Women In The Iliad

A prevalent theme Homer displays throughout his writings is the degradation of women, for the storyline of The Iliad begins around this theme alone. This overwhelming inferiority of women has transferred over from the time of The Iliad to modern society. For instance, men assuming authoritative roles is shown especially in the light of politics. Because women have fought for equality relentlessly, the degradation of the female race is improving and changing. The inferiority of women has existed for thousands of years. Even Homer illustrated this theme as the cause of The Iliad’s Trojan War. This war involved the Achaeans and the Trojans. King Menelaus, an Achaean, had a wife named Helen, and she was known for her outstanding beauty. However, Helen was not treated as a human but as a piece of property, for King Menelaus literally won her as a prize. Many men envied King Menelaus for owning a woman as beautiful as her. Driven by his jealousy, Paris, a Trojan, decided he would kidnap Helen and bring her back to Troy. When King Menelaus found out about the kidnapping, he called on his brother, Agamemnon. Coincidentally, Agamemnon was the commander of the …show more content…
Before the 1800’s, the idea of women being seen a property was improved very gradually. However, the nineteenth century was a major turning point for women politically, for this era was known as the “Women Suffrage Movement”. Women all around the nation fought for the right to vote, a distinct privilege for citizens, so they were ultimately fighting for an active citizenship in the United States. Through protesting, campaigning, and working masculine jobs while the me were fighting in World War I, women were given their right to vote by the ratification of the 19th Amendment. This amendment was an enormous change for the value of the female race in America, for women were now seen as equal citizens to