The Odyssey's Treatment Of Women In The Iliad

The theme of women is prominent in both The Iliad and The Odyssey, the several women in both stories are seen through the lives of the heroes told and they are seen in many different ways as the role of women pertains to Homer’s writings. Women can be seen as possessions to the heroes or even something desirable. Women are treated like property who don’t quite have a say, however, some women are treated far better depending on what social standing they hold. Other women are seen as desired by the heroes yet still treated as possessions. The treatment of women to men depend on their relationship, status, or role in society. Women of a lower status such as Briseas in the Iliad were treated much less while women in a higher status such as Helen or Athena were treated equally to men or better. In The Iliad, Agamemnon agrees to return Chryse but he demands Achilles hands over his “prize” Briseas so that he may have “another prize ready” (page 110). To Agamemnon and his men women are seen as prizes of war that they have fought so valiantly to be awarded. Although Agamemnon has several women on the island of Lesbos and even a wife, Clytemnestra; he feels he deserves a prize like every other man so he must take …show more content…
Circe becomes an obstacle in the way of Odysseus and his return home as they try to seduce Odysseus into staying. Circe is first introduced as luring Odysseus’ crew by "singing in a sweet voice as she went up and down a great design on a loom, immortal such as goddesses have, delicate and lovely and glorious in their work" (Book X, Line 221). Circe appeals desirable to Odysseus and his crew which weakens his crew to being turned into swine. Even after Odysseus appeals to Circe and frees his men from under her spell, Odysseus still stays a year on the island with Circe. The role of women is questioned her as Circe plays the seductress to Odysseus keeping him from returning