Analysis of Penelope as Moral Agent in Homer’s Odyssey
analytical Essay
3041 words
In her essay "Penelope as Moral Agent," Helene Foley attempts to discuss Penelope, a major character in Homer's the Odyssey, in terms of Classical Athenian portrayals of women and, as her title suggests, in terms of what she calls a "moral agent." In her introductory paragraph she lays out guidelines as set down by Aristotle and his contemporaries that constitute a moral agent: the character must make an ethical and moral decision "on which the actions turns...without critical knowledge of the circumstances" (Foley 93). To this end, Foley ultimately decides that Penelope meets these standards and adds that her social, familial and personal responsibilities play integral roles in making that decision. Foley's examples and her in-depth analysis of the Odyssey all support her thesis as I have interpreted it to be. There are, however, problems in her comparison of the Odyssey and outside texts (especially that of Carol Gilligan), inconsistencies in citations and style, and examples that either have little or nothing to do with her thesis. The largest problem with this essay that I could find is the ignorance of a few facts that could possibly be construed as being in opposition to her findings.
Since I am not familiar with and have not read any of the outside texts to which Foley refers (Aristotle's Oedipus Tyrannos, Poetics, Politics, and Ethics, the Hippocratic medical texts, and the feminist theory of Carol Gilligan), I can only assume that her interpretations of these texts are correct. In any case, she uses Aristotle and Hippocrates in order to develop a historical framework against which she can judge Homer's fictitious character Penelope. This method would have led to a good argument if she had included in her analysis an ...
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...to be true about Odysseus' whereabouts. It is this former aspect of her thought process in making the decision to present the bow to the suitors as a more pressing concern to Penelope and ultimately makes her decision for her.
Works Cited and Consulted
Diana Buitron-Oliver and Beth Cohen, "Between Skylla and Penelope: Female Characters of the Odyssey in Archaic and Classical Greek Art," pp. 29-58.
Richard Brilliant, "Kirke's Men: Swine and Sweethearts," pp. 165-73.
Helene Foley, "Penelope as Moral Agent," in Beth Cohen, ed., The Distaff Side (Oxford 1995), pp. 93-115.
Jennifer Neils, "Les Femmes Fatales: Skylla and the Sirens in Greek Art," pp. 175-84.
Marilyn Arthur Katz, Penelope's Renown: Meaning and Indeterminacy in the Odyssey (Princeton 1991).
Nancy Felson-Rubin, Regarding Penelope: From Courtship to Poetics (Princeton 1994).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes helene foley's essay, "penelope as moral agent," in which she discusses classical athenian portrayals of women and what she calls a "moral agent."
- Analyzes how foley uses aristotle and hippocrates to develop a historical framework against which she can judge homer's fictitious character penelope.
- Analyzes foley's attempt to establish a framework based on historical and cultural ideas.
- Analyzes how foley's use of outside texts is a demonstration of the extent of her knowledge in the subject.
- Argues that gilligan's distinctions are not applicable in any simple sense to the odyssey because of the formulaic nature of oral epic.
- Analyzes how stylistic inconsistencies can detract from the persuasiveness of the essay. foley's inclusion of greek words is insightful, useful, and demonstrative of her proficiency in research and understanding.
- Analyzes how foley interprets penelope's "nearly tragic" decision as a question of her perceived fidelity to odysseus.
- Analyzes how telemachos is inconsistent in his opinion when it comes to who should make the decision and whether or not his mother is acting in the interest of the household.
- Opines that the force of public opinion upon penelope's impending decision should not be undermined in the least, even though homer neglected that portion textually.
- Analyzes how penelope denies believing eurykleia when she tells her about the slaughter of the suitors at odysseus' hands, but is overshadowed by the narration that she inwardly was pondering whether to keep away and question her dear husband.
- Analyzes how penelope demonstrates her wit in getting what she wants and ensures the winner to be her husband or none other.
- Concludes that helene foley's essay serves to call attention to the complexities that arise from outside expectations, but neglects to mention what she believes to be true about odysseus' whereabouts.
- Cites diana buitron-oliver and beth cohen, "between skylla and penelope: female characters of the odyssey in archaic and classical greek art."
- Analyzes helene foley's "penelope as moral agent" in beth cohen' s the distaff side.
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- Analyzes how homer's female characters are very powerful beings in this epic. the temptress witch circe has extreme power and can turn odysseus' men into pigs.
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- Analyzes how penelope is faithful to her long-lost husband, but resists the suitors with her feminine "wiles" and weaves a shroud for her father-in-law.
- Analyzes how penelope, the female counterpart of odysseus, is crafty and scheming. she captivates the suitors, paves the way for their destruction.
- Analyzes how the power and influence of women is symbolized in odysseus' encounter with the dead in hades.
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1568 wordsRead More - Women in The Odysseyanalytical essay...ow Greek civilization was founded by women; they were the ones who gave birth to the heroes. Similarly, The Odyssey is a story created by women. The plot revolves around the actions of women. Athena orchestrates all the events. The seductresses, such as Circe, the sirens, and Calypso, attempt to stop Odysseus from reaching home. The helpmeets, such as Nausicaa, Arete, and Athena, aid Odysseus in his homecoming. The wise and virtuous Penelope is the object of Odysseus’ quest. Unlike Helen who forsakes her husband, Penelope remains faithful. Unlike Clytemnestra who assassinates her husband, Penelope patiently waits for Odysseus. She becomes a model of female patience and of female intelligence. Her craftiness is the only one which can match up to Odysseus’. The Odyssey presents a wide array of women and demonstrates the influence that women have in the life of a hero.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how women in the odyssey are divided into two classes: seductresses and helpmeets. homer demonstrates that women have the power to either hinder or help men.
- Analyzes how the image of seductresses is a recurring motif in the odyssey. they try to keep odysseus from accomplishing his goal of homecoming.
- Compares the temptresses who hinder odysseus with the women who help him in his journey homeward.
- Analyzes how athena is odysseus' most powerful female force in the odyssey. she creates the story, orchestrates events, and directs people to act according to her plan.
- Analyzes how penelope is set forth as a woman to be emulated, especially as she is contrasted with helen and clytemnestra. helen was one of the most beautiful women of ancient greece.
- Analyzes how clytemnestra, the wife of agamemnon, serves as the greatest foil to penelope. both of them are wives of warriors fighting at troy.
- Analyzes how penelope is faithful to her long-lost husband, but resists the suitors with her feminine "wiles" and weaves a shroud for her father-in-law.
- Analyzes how penelope, the female counterpart of odysseus, is crafty and scheming. she captivates the suitors, paves the way for their destruction.
- Analyzes how the power and influence of women is symbolized in odysseus' encounter with the dead in hades.
1471 wordsRead More - The role of Women in Greeceanalytical essayGreek women, as depicted as in their history and literature, endure many hardships and struggle to establish a meaningful status in their society. In the Odyssey, Penelope’s only role in the epic is to support Odysseus and remain loyal to him. She is at home and struggles to keep her family intact while Odysseus is away trying to return to his native land. The cultural role of women is depicted as being supportive of man and nothing more. Yet what women in ancient Greece did long ago was by far more impressive than what men did.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how greek women endure hardships and struggle to establish a meaningful status in their society. penelope's only role in the odyssey is to support odysseus and remain loyal to him.
- Explains that women were placed at a level that was below man because he is depicted as being the root of the family in the odyssey and in the ancient greek way of life.
- Analyzes how the audience was able to relate to a certain character in the play. these characters have significant religious meanings and serve as inspiration to other women.
- Analyzes how the role of women is determined by the status of their spouse. plato's republic points out that although women are not as strong as men, they are still strong nonetheless.
- Explains that women of the ruling class had to be educated in the areas of music, gymnastics, and even trained for war.
- Explains plato's belief that man is better than woman in every sphere. this further enforces the idea of having a male ruler as opposed to female.
- Explains that marriage in ancient greece was considered a very significant occasion as in most religions and societies. women were in charge of the children and the household.
- Illustrates the hardships and sacrifices made by women, including property rights. when a woman marries, she does not inherit or hold any property.
- Explains that ancient greeks had similar views on the status of women in their society. they felt that a woman's place was to be at home and nowhere else.
- Explains that women in ancient greece were not able to live their lives the way they had intended to. their jobs and routines were solely based on what their husband's status was.
- Explains that women lived their lives in a state of "seclusion" from the rest of society because they were respected individuals. their status even had an effect upon the way they would eat.
- Explains that if the woman were of royalty, she would dismiss herself from the table before the meal concluded. men and women never spent the daytime with one another.
- Explains that in ancient greece, there were only two main groups that existed, men and women. everything that each gender did was based upon their sex and nothing more.
- Opines that the seclusion displayed towards women may have been an attempt by men to maintain dominance over them.
- Describes some examples of greek women's behavior, such as aidos and sophrosyne.
- Explains that women of lower status would go about with their head looking down as a sign of respect. the unveiling of their face symbolizes their allegiance to her husband.
- Opines that greek women have endured many hardships and struggles to establish a meaningful status in their society. they are entitled to more rights and have developed an equal amount of respect as men.
1539 wordsRead More