Essay On The Role Of Women In The Odyssey

Women in Ancient Greek culture were not lucky enough to share the many basic rights and freedoms that men were entitled to. They were treated insignificantly and left behind to live in an environment in which men were allowed to be in control and had more rights. In the tragedies Odyssey and Medea, Penelope and Medea were not allowed to have any freedoms outside of their respective households. These individuals had no choice but to live with what they had and how they were treated. Women were not portrayed as active individuals in society, but considered to be property intended to be married off to willing husbands; Penelope and Medea were faithful to their husbands, but where Penelope was the model for a domesticated wife, Medea broke gender …show more content…
“So I spoke, and the proud heart in them was persuaded. Thereafter in the daytime I would weave at my great loom, but in the night I would haves torches ….”(19.148-150) Penelope did everything she could to ensure that when Odysseus did return that she would be waiting for him with open arms like a good wife was expected to do. Penelope had the responsibility to not only make sure that her son was happy but with the absence of her husband she also had to worry about pleasing her parents who wanted her to be married to the next available suitor. “Now I cannot escape from this marriage; I can no longer think of a plan; my parents are urgent with me to marry; my son is vexed as ….” (19.157-159) Penelope refused to believe that Odysseus did not survive the war, and tries her best to maintain not only his household but also the land that he would return to rule. Through the tragedy, Penelope keeps up with her respected gender role as both a wife and mother trying to keep her family together. She raised her son from infancy to a young man all on her own while her husband away with the possibility that he may have never returned to them.
She remained hopeful for the future and the life she hoped to have with her