journey back home what his elderly servant Eurycleia. When Odysseus gets back home undercover and gets the favor of Penelope, he gets a foot bath from the elderly servant Eurycleia. Eurycleia recognizes Odysseus, but he does not want anyone to know who he actually is. The servant tells Odysseus you know me, my blood and bones are yours, I will never betray you (Hinds 195). A lot of the people Odysseus has met, male and female alike, have tried to trick or take advantage of him. The maid Eurycleia is being loyal to Odysseus even though he had not been home for over 20 years. While Odysseus was away, many suitors were at his house and a few of the maids were not loyal to Odysseus. Eurycleia offers her help once again. She says, When you have killed the suitors, I can tell you which of the maids are loyal and which should be killed (Hinds 195). Not only does Eurycleia keep Odysseus’s secret but she will also help Odysseus after he has gotten rid of the suitors. She has helped Odysseus more than almost anyone else just by being loyal.
Who is Odysseus' first helper?
Odysseus is first showed help by Nausicaa, the daughter of King Alcinoos. First when Odysseus gets stranded on an island after running from Poseidon, he finds Nausicaa, who offers Odysseus hospitality on the island. She sias, …here on this island, you will not lack for hospitality (Hinds 75). Odysseus has had a lot of trouble and sorrow along his journey, and Nausicaa is one of the first people to offer Odysseus along his way. By offering him hospitality she is making the island of the Phaeacians a safe place for Odysseus. Also when she realizes that Odysseus has nothing, not even clean close, she tells her servents to wash Odysseus in the river and to give him clean clothing. Nausicaa sais, Let’s feed this man, bathe him in the river, and give him a clean, dry tunic and cloak to wear (Hinds 76). This shows that she is offering Odysseus even more than she needs to. All she had to do was take Odysseus to her parents dressed as he was and wait for their judgement. Instead, she gave Odysseus cloth, so he would look presentable and more likely for the kings approval.
Who was the girl that helped men on their trip back home from Troy?
Another woman who helped men on their trips back home from Troy was the Old Man of the Seas daughter, Eidothea . The Red Hired King Mene laus was stuck on an island trapped by the gods. They were running out of resources and needed to get home. The King Menelaus was approached by Eidothea. She asked why Menelaus was stuck and when he explained to her why he was stuck, she said to him, Ah, then I can help you (Hinds 35). Eidothea did not ask for anything she just offered to help. Most of the gods, male and female alike, would ask for something in return for help of any kind. She also told them exactly what they needed to do to get off the island. She tells Menelaus a way to get off the island. She tells him, If you can snare him and hold him tight, he’ll tell you how to complete your voyage, and tell you what has passed in you homeland since you left (Hinds 35). She is telling Menelaus exactly what he should do in order to get the favor of the gods and get back to his home. She then tells Menelaus exactly what to in order to get back to his home.
What is the role of women in the Odyssey?
Women in The Odyssey function as both obstacles and guides, and are contrastingly portrayed as both powerful and subservient. Women in The Odyssey, are contrastingly portrayed as both almighty gods, and powerless mortals. The goddesses play very controlling, and demanding roles in the epic.
What is the role of women in Odysseus' journey home?
In the Odyssey, one can see that Homer’s portrayal of women challenges the depiction of women during that time period. Throughout the book, many women intervened in Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca, for better or for worse. One will see Penelope, Athena, Circe, and other women impact Odysseus’ expedition home. These women influenced the conditions of the journey by guiding Odysseus in different directions, and aiding him crucially. Their authority showed the idea behind an old proverb, which states, “Behind every great man there’s a great woman”.
What does Odysseus care about?
The only one Odysseus really cared about was getting back to his wife, that then continued to stay loyal for him, but he made so choices that he regretted but did it to get back to his wife. If he wouldn't of gone through the hard part with sexual and disloyal women before getting back to loyal he wouldn't of made it and he would of got portrayed by his suitors for taking his
Why is the role of women important in Odysseus' voyage?
The role of women in Odysseus' voyage is very important. It's by virtue of women that this whole story even led the way it did. It was because of beautiful Helen that the Trojan war began, and because of Odysseus' love for Penelope that Odysseus needed to come back to Ithaca, and the famous Athena was an immortal goddess that made his voyage home possible. These three women shape the story of Odysseus. The women in this story are aimed to the point, and are have very meaningful roles in Odysseus' life.
What does Medea say about women?
She describes the world to be unjust, especially to women. Medea believes that women are looked as inferior to men, and even so, men are quick to display their unlikely maltreatment. To her, women have little to no say in their marriage, their bodies, and general society. Medea’s outlook of women is first conveyed through this quote, bringing upon the theme of the state of women within Greece.
What are the characteristics of Medea?
