Role of Women in the Odyssey - Essay Example

? Role of women in the Odyssey Thesis ment Different cultural roles of women influence men in the society as portrayed by the women characters in the Odyssey. Introduction The story of The Odyssey has been used by Homer to reveal the female gender roles in the ancient Greece. Women in the ancient Greece held few authoritative duties as compared to men who had some of the large authoritative powers. Men believed that the most valuable role of women was to satisfy their sexual needs. According to Homer, the voyage of Odyssey reveals various life challenges that the Ithaca warrior came across during his lifetime (Homer 25). The great warrior of the Odyssey is wise, brave and skillful in his operations. He learnt most of his traits due to his encounter with different cultures and dangerous assignments. This evident in the story where the Greek army commander sends Odyssey to gather information from the Trojan camp, a task requires him to be brave and wise so that the Trojans do not to capture him. The adventure of the Odyssey has also had various challenges, most of which are posed by women. These ancient women in the story reveal the role of women through various encounters with the Odyssey. Women in the story have a great influence on the actions of men. The roles of women have been portrayed in the story where the immortal Calypso, the goddess of Calypso Island, is seducing Odyssey and his fellow warriors while on their mission on the island. She manages to do so by using her sweet melodious voice to capture the attention of the men on the island. She successfully does this and lures them closer to her home. She takes this advantage and turns some of them into swine. Luckily enough, Odyssey possessed a potion that reversed Calypso spell and used this chance to escape. Calypso falls in love with Odyssey and holds him captive on the island for about 18 years. This shows how women are used to seduce men even in present day situations. They can do anything to men to accomplish what they want to do. According to Homer, women use their beauty to put men in to temptations that is against the culture of ancient Greece (188). Calypso uses her immortal powers to prevent Odyssey from leaving the Island. After sometime Odyssey decides to return home to his wife Penelope but calypso does not agree to that. She uses her charms and manipulates Odyssey to stay on the island. The act of manipulation reveals how women can be scheming when they have the power over male gender. Women who become leaders by controlling the society can act as a hindrance to men who want to attain their dreams. Odyssey’s love to Penelope and his son Telemakho’s gives him the will to try overcoming the immortal Calypso for him to return home. Calypso is not aware of what would make Odyssey want to leave the immortal life and prefer the mortal life. She tries to relate her beauty to that of Penelope saying, “I think I can claim that I am not her inferior either in build or stature, since it is not likely that mortal women can challenge the goddesses for build and beauty” (Homer 24). According to Homer, calypso plays the role of a seductive monstrous woman who aims at destroying the society beliefs and culture. Penelope also portrays the role of women in caring for the family. She wanted Odyssey back as the father of her son. Women fights for the rights of their family when other women tend to come between them. The story reveals the role of women as wives and mothers. Penelope is a woman portraying the image of an ancient Greek woman. The role of a woman as a mother is evident where she has raised her son Telemakho’s until maturity even in the absence of Odyssey. Penelope being Odysseys wife she poses a unique character that reveals a strong female gender. After many years of people claiming that Odyssey was dead, Penelope did not lose the faith that one day his husband would come home. She encounters the challenge of many suitors trying to court her but her love for Odyssey kept them off. They had undergone a cultural marriage and exchanged vows and wisdom. According to Homer, the male gender is allowed to have more than one partner but female gender is not allowed. Women should be helping, caring, faithful, and loving to their husbands. Penelope avoided temptations from his suitors by ensuring she was always busy weaving shrouds claiming that they were for Laerte’s burial. Penelope did her weaving all day long and later in the evening, she would undo the weaving. This showed the emphasis of her love for her husband. Homer also shows the role of strong women who can do anything for their family. Her trick did not give her suitors any chance to approach her however, her suitors noticed. Penelope offended her suitors, which is evident where one of the suitor says, “She has been deluding the wits of a whole nation. Hopes for all, promises for every man by special messenger and what she means are quite different” (Homer 211). Penelope’s beauty reveals how women scheming with their beauty to men. Athena is an immortal woman who has helped Odyssey out of the Island and guided him home. Homer explains Athena’s reaction after she realized that Calypso holds Odyssey captive on the Island. She approaches Zeus on mount Olympus and pleads with him to convince Calypso to set free Odyssey. Zeus accepted Athena’s request and Calypso sets Odyssey free. Later, while Odyssey is on transit to his home he comes face to face with Poseidon god of the Sea who was greatly offended by Odyssey for blinding his son earlier in the adventure. Poseidon decides to wreck Odysseys ship by using the waves and a powerful storm. Athena comes to Odyssey’s rescue and manages to save him from the wrath of the storm. Athena also managed to put hope in Odyssey such that any time he felt losing hope, she gave him reasons to want to survive and move on with his journey home. Athena disguised herself every time she appeared to Odyssey giving him hopes of seeing his family. This also portrays another role of women which is helping the needy. Homer explains that in ancient Greece, women had ‘softer’ hearts compared to men. Athena also uses her immortal powers disguises Odyssey to look like a beggar, which helps him save Penelope from her suitors. Athena can be described as an inspirer and reveals female gender can act as a pillar to the male gender. Athena, though having immortal powers, she used them in the right way unlike Calypso. Athena has helped protect Penelope from her many suitors. She has also protected Odyssey until he reaches his homeland, Ithaca. Once she appeared in Telemakho’s dreams warning him to be aware of suitors who wanted to kill him since he acted as an obstacle to her mother’s suitors. According to Homer, women have the Image of God that is watching over people they care, guiding and protecting. The Odyssey story has revealed many instances where Athena has appeared to protect Odysseys family. Conclusion The role of women in Odysseys’ has influenced the actions of the men in the story. The three women have played a major part in Odysseys life. The story also reveals the ideal women in the Ancient Greece portraying intelligence and faithfulness. These roles are present even in modern day societies. Works Cited Homer. The odyssey. London: Penguin Classics, 1987. Print. Read More