Odyssues' Women

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In the epic The Odyssey by Homer, the protagonist Odysseus is traveling home from the war in Troy. Odysseus has been traveling home for twenty years and throughout his journey longs for his son Telemachos and his wife Penelope as well as his estate in Ithaca. Odysseus is a man with a penetrating mind as well as outstanding valor; however, a weakness of Odysseus is his sensualness. Odysseus always encounters women throughout his journey home. These women adore Odysseus because of his attractive looks and brave spirit and wish for Odysseus to remain with them. Although Odysseus is vulnerable to the rich and beautiful women he encounters, he rejects their kind offerings with the determination to be reunited with his wife Penelope.

While on the way home to Ithaca, Odysseus encounters two mythological women. Odysseus first encounters two Seirenes who he is warned about by the witch goddess Circe. The Seirenes are half bird half women who sing and lure sailors to their death. Odysseus received the options from Circe of listening to the song while tied to the ship’s mast or plugging his ears with wax like the rest of his crew. While tied to the mast Odysseus chose to listen to the song of the Seirenes and longed to follow their sweet singing. Odysseus had the opportunity to leave the ship and listen to the sweet singing, however, if this was his decision he would lose his life. The Seirenes offered Odysseus a life filled with sweet song, however, Odysseus remembers the instruction and remains tied to the mast continuing home to Ithaca. Another woman in The Odyssey who offers Odysseus an opportunity to