Medea has many untraditional characteristics for a woman who lived in the time of antient Greek. Medea’s is very headstrong and opinionated these aspects are none traditional in Greek standards. Women are only being incorporated into two roles: mothers and wives, nothing more. She defies her gender by exhibiting both male and female characteristics. Her ability to separate herself from her “womanly” emotions at times and perform acts that society does not see women capable of doing, further prove her ability to adapt to different situations.
What are the roles of women in the epic?
While reading the epic, the roles of women seen are the adulteress, who lures characters away from good; the wife, who keeps things in order and represents proper behavior; and the goddess, who supports the plotline and characters. Though the roles of women are not significantly noted by the author within the epic tale, it is important to identify the roles of females in such ancient times. As they were not valued as individuals, but rather as prizes, women lacked recognition. This is a continuity into the modern era, which can begin to be rectified by the identification of female power in places one would not normally look, such as a tale where the protagonist is male. Perhaps women are dishonored in literature, but that doesn’t mean the female race must be dishonored in the
How are women treated in Homer's Odyssey?
In Homer’s Odyssey, the women are portrayed in many different ways, some are said to be wise while others are cruel, but many are treated differently from the opposite gender. One of the women in the story, Penelope, was portrayed as very wise but because of her gender she was expected to obey many of the men. Similarly to Penelope, Arete, queen of the Phaeacians, was equally wise but was viewed almost as an equal to the men. In contrast to the other two women, Melantho was very malicious and was treated similarly to the men in the end of the book.
Was Arete wise to Odysseus?
Similarly to Penelope, Arete who was the queen of Phaeacia, was very wise, but unlike Penelope was treated almost as an equal to the men. Odysseus was instructed by Athene when he went into Alcinous’ place to speak with Arete first because she would make sure Odysseus would reach his home again. Book seven supports this in lines 72-78, “For she is also a wise woman…so if only you can secure her friendly interest, you may well hope to see your friends once more, to return to the high roof of your own house and to your native land.” This clearly shows that Arete was very wise and had much influence on the people of Phaeacia in order to be able to guarantee Odysseus a passage to Ithaca. Contrary to Penelope, Arete was treated almost as an equal to the men of her country. This is proven in the same book when it states, “…and when her sympathies are enlisted she settles even men’s disputes.” Obviously, this shows that she was treated similarly to men otherwise they would probably not allow or welcome her to settle their arguments. Arete was clearly treated better than most women of her time and was also given credit to her wisdom by many of the men of her country.
What is the significance of the women in the Odyssey?
Despite traditions of ancient society, the author characterizes the women as the real counterparts of men: they have real feelings, real plans and are able to accomplish men on their own. The women form an important part of the folk epic “The Odyssey”.
What is the role of women in Homer's Odyssey?
The Role of Woman In Homer's Odyssey. “Odyssey” is the second (after the “Iliad”) Greek epic poem , written by the ancient Greek poet Homer. It was written in the 8th century BC and tells about the adventures of a mythical hero named Odysseus during his trip home after the Trojan War, as well as the adventures of his wife, Penelope, ...
Why is the poem Odyssey so unique?
Unlike in The Iliad, in which women were just objects to men; women in poem Odyssey are distinctive because they possess personality, and have intricate relationships with men.
What is the character of Penelope in the poem?
Penelope proves to be a central character throughout the poem by examining the roles of her as the wife of Odysseus and how she is represented reveals how a wife may have been treated in Homeric Greece. She proves to contain a complex, contradictory character, layered with meekness, submission and frailty, yet later on found to be framed with strength, independence and cunning. But firstly, Penelope has all the man-made qualities of an ideal Greek woman: loyalty, submission and fertility.
What is the epic of Homer about?
For the Greeks, the epic of Homer was more than just an entertaining tale about gods, monsters, and people, but it was some kind of cultural paradigm that showed human relationships. The book gives an eclectic depiction of peacetime civilization of Achean. The Odyssey gives an opportunity to understand what is proper or improper in relationships ...
What is Athena's strength?
Athena embodies strength, bravery, and justice. She is a strong leader and a very clever decision maker. The reader understands, that she is the major reason that Odysseus was able to return home safely. Athena demonstrated the most intelligence and valor out of all the characters in “The Odyssey”.
How did Penelopia delude all the suitors?
Penelopia had to delude all the suitors for a long time by making the excuse that she had to weave a burial shroud for Laertes. All days long she sat weaving, and later at night she pulled her work apart. Penelopia showed her wisdom and cleverness during the whole epic poem. Even after Odysseus came home she was wise enough to be cautious, she did not run right to him with open arms in case he was an impostor. She used her wits to set a trap that would prove if he was really Odysseus. She had him confess the secret of their bed, as soon as she knew it was he.