Role of Penelope in The Odyssey Essay

The Odyssey by Homer is an intriguing and timeless piece of literature designed to connect with a wide range of audiences. Although at first glance it seems to be a male dominated epic, it’s filled with important women that play a vital role in how the story unfolds. The different kinds of female characters help us to understand where women fit in the progressive Greek culture of Homer. These representations of female power in The Odyssey can be shown by the women known as the wise strategists,…

Homer’s Odyssey outlines a hero’s journey back home from battles and encounters with troublesome Gods and powerful monsters. Throughout the poem, Homer indicates concepts of masculinity through not only the male characters, but the female characters as well. Masculinity is presented as strong and honorable, yet possibly unintelligent. The ideal man is one who is fit to fight as a soldier; therefore, intelligence is not necessary as long as a man can properly wield a weapon. The women in the…

The women in Homer’s Odyssey, translated by Robert Fagles, deceive the men, in order to do what is right. Penelope and Athena contrast each other by displaying different portrayals of femininity. Penelope’s portrayal of femininity is old and outdated; a femininity in which a woman is loyal and submissive to a masculine figure. She is the perfect wife who is pushed to do everything her husband tells her. Penelope wants to live her life with her love and without any other purpose. Athena on the…

In the Odyssey an epic poem written about Telemachus talks about a journey he has to face in order to keep his family together. Telemachus is the son of a king named Odysseus whom had to step up, and take his father’s place. In the poem it demonstrates encounters Telemachus along with his mother will face in order to reunite with his father again. In the Odyssey there are three main themes described; loyalty, strength/ suffering, and the power of the gods. In the beginning of the Odyssey one…

Throughout the Odyssey the fates of Odysseus, Penelope and Telemachus has similarities and differences to Agamemnon, Clytemnestra and Orestes. Even though their story is different the idea behind them is similar. Both families goes through obstacles in their life but outcome of these events differs because of their personalities. Odysseus and Agamemnon; they have a lot of features in common. Both are kings, both are fighters for their people in Trojan Wars, and both have son and wives waiting…

"The Odyssey" is an epic tale by a famous Greek poet, Homer. After being away from his kingdom in Troy for twenty years due to war, Odysseus and his crew started to make their journey back home. Unfortunately, they ran into some trouble along the way. Little did he know, his kingdom had been taken over by gentleman called suitors. While he spent years with other women on his journey back to the kingdom, his wife, Penelope, was holding off marrying anyone else because she had faith he was still…

in the Odyssey play a pivotal role in Odysseus’s journey back home from Troy after the war. His journey was made complicated right from the start when Ajax, a Greek warrior raped King Priam’s daughter Cassandra which enraged the goddess Athena, and she was mainly responsible for Odysseus’s late homecoming. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus comes across women during his journey who appear in the form of temptresses or seek to destroy him. Athena plays a lead controlling role in the Odyssey. She…

The role of women in "Iliad" varied, the gods had a high position in life, like Athena who was god of wisdom of art, as compared to mortal women, who were sometimes reduced to a prize for men at a fighting war. For example when Agamemnon (leader of Achaeans) captures Chrysies, though he has to eventually give her back to her father. In "Iliad" Helen's position seems to be higher than the maidens Achilles and Agamemnon captured. She was originally Greek Menelaus' (Brother of Agamemnon) wife,…

first glance The Odyssey appears to be a story about Odysseus’ personal journey, it is composed of many smaller odysseys that coalesce into the greater narrative of Odysseus’ homecoming. Odysseus’ odyssey is physical, in which he must grow and utilized his physical strength, while on the other hand, his wife Penelope undergoes and emotional journey in which she strives to stay true to herself and her morals. Their journeys converge in their son Telemachos. Not only is his odyssey necessary to…

Wynona Ryan The Odyssey The Odyssey, an epic poem written by the blind poet Homer, is the story of the resourceful Odysseus, king of Ithaca. The Odyssey tells the tale of Odysseus’ years of hardship in trying to return home to his wife and son after victory over the Trojan war, with the interference of gods and goddesses. The epic poem was then adapted into a film, also named The Odyssey, directed by Andrei Konchalovsky in 1997. This essay is the discussion of the differences and…