Limited yet Influential Role of Women in the Odyssey
Typically, women in ancient Greece were not able to be influential due to their role in society. This can be seen when Homer portrays his female characters in a traditionally feminine role that limits their involvement in the story. Despite this setback, many female characters have found a way to be vital to the development of the plot by being mothers, seductresses, and helpers. In Homer’s Odyssey, the role of women is limited and narrow yet powerful enough to allow them to exert influence over the storyline. One role women play in the Odyssey is the role of being mothers. The relationship between Penelope and Telemachus and Anticlea and Odysseus demonstrates this. When he talks to his …show more content…
Examples of this include Penelope with her suitors as well as monsters such as the Sirens. Penelope is a complex character who has a gentle and caring but also has the characteristics of seductiveness. Antinous describes this nature when he declares, “It’s not the suitors / Who are at fault, but your own mother . . . she’s been toying with our affections . . . But her mind is set elsewhere” (2.94-100). Penelope controls the suitors by using them to her advantage but does not commit to them. Although this role is quite limited, Penelope still manages to use it to her benefit and receive gifts and admiration from her suitors while staying faithful in her heart to Odysseus. Besides Penelope, there’s also the sirens. “To the Sirens, who bewitch all men / Who come near. Anyone who approaches / Unaware and hears their voice will never again / Be welcomed home by wife and children” (12.41-44). The Sirens are symbols of deadly allure and temptations. Their irresistible power over men shows how although women are portrayed as weaker throughout the Odyssey, they have more control than they are believed to have. Without the Sirens, the development of Odysseus's’ character would have been different. They serve as trials Odysseus must pass to strengthen his character. Odysseus would not have had the determination and inner strength needed to face the large problems back at Ithaca without facing minor problems such as the sirens …show more content…
The best example would be Athena. Athena helps Odysseus various times throughout the story. She disguises him or changes his appearance to benefit him, makes him stronger, pleads on his behalf to the other gods of Mt. Olympus, helps kill the suitors, and restores peace to Ithaca after the slaughter. (Homer) Although the job of helper is broader than mothers and seductresses, it is still quite limited. When Athena shows up in the story, it is mainly to help Odysseus out of a problem. A misunderstanding is that helpers are not unique to women. There have been many men who have helped Odysseus throughout his journey. Although men do help Odysseus such as Tiresias, Eumaeus, and various other; it is really those such as Athena who make the greatest impact on Odysseus’ journey. She is the one with the most influence as Odysseus would have died without her specific help. Odysseus relies on helpers to assist him in dangerous situations all throughout the epic that he would not have been able to get out of otherwise. Helpers, especially the ones who are female, dramatically influence the turn of events in powerful
Typically, women in ancient Greece were not able to be influential due to their role in society. This can be seen when Homer portrays his female characters in a traditionally feminine role that limits their involvement in the story. Despite this setback, many female characters have found a way to be vital to the development of the plot by being mothers, seductresses, and helpers. In Homer’s Odyssey, the role of women is limited and narrow yet powerful enough to allow them to exert influence over the storyline. One role women play in the Odyssey is the role of being mothers. The relationship between Penelope and Telemachus and Anticlea and Odysseus demonstrates this. When he talks to his …show more content…
Examples of this include Penelope with her suitors as well as monsters such as the Sirens. Penelope is a complex character who has a gentle and caring but also has the characteristics of seductiveness. Antinous describes this nature when he declares, “It’s not the suitors / Who are at fault, but your own mother . . . she’s been toying with our affections . . . But her mind is set elsewhere” (2.94-100). Penelope controls the suitors by using them to her advantage but does not commit to them. Although this role is quite limited, Penelope still manages to use it to her benefit and receive gifts and admiration from her suitors while staying faithful in her heart to Odysseus. Besides Penelope, there’s also the sirens. “To the Sirens, who bewitch all men / Who come near. Anyone who approaches / Unaware and hears their voice will never again / Be welcomed home by wife and children” (12.41-44). The Sirens are symbols of deadly allure and temptations. Their irresistible power over men shows how although women are portrayed as weaker throughout the Odyssey, they have more control than they are believed to have. Without the Sirens, the development of Odysseus's’ character would have been different. They serve as trials Odysseus must pass to strengthen his character. Odysseus would not have had the determination and inner strength needed to face the large problems back at Ithaca without facing minor problems such as the sirens …show more content…
The best example would be Athena. Athena helps Odysseus various times throughout the story. She disguises him or changes his appearance to benefit him, makes him stronger, pleads on his behalf to the other gods of Mt. Olympus, helps kill the suitors, and restores peace to Ithaca after the slaughter. (Homer) Although the job of helper is broader than mothers and seductresses, it is still quite limited. When Athena shows up in the story, it is mainly to help Odysseus out of a problem. A misunderstanding is that helpers are not unique to women. There have been many men who have helped Odysseus throughout his journey. Although men do help Odysseus such as Tiresias, Eumaeus, and various other; it is really those such as Athena who make the greatest impact on Odysseus’ journey. She is the one with the most influence as Odysseus would have died without her specific help. Odysseus relies on helpers to assist him in dangerous situations all throughout the epic that he would not have been able to get out of otherwise. Helpers, especially the ones who are female, dramatically influence the turn of events in powerful