Moreover, a similar hierarchy exits among the gods and goddesses where the gods have power over the goddesses. The head of the gods, Zeus, is a male and uses his authority to control the actions of the goddesses. The two most prominent examples of Zeus using his power over goddesses are Circe and Kalypso. Zeus sends Hermes to warn Odysseus and help him avoid "the malevolent guiles of Circe" (Homer 159). Hermes gives Odysseus instructions to make Circe obey him. With Hermes ' advice, Odysseus is able to elude Circe 's tricks and force her to submit to him. Before Odysseus came, Circe was not under the authority of any man and had the ability to do as she pleased. She exercised this freedom by turning the men who came through into pigs.
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Without a man controlling her, Circe is unhelpful and chaotic, but with a man controlling her, she is obedient and helpful. This demonstrates the view in The Odyssey that women need men to rule over them and should not be given control over themselves. Another goddess Zeus uses his authority to control is Kalypso. Again, Zeus sends Hermes to deliver a message. Hermes is sent to tell Kalypso that Zeus commands her to allow Odysseus to leave her island and continue his journey to his home. In retort to this command, Kalypso points out a double standard that exists between the gods and the goddesses: "You are hard-hearted, you gods, and jealous beyond all creatures / beside, when you are resentful toward the goddesses" (Homer 91). The double standard that Kalypso points out is that the gods are permitted to sleep around with mortal women, but if a goddess sleeps with a mortal man, the gods intervene and stop it. This double standard can exist because it is the gods who possess more power when compared to the goddesses. It is evident that women in The Odyssey possess …show more content…
Like The Odyssey, the Bible assigns men as the head of the household. Paul writes, "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:3). Paul establishes the husband over his wife, but both are under God. This leads to the idea that both men and women are spiritually equal; however, they are earthly unequal. Paul further articulates this idea when he writes to the Galatians, "There is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). While men may be given more authority on Earth, women and men are viewed as equals in the eyes of God when it comes to their faith. Another example of men being given power over women is in the church. Men are called to be leaders of the Church. To the Corinthians, Paul writes, "women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says" (1 Cor. 14:34). Using the preceding verses, this verse can be interpreted as not banning women from speaking in church, but it rather is preventing women from being the ones who give prophecy and interpret the Word in front of the church. Men are given the authoritative roles in the church like preaching. However, women are still supposed to have an important role in the church. Paul gives further
Without a man controlling her, Circe is unhelpful and chaotic, but with a man controlling her, she is obedient and helpful. This demonstrates the view in The Odyssey that women need men to rule over them and should not be given control over themselves. Another goddess Zeus uses his authority to control is Kalypso. Again, Zeus sends Hermes to deliver a message. Hermes is sent to tell Kalypso that Zeus commands her to allow Odysseus to leave her island and continue his journey to his home. In retort to this command, Kalypso points out a double standard that exists between the gods and the goddesses: "You are hard-hearted, you gods, and jealous beyond all creatures / beside, when you are resentful toward the goddesses" (Homer 91). The double standard that Kalypso points out is that the gods are permitted to sleep around with mortal women, but if a goddess sleeps with a mortal man, the gods intervene and stop it. This double standard can exist because it is the gods who possess more power when compared to the goddesses. It is evident that women in The Odyssey possess …show more content…
Like The Odyssey, the Bible assigns men as the head of the household. Paul writes, "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:3). Paul establishes the husband over his wife, but both are under God. This leads to the idea that both men and women are spiritually equal; however, they are earthly unequal. Paul further articulates this idea when he writes to the Galatians, "There is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28). While men may be given more authority on Earth, women and men are viewed as equals in the eyes of God when it comes to their faith. Another example of men being given power over women is in the church. Men are called to be leaders of the Church. To the Corinthians, Paul writes, "women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says" (1 Cor. 14:34). Using the preceding verses, this verse can be interpreted as not banning women from speaking in church, but it rather is preventing women from being the ones who give prophecy and interpret the Word in front of the church. Men are given the authoritative roles in the church like preaching. However, women are still supposed to have an important role in the church. Paul gives further