Ideal Women In The Odyssey

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For some, the ideal man is tall, dark, and handsome, and for others, he is successful, crafty, and rich beyond measure. In Homer’s the Odyssey, the ideal man is courageous and honorable, and the ideal woman is loyal and a good housewife. Undeniably, the model person is different for each individual, culture, and time period, but even if centuries pass, certain values will always stay the same. The ideal ancient Greek man and woman, shown through Odysseus and Penelope, have similarities and differences to the ideal man and woman today.
In Homer’s The Odyssey, the ideals presented are related to and dissimilar from the ideals today. Odysseus represents the Greek ideals of intelligence and honor. Odysseus is portrayed as extremely intelligent, as even Athena praised him, saying “there is no mortal half so wise” (Homer 1097). Today, the ideal man is intelligent and witty in many situations, from job interviews to college courses. To the Greeks, honor was very important, and it was a trait that all their heroes would have. Odysseus is very honorable as shown when Eurylochus alerted him that Circe had turned his men into pigs and that he should take what men he had left and escape the island, but instead of leaving, he immediately rushed to their aid to rescue them. Odysseus risked his life and chances at getting home to save his men. Now that many centuries have passed, the ideal man wouldn't be expected to risk his life for others, but rather live as long as possible. Penelope represents the Greek ideals of loyalty and being a good housewife. Greek women were expected to be loyal …show more content…
While Odysseus and Penelope are timeless characters, it is a proven fact that the definition of perfection wont stay the same for forever. Certain standards such as intelligence and loyalty are here to stay, but values such as honor and being the perfect housewife have faded over time. ASK

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