Vitoria – Paper Brainstorming

TOPIC: Women in the Odyssey (Focusing on the underlying power of women)

POSSIBLE THESIS: In the Odyssey, women are responsible for shaping a large part of Odysseus’ journey to Ithaca—through interventions and by influencing his decisions—which allows them to exhibit their underlying power in this seemingly male dominated world.

WHAT I HOPE TO PROVE:

• Despite the fact that women appear to be in the background and not have much of an impact in the world of the odyssey, women are responsible for more than we seem to notice.
• Most women mentioned in the story have some kind of influence on Odysseus and his choices, even though it might not be explicitly stated.
• Through selected passages I plan to portray women’s power in the Odyssey and show how they play a big part in how the story develops and its ultimate outcome.

EVIDENCE:

1. “But it’s Odysseus I’m worried about,

That discerning, ill-fated man. He’s suffered

So long, separated from his dear ones,

A wooded isle that is home to a goddess,

The daughter of Atlas…His daughter detains the poor man in his grief,

Sweet-talking him constantly, trying to charm him

Into forgetting Ithaca. But Odysseus,

Longing to see even the smoke curling up

From his land, simply wants to die. And yet you

Never think of him, Olympian.”

While in Olympus, Athena is the one who brings Odysseus’ current situation to Zeus’ attention. She emphasizes the need to end his suffering and finally bring him home to Ithaca. From this moment on, she takes matter into her own hands and does whatever is necessary to achieve her goal of bringing him home—from disguising herself to Telemachus, pretending she is an old friend of his father in order to give him advice, all the way to disguising Odysseus himself once he has arrived to Ithaca—Athena is more or less the ultimate creator of his journey and the way in which it plays out.

 

2. “Goddess and mistress, don’t be angry with me.

I know very well that Penelope,

For all her virtues, would be pale beside you.

She is only human, and you are a goddess,

Eternally young. Still, I want to go back.

My heart aches for the day I return to my home.

I’ll weather it like the sea-bitten veteran I am.

God knows I’ve suffered and had my shares of sorrows

In war and at sea. I can take more if I have to.”

Although Penelope has not had any contact with her husband Odysseus for the past twenty years, she has great influence over his decisions. Odysseus longs to return to Ithaca and be reunited with his wife. His desire to be with her gives her power over him in the sense that it forces him to chose to return home rather than avoid the painful journey and simply stay with a beautiful goddess on an island. His everlasting sight of her keeps him focused in returning home and re-establishing his life as her husband, Telemachus’ father and Ithaca’s king.

 

3. “Calypso composed herself and went to Odysseus,

Zeus’ message still ringing in her ears.

She found him sitting where the breakers rolled in.

His life draining away in homesickness.

The nymph had long ceased to please.

He still slept with her at night in her cavern

An unwilling lover mated to her eager embrace.”

Calypso depicts her power over Odysseus through her seductive ways. She manages to compel him into staying with her for seven years. As can be interpreted from the text, she used to please him; however, as time passed he seems to have gotten tired of her and once again wished to go home. Although he no longer wanted to stay in Calypso’s island, he was not able to leave until Hermes came along sent by Zeus and told her to let him go. Calypso has power over Odysseus both in the sense that she is a goddess and therefore stronger but also in that she was able to seduce him leading to his extensive stay.

 

4. “She spoke and I took her words to heart.

So we sat there day after day for a year,

Feasting on abundant meat and sweet wine.

But when a year had passed, and the seasons turned,

And the moons waned and the long days were done,

My trusty crew called me out and said:

‘Good god, man, at long last remember your home,

If it is heaven’s will for you to be saved

And return to your house and your own native land.”

 

The previous passage is from Odysseus’ episode in Circe’s house. Circe is another goddess who manages to seduce him, leading him to stay at her island for an entire year and only be reminded of home when his crew members speak up. Just like Calypso, Circe has power over Odysseus because she is able to seduce him and give him what tends to be men’s biggest weakness.