Topic: Women
Thesis: All women that Odysseus’ confronts on his journey home pose an inevitable threat, either through seduction, wit, beauty, or sheer strength, to men on missions. Although these women aren’t always the focus of the plot, and are usually included as a hindrance (which adds to the point), they fully make a case for the power of femininity.
Book XII, Lines 200-208:
-This passage is describing the efforts that Odysseus’ crew made to keep him safe from the sirens’ song, while taking their own precautions with “sweet wax”
-The sheer power of the beautiful voice of a siren is enough to take a man down, not physically but in every other facet of his life (home life, happiness)
-Sirens can only affect men/are not a hindrance to other women… Unity? Togetherness?
-Femininity: Meadow habitat, favorable voice, play upon the conventional weaknesses of men (forgetfulness, unawareness)
Book XII, Lines 263-267:
-Scylla, debatably, is the most intimidating and feared character in the story, possessing an incredible amount of strength and evilness
-However, her ability to evoke fear in the minds of all men, and also take down any that come by her, is a fantastic showcasing of feminine power
-Her abilities aren’t typically feminine at all, but the fact that she is indeed a female character gives more credibility to women as a whole
-Her description and role were perhaps meant to be a dig at women, but ended up further supporting female power
Book V, Lines 191-204:
-The nymph Calypso, through beauty, power, and seduction, was able to keep Odysseus on her island for almost 10 years
-Was able to provide him with pleasure and sexual satisfaction in light of his incurable lament for his family and homeland
-She was very domestic, caring, and almost wife-like to Odysseus – all very feminine values. Had this been a man keeping Odysseus against his will, one who couldn’t provide him with sex and care, he most likely wouldn’t have lasted
-Calypso also made a great feminist argument supporting her perseverance and justification in keeping Odysseus on her island
(May include Penelope’s case and/or Athena’s as an add-on or substitution)
So far, your claims are well backed. Although the female characters are not the central characters in the Odyssey, they still play a central role. They have enough power to hinder men from their missions, and this power adds to the power of their femininity. They may be mere “side-characters,” but they are empowering ones, even if Homer did not intend it that way.
You wrote something really interesting here: “…either through seduction, wit, beauty, or sheer strength.” I think it would really benefit your paper if you deeply explore that very idea. Which characters use seduction, which characters use strength, etc., and why? Has any one of these tactics been most effective on Odysseus, and if so, why do you think that is? I think if you focus your paper solely on Odysseus’ journey, Athena would be a great addition if you have space to include her. While she doesn’t pose an obstacle for Odysseus, she helps him along, sometimes by posing obstacles for other men. Often the way Athena helps Odysseus is by making him appear more traditionally masculine (e.g. stronger, taller, more athletic). This could be an interesting idea which might fit into your paper. Within the scope of gender dynamics in Ancient Greece, why does Odysseus need his masculine qualities accentuated in order to be more effective? In turn, what does that say about the massive feats which the women are able to accomplish? I love your idea that, though the women are not necessarily the focus of the story, they influence the plot nonetheless. It poses another interesting question about gender dynamics in Ancient Greece which you might consider for your paper. Overall, I love what you have here (if you can’t already tell by my endless comment). I think you’re gearing up for a well balanced paper and a very interesting read!
Regina,
The thesis you chose is well supported by many characters in the Odyssey. Further, I think the specific female characters you chose do exemplify your overall thesis. I would just suggest possibly refining your thesis a bit. I see two ideas in your thesis: (1) In the Odyssey, women pose as hinderances for men on missions and (2) In the epic, women are portrayed as powerful and skillful, almost in a feminist manner.
I do not think these two concepts are separate by any manner. It may be beneficial to articulate the thesis exactly, however, to maintain focus in the passages on what they are showing for a 4 page paper (which is not so long).