The Odyssey “Women”
In the previous class we talked about women being stronger, weaker or equal to men. So far women’s roles are vital in the development of this epic. They are all unique in their personality, intentions, and relationship towards men. But all of them help to define the role of what might be the ideal woman in ancient Greek.
Helen was the cause of the Trojan War which finally brought about the fall of Troy. It is her beauty that brought about the total destruction of an empire and she is the reason that the Odyssey was written.
In the Odyssey, Athena uses her influential powers through her intellect and her divine powers. If Athena had not interfered, Odysseus could have stayed at Calypso’s island for eternity. During Odysseus’s stay with Calypso he never lost sight of his goal of returning to Penelope his wife and son. Penelope’s image that repeatedly draws him back to his original goal. Penelope has always been there for Odysseus she has demonstrated that a woman fidelity, and wisdom can bring her husband home. Some women have shown loyalty and provide advice others charmed and controlled the men.
Do you think woman’s appeal and sexuality is a threat to male dominance? What would this epic be if Athena and Calypso were men instead?
Hi Alejandro,
I agree with your idea of women playing a large role in the Odyssey. Penelope and Athena both were very influential to some of Odyssey decisions. Athena as the goddess of wisdom helps Odyssey out of many tough situations including the shipwreck and other situations. Penelope also plays a big role in the Odyssey, since she represents the reason why Odyssey wanted to come back home. Although, she had not seen Odysseys for over 10 years, she never looses faith in him. Both of this women are examples of how they were all unique in their personality, intentions and relationships towards men.
Hey Alejandro and Gary,
I agree with both of your statements about women playing a large role in the Odyssey. As Gary pointed out, Penelope is the whole reason for the hero’s journey back home and Athena keeps his journey moving along. They seem to be the driving force of the entire story. While I do think a woman’s sexual appeal does play a part I don’t think that it’s the underlying major threat to male dominance in the story. More so than anything else, it isn’t a woman’s charms that give women in the odyssey the upper hand but their wits and guile. Athena convinces Zeus, Odysseus, Nausicaa, and Telemachus to follow her plans using her words alone. Athena knows that she will be trusted more as a man and is crafty enough to transforms herself into one numerous times to get the trust of other men. She doesn’t once use her sexual charms to get what she wants. Agamemnon is wary of women because he was tricked and murdered by his wife. Calypso tricks Odysseus’s men, drugs them and turns them into pigs. It is only through help of another god can Odysseus defeat her. Nausicaa presents Odysseus to the queen first as to convince her husband to take in this wandering stranger. One could argue however that their smarts wouldn’t be effective if it wasn’t for a woman’s appeal but If anything I think their sexual appeal severs as merely a compliment to their cleverness.