Topic: Women
In the Odyssey, the female characters are often dichotomized into two character forms: that which is ‘pure’ like Nausicaa, and that which is a ‘nymph’ like Calypso.
Nymph Calypso initially hinders Odysseus from returning home, while pure Nausicaa assists him in his journey. In my essay, I would like to further analyze the role that ‘nymphomania’ and ‘purity’ play in the odyssey.
Thesis: The way that sexuality is depicted in The Odyssey divides the female characters into two roles: those that threaten Odysseus and his journey, and those that assist him.
Book 6 lines 230 – 233
‘And the nymph slipped on a long silver robe
Shimmering in the light, cinched it at the waist
With a golden belt and put a veil on her head’
The following quote is a description of Calypso as she prepares to send Odysseus home. The description makes Calypso seem powerful and mighty, despite her current state of vulnerability at the preparation of releasing Odysseus from her grasp. Calypso’s world revolves around love and sexuality. She keeps Odysseus as a slave on her island which resembles a womb. Calypso’s being is very much tied up with sex, and she is seen as a hindrance to Odysseus.
Book 7 lines 145 – 147
‘He thought it over and decided it was better
To keep his distance and not take the chance
Of offending the girl by touching her knees’
The following quote depicts Odysseus mulling over how to approach Nausicaa, in order to speak to her parents in an effort to make his way home. At the point that Odysseus is approaching Nausicaa, he is naked. He views her as a ‘pure’ female, so he approaches her with caution as he attempts to hide his body from her view. The way that Nausicaa and Kalypso are treated by Odysseus, and depicted in the novel are vastly different based on the expression of their sexualities.
Book 6 lines 242 – 245
‘A while ago he seemed an unpromising man to me.
Now he even resembles one of the gods, who hold high heaven.
If only the man to be called my husband could be like this one, a man living here, if only this one were pleased to stay here.’
Nausicaa is smitten with Odysseus. However, Odysseus respectfully declines her hand in marriage. Odysseus’ refusal to sleep with Nausicaa is important to note. He has no qualms cheating on Penelope with other women, however, he refrains from doing so with Nausicaa. Nausicaa is depicted pure and virginal, she is able to aid Odysseus in his quest.
Hi Deborah,
The nymphomania/ purity binary is very insightful. I found that this binary, like many others in the Odyssey, breaks down to perhaps deliver a grand message about the relationship. As you have noted already, Nausicaa is smitten with Odysseus; she and her family asks multiple times for Odysseus to stay and marry her, making Nausicaa a hindrance to Odysseus’s journey, like Calypso. Calypso, on the other hand, instructed Odysseus for his trip to Hades, which was instrumental for his journey, so the nympho actually offered assistance in this instance.
Another example that fits under this binary would be the women in Odysseus’s house. Some of them chose to sleep with the suitors, while some obeyed Penelope’s wishes to wait for Odysseus’s return. Though these women neither hindered nor helped Odysseus on his journey home, they received vastly different outcomes at the end.
What do you think the breakdown of the binary means? I thought about it and couldn’t figure it out. Would love to hear your thoughts!
Chao
Hey Deborah! What a smart comparison. I think this is a fabulous topic choice, and it is a great idea to really focus on those two women. Sexuality, in their cases, seems to play a large role in how they treat Odysseus on his journey. It is also interesting to note that it is the goddess with the more power that hinders Odysseus, and the human with the less power who helps him. This is just your rough draft of an idea, but I think when you construct your final thesis you should be careful not to over generalize sexuality as the thing that depicts whether the female character will threaten or aid Odysseus, because we do see the other female category of monster that does not necessarily portray sexuality, or is even fully revealed to the characters. Maybe this somehow relates or not? But anyway, I think you will get a great paper out of this.
Sorry, just wanted to add a quick correction. You could always argue that the female monsters need to take and eat the men that pass by, or suck in the water, are just sexual euphemisms, so it could work. Okay, that’s all.
I really like your analysis. There are definitely two types of women in The Odyssey. One type includes women such as Nausicaa and Penelope, who are willing to make sacrifices in respect of Odysseus’ past. As much as Nausicaa would love to marry Odysseus, she understands that she cannot have him and that he needs to return to his life. Next, as much as Penelope’s life would be made easier if she could pick a suitor and disperse the mass of men pillaging her home. But she has memory of her life with Odysseus, and would rather wait for him than to dishonor his legacy by replacing him with a “suitor.”
On the other hand, women like Circe and Calypso have no regard for Odysseus except for how they could control him into pleasing them. They seduce him and hold him captive against his will. It takes great intervention from the gods to make Circe and Calypso release Odysseus back to his journey. This harkens Agamemnon’s advice and warning to Odysseus. Some women cannot be trusted, particularly nymphs.