The Status Of Women In Homer's The Odyssey

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The Odyssey is the second of two epic poems by ancient Greek poet Homer. The poem is considered to be the second work of the western literature. Homer was born between the 12th and the 8th century on the coast of Asia. It was written in the 8th century BCE. The poem is about the Greek hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, his journey home after the fall of Troy. In the Odyssey Homer describes women as sexual predators and this symbolizes in the characters of the goddesses Circe, Calypso, and the sirens. Homer wrote the Odyssey more than 2,500 years ago. Back then in Greek society and the world, the dominant role was men. During this time the women were valued but were expected to perform things that men demanded. Women in the story wanted to marry, …show more content…
She lives on a island where she lures stranger so she can turn them into swine. She drugs the strangers and uses them as slaves. She is known for turning people into animals and uses mind control. Odysseus and his men land on this unknown island and go in two groups to look. She turns Odysseus and his men into pigs. Hermes tells Odysseus to eat an herb to protect himself from Circe’s drug. After she turns them back into men they all leave. Sirens were these dangerous creatures who calls sailors with their music and voices. Circe had warned Odysseus about the sirens, so he knew not to get to close. They got beeswax from Circe and cut it to pieces giving two to each of his crew men. Odysseus didn’t use any so he told his crew men to tie him to the mast with ropes. Once the sirens saw the ship they sang but directed their singing towards Odysseus. He begged his men to let him go but they wouldn’t they would only tie him more tight. Once they passed the sirens they untied him and the crew removed the beeswax from their ears knowing they were safe. Summarizing everything that I said above, women in ancient Greek were less to men and couldn’t be part of society. In the odyssey they played important roles, they were powerful and wise. So women like Calypso, Circe, and the Sirens were being portrayed as predators because they weren’t being respected or valued by

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