Essay On The Role Of Women In The Odyssey

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In the epic The Odyssey by Homer, the depiction of women reflects how they were seen in ancient greek times. Throughout the epic women such as Circe, Melantho, and Calypso were portrayed by Homer as seductive, evil, and persuasive, leaving men far above them in the social structure. Other women in The Odyssey like Penelope, Helen, and Nausicaa have good traits like being tricky, and intelligent, but still Homer characterizes them as dependent and frail. In the book being a women no matter if they are strong and independent or frail and infirm life is difficult and unfair.
Certain women in the book had a strong character and they did not want to uphold to the norms of gender roles. Calypso, although kind of evil, stood up for herself when …show more content…

Penelope is tricky and intelligent deceiving the suitors into thinking she would be ready for marriage sooner, “And here is another stratagem of her heart's devising. She set up a great loom in her palace, and set to weaving a web of threads long and fine. Then she said to us: "Young men, my suitors now that the great Odysseus has perished, wait, though you are eager to marry me, until I finish this web, so that my weaving will not be useless and wasted. ...So she spoke, and the proud heart in us was persuaded. Thereafter in the daytime she would weave at her great loom, but in the night she would have torches set by, and undo it” (Citation). Penelope was very smart just as her husband is but she was not even near as respected as he is. Men in the story like Telemachus saw women below him so he would give commands to even his mother “ So , mother, go back to your quarters. Tend to your own tasks, to distaff and the loom, and keek the women working hard as well. As for giving orders, men will see to that” (citation), Telemachus demands that men will pursue all important tasks and the women can continue working, and he also insists that she go to her room. The Odyssey not allow women to be independent and a good attribution to the

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