The Role Of Women In Homer's Odyssey

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Women have always had a role of loyalty, cleverness and a way to help out one another. They did not just get that from evolution but by keeping the ways from the great women before them. Three women in particular come to mind, their names are Circe, Penelope and Athena. These women have done a lot to affect the way women have been and are portrayed today. The Odyssey is a great way to see the roles of these women and how they also reflect ancient Greek values. Women in ancient Greece were treated vastly differently than how they are today. In these ancient times women were controlled by men completely, the father being in control until the daughter was married, then the job was handed to the husband. This even went as far as to what the women studied and even wore. "Once a woman was married her husband controlled all property. Any property that she might have inherited would go directly to her husband. She had no rights to wander about the town, without a just cause. Any respectable woman would not be seen in public (Graham)." …show more content…
First and foremost Circe is a sorceress that turns men into sheep and seduces them all before sending them on their way to the underworld. This shows that she is independent and that she does not need to rely on men to get by, this even shows the concept of not just defying men but going against them to a degree as well. In addition Circe helps affect the value of loyalty in Greek culture by the way she handles Odysseus when he travels to her island, Aeaea. For example, when Odysseus travels to Circe's island she attempts to sway him to stay with her instead of returning home and he does for a whole year, thus making him disloyal to

Roles Of Women In Homer's Odyssey

In the Odyssey women have played a big role when Odysseus was on his journey home. When Odysseus first landed on Calypso’s island he did not trust her in what she was offering him. She offered him immortality if he slept with her, but he refused the offer because he adored his mortal wife, Penelope. When Odysseus returned to Aeaea to bury Elpenor, Circe describes one last obstacle he will face before returning home. She tells him that he will encounter the lovely Sirens, and another woman monster…

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Roles Of Women In Homer's The Odyssey

Women in ancient text are not known to have important roles, but in The Odyssey that has changed. Women are seductresses, wives, and goddesses. Women such as Athena, are considered heroes by the Greeks. Athena is a hero because of her social status. She is not a poor and weak character, but a goddess who is feared, influential, and respected. For example, when Odysseus was captured by Calypso, Athena was the one who convinced the gods to help. Also Athena, goddess of women and wisdom, is very wise…

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The Pivotal Role Of Women In Homer's Odyssey

Women play a pivotal role in the Odyssey. Whether they are mortal women or goddesses their actions have heavy consequences in the turn of events throughout plot of the Odyssey. This is apparent from the beginning with the rape of king Priam’s daughter, Cassandra. This incident enrages the goddess Athena against the Greeks consequently delaying Odysseus's return to Ithaca. Athena‘s soft spot for Odysseus persuades her to encourage Telemachus to venture out to find his father, who she knows is on his…

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Use Of Contextual Devices In Homer's The Odyssey

use of poetic techniques in The Odyssey inform your understanding of the contextual concerns of Ancient Greece? Society of Bronze Age Greece were concerned with a society structured around Patriarchy in which, social privilege males are given preference in terms of power, leadership, moral authority social privilege, and control of property. Also the value of Greek gods was held as intimately involved in the concerns of human lives and society. Homer’s The Odyssey clearly informs my understanding…

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Female Characters In The Odyssey

In Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, many themes are portrayed as the tale of Odysseus continues throughout the book. Although the movie is very similar to the book, there are still differences in the two versions of the story. Homer’s epic, The Odyssey is not only the story of Odysseus and his adventures, but also a image of the everyday obstacles we face in present day. This epic is filled with exampes of tasks and harmful consequences that i will evaluate and give my perspective on. In this epic…

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Common Themes In O Brother, Where Art Thou?

without them, a story would only include random events and characters; there would be no real plot. For Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, and the Coen brother’s movie, O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?, the same rules apply. The themes in both of these medians make both storylines meaningful and give the character’s purpose. Although O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?, a film by the Coen brothers, and The Odyssey portray these themes in somewhat different ways, both medians include the themes of religion and…

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Roles Of Women In The Odyssey Essay

Women in the odyssey are different from their personality and relationship with men. All of them are different but all help define the role of women in the odyssey. At the time men structured civilization was all put together and the women had position in society, that position was to serve the men and were dominated by what men allowed. Those women were valued in society but weren't important and had no power to control. Homer really depict women as a strong subject. In this epic poem women are…

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Modern Women In The Odyssey

In Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad, women play a somewhat large role in the way that the men behave and make decisions. The women in these stories are a good representation of ancient Greece’s women and how they were treated or how they acted in certain situations. Also, those ancient women can be compared to modern women in the way they are treated by the opposite sex as inferior in many situations. However, it contrasts in the way that modern women are gaining power and probably are not as oppressed…

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Essay about Homers Women

World Lit 1 28 November 2014 Homer’s Women A woman’s role in society and the issue of equality is not by any means a new concept. The balance between matriarchal and patriarchal dominance has been a power struggle since the beginning of known time. Many a writer and philosopher share different views on just how history wants women’s role to be remembered. One of the world’s most legendary and highest esteemed story tellers of ancient feminine woes would be Homer. Homer’s poems have lasted over three…

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Archetype Odyssey

Throughout history, women have been viewed differently from men. Especially in literature, women and men have played different roles and Homer’s The Odyssey is no exception. The men go to war and do heroic deeds, as opposed to most of the female characters, who seem to be not allowed to participate in such things. In The Odyssey by Homer, most female characters have a sexual role or one somehow related to beauty and represent the temptress archetype, and a few have a different type of role, but all of them…

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