Odyssey
The women of ancient Greece lived a life of submission and lack of privilege. Their place was at man’s feet, in the house, in government, in the very fabric of their civilization. However the writings of Homer and his epic The Odyssey, explores the true trait of women and even challenges the roots of these properties of Greek society. Women played an essential role The Odyssey. Whether it be attempting to kill Odysseus and his men, deceiving and manipulating mortals, or serving, even motivating these great warriors, it is no question women were a vital portion of Homer’s storytelling technique and portraying of theme. While a woman in ancient Greece were seen as an image of weakness and vulnerability, the texts of The Odyssey may …show more content…
One deceptive female introduced near the beginning of the story, goes by the name of Calypso. A beautiful nymph, banished to an island paradise, with all the great foods and pleasures anyone could desire. Here Odysseus encounters Calypso, and it appears he has arrived at a heaven of sorts. However little to Odysseus’ knowledge, Calypso’s desires would easily outweigh his own, without him knowing till it was too late. “Though he fought shy of her and her desire, he lay with her each night, for she compelled him”(6). She breaks him, the warrior who has withstood everything the gods had thrown at him, is reduced to rubble in the shadow of Calypso’s deception and use. Even after Hermes comes to release him from her island, and Calypso presents him with means by which to leave her island, he still is wary of her deceptive nature. “After these years a helping hand? O goddess, what guile is hidden here?”(6). Yet another example of female deception is encountered on the island of Circe. There, Circe deceives Odysseus’ men with great dishes of food, to only capture and transform them into farm animals, “On thrones she sat them… She prepared a meal… adding her own vile pinch,”(16). The clear ideas Homer portraits in these tales of great female deception of men, travels back to the first idea …show more content…
While many women that Odysseus encountered were cruel and deceptive beasts, the princes Nausicaa on the other hand was very different. Rather than the deception or vile intent women before had exhibited, the kind and thoughtful Nausicaa provided kind aid to Odysseus and his cause. “...and using honeyed speech, inquire the way to town,”(8). Rather than the troubles the other women had offered, she helps Odysseus after a small amount of acting and persuasion by Odysseus. He plays into her interests and desires for his own agenda, in a way, using her and her vulnerability. “Uncouth he seemed, I thought so, too, before; but now he looks like one of the heaven’s people. I wish my husband could be fine as he...”(8). This representation of women, rather than displaying an unknown aspect of women, portrays a simple minded woman, easily manipulated and used by Odysseus to further his quest. Yet another example of kind women, is the quiet Penelope, Odysseus’ wife. Throughout the story Penelope serves as Odysseus’ motivation, his driving forces to return back home. “Can I be less desirable than she is? Less interesting? Les beautiful?... My quiet penelope -how well I know… yet it is true, each day I long for home, long for the sight of home”(7). Here it is clear, the presence of women is something more meaningful than pleasures and
The women of ancient Greece lived a life of submission and lack of privilege. Their place was at man’s feet, in the house, in government, in the very fabric of their civilization. However the writings of Homer and his epic The Odyssey, explores the true trait of women and even challenges the roots of these properties of Greek society. Women played an essential role The Odyssey. Whether it be attempting to kill Odysseus and his men, deceiving and manipulating mortals, or serving, even motivating these great warriors, it is no question women were a vital portion of Homer’s storytelling technique and portraying of theme. While a woman in ancient Greece were seen as an image of weakness and vulnerability, the texts of The Odyssey may …show more content…
One deceptive female introduced near the beginning of the story, goes by the name of Calypso. A beautiful nymph, banished to an island paradise, with all the great foods and pleasures anyone could desire. Here Odysseus encounters Calypso, and it appears he has arrived at a heaven of sorts. However little to Odysseus’ knowledge, Calypso’s desires would easily outweigh his own, without him knowing till it was too late. “Though he fought shy of her and her desire, he lay with her each night, for she compelled him”(6). She breaks him, the warrior who has withstood everything the gods had thrown at him, is reduced to rubble in the shadow of Calypso’s deception and use. Even after Hermes comes to release him from her island, and Calypso presents him with means by which to leave her island, he still is wary of her deceptive nature. “After these years a helping hand? O goddess, what guile is hidden here?”(6). Yet another example of female deception is encountered on the island of Circe. There, Circe deceives Odysseus’ men with great dishes of food, to only capture and transform them into farm animals, “On thrones she sat them… She prepared a meal… adding her own vile pinch,”(16). The clear ideas Homer portraits in these tales of great female deception of men, travels back to the first idea …show more content…
While many women that Odysseus encountered were cruel and deceptive beasts, the princes Nausicaa on the other hand was very different. Rather than the deception or vile intent women before had exhibited, the kind and thoughtful Nausicaa provided kind aid to Odysseus and his cause. “...and using honeyed speech, inquire the way to town,”(8). Rather than the troubles the other women had offered, she helps Odysseus after a small amount of acting and persuasion by Odysseus. He plays into her interests and desires for his own agenda, in a way, using her and her vulnerability. “Uncouth he seemed, I thought so, too, before; but now he looks like one of the heaven’s people. I wish my husband could be fine as he...”(8). This representation of women, rather than displaying an unknown aspect of women, portrays a simple minded woman, easily manipulated and used by Odysseus to further his quest. Yet another example of kind women, is the quiet Penelope, Odysseus’ wife. Throughout the story Penelope serves as Odysseus’ motivation, his driving forces to return back home. “Can I be less desirable than she is? Less interesting? Les beautiful?... My quiet penelope -how well I know… yet it is true, each day I long for home, long for the sight of home”(7). Here it is clear, the presence of women is something more meaningful than pleasures and