Homer’s Odyssey outlines a hero’s journey back home from battles and encounters with troublesome Gods and powerful monsters. Throughout the poem, Homer indicates concepts of masculinity through not only the male characters, but the female characters as well. Masculinity is presented as strong and honorable, yet possibly unintelligent. The ideal man is one who is fit to fight as a soldier; therefore, intelligence is not necessary as long as a man can properly wield a weapon. The women in the Odyssey contribute to the presentation of masculinity by displaying characteristics that contrast the men. Unlike men, each of the female characters have some frame of intelligence. Most display their intelligence and cunning nature through their construction
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As a clever female character in the Odyssey, Penelope devises a cunning plan to trick the suitors. Antinous describes how she had proposed to marry one of the suitors after she finishes weaving the loom. He states that the suitors “were persuaded by this appeal to [their] honor” (Homer 18). Penelope’s claim that the robe would be for “the hero / Laertes” causes the men’s honor to prevail over their desire to wed Penelope and take over the great Odysseus’ house (Homer 18). Although these men are characterized as rude, obnoxious, and disrespectful, they are still honorable in the fact that they agree to this proposal since it is intended for the hero Laertes, father of the godlike Odysseus. Antinous says that Penelope “had fooled [them] for three years with her craft” (Homer 18). Although the robe is described as a large one, three years is an unusually long time to wait. The suitors continued to wait “as the seasons rolled by, / And the moons waned, and the days dragged on,” never questioning Penelope for the time she has taken to weave this robe (Homer 18). Homer’s language enforces how the time that the suitors waited for Penelope was unusually and extremely long; yet, all of the suitors were honorable enough to not question Penelope and to continue waiting. The waiting is halted when one of Penelope’s women tells the suitor of …show more content…
She makes him “look / Taller and more muscled” to satisfy a masculine appearance (Homer 91). This demonstrates that, ideally, men must appear and be tall and strong. Afterwards, Nausicaa notices Odysseus’ manly build, and wishes that “such a man would be called [her] husband” (Homer 92). By providing a woman’s thoughts on Odysseus’ build, Homer illustrates that women look for strength in men; strength is their leading trait. On the other hand, when Athena modifies Penelope’s build, she focuses on maximizing her beauty by making her skin “whiter than polished ivory” (Homer 282). At this point in history, white skin was preferable and considered beautiful, especially for women. In contrast to the ideal man, who should appear strong, the ideal woman is one who displays outward beauty. To Penelope’s modified appearance, the suitors’ “knees [grow] weak” as they are “spellbound, in love” with Penelope’s beauty. The contrast between Odysseus’ build and Penelope’s shows that men and women favor drastically different values; men value strength and women value beauty. Nausicaa’s comment on Odysseus reflects that strength makes a man and the suitors’ reaction to Penelope reflects that beauty makes a
As a clever female character in the Odyssey, Penelope devises a cunning plan to trick the suitors. Antinous describes how she had proposed to marry one of the suitors after she finishes weaving the loom. He states that the suitors “were persuaded by this appeal to [their] honor” (Homer 18). Penelope’s claim that the robe would be for “the hero / Laertes” causes the men’s honor to prevail over their desire to wed Penelope and take over the great Odysseus’ house (Homer 18). Although these men are characterized as rude, obnoxious, and disrespectful, they are still honorable in the fact that they agree to this proposal since it is intended for the hero Laertes, father of the godlike Odysseus. Antinous says that Penelope “had fooled [them] for three years with her craft” (Homer 18). Although the robe is described as a large one, three years is an unusually long time to wait. The suitors continued to wait “as the seasons rolled by, / And the moons waned, and the days dragged on,” never questioning Penelope for the time she has taken to weave this robe (Homer 18). Homer’s language enforces how the time that the suitors waited for Penelope was unusually and extremely long; yet, all of the suitors were honorable enough to not question Penelope and to continue waiting. The waiting is halted when one of Penelope’s women tells the suitor of …show more content…
She makes him “look / Taller and more muscled” to satisfy a masculine appearance (Homer 91). This demonstrates that, ideally, men must appear and be tall and strong. Afterwards, Nausicaa notices Odysseus’ manly build, and wishes that “such a man would be called [her] husband” (Homer 92). By providing a woman’s thoughts on Odysseus’ build, Homer illustrates that women look for strength in men; strength is their leading trait. On the other hand, when Athena modifies Penelope’s build, she focuses on maximizing her beauty by making her skin “whiter than polished ivory” (Homer 282). At this point in history, white skin was preferable and considered beautiful, especially for women. In contrast to the ideal man, who should appear strong, the ideal woman is one who displays outward beauty. To Penelope’s modified appearance, the suitors’ “knees [grow] weak” as they are “spellbound, in love” with Penelope’s beauty. The contrast between Odysseus’ build and Penelope’s shows that men and women favor drastically different values; men value strength and women value beauty. Nausicaa’s comment on Odysseus reflects that strength makes a man and the suitors’ reaction to Penelope reflects that beauty makes a