What Role Do Women Play In The Odyssey

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The Odyssey Women Essay

Greece, a peninsula located in Europe and near the Mediterranean Sea, is a country
“Known as the birthplace of Western Civilization”. It is widely recognized for their contribution of math, sciences, literature (Greek mythology and poetry) and most importantly philosophy. One of Greece's most notable poets is; Homer. He is well known for his book called “The Odyssey”. Now the story is about a man named Odysseus and his journey of returning back to Ithaca after fighting in the Trojan war. Now the book is centered on a man, but what about women? What role do they play in the book?

Now women in the Odyssey can be categorized into 2 types: Faithful and Unloyal. The loyal women in the story are marked by …show more content…

She demonstrates loyalty and is faithful toward her husband. “How I wish Artemis would give me death… so I could not go on in my grieving all my life, and longing for love of a husband… excellent in every virtue”- Penelope. In the previous quote, she misses her husband and can’t stop thinking about him wondering when he may return to her and her son.Even when there are suitors in her house, she does not fall in love with any of them and she remains loyal. She has hope her husband will return to Ithaca and has a strong sense of faith. While Odysseus was away, some of his servants changed and became unfaithful, and some remained faithful. Odysseus maid; Eurycleia is a woman that not only stayed faithful toward him, but to his wife too. Once Odysseus makes a return to Ithaca disguised as a beggar, she talks to him and says the following: “...these men will devise evil against you… No, but stay here and guard your possessions.” She wants Odysseus to stay and not leave to war. In other passages, she follows Penelope’s orders and wishes. The third and final women that is more reliable than faithful to Odysseus is Nausikaa. After meeting Odysseus by the shore, she falls in love with him and helps lead him to the royal palace and helps him along the way. “A while ago he seemed an unpromising man to me. Now he resembles one of the gods, who hold high heaven…. If only this one were pleased to stay here.” She quickly has feelings for Odysseus and is a women

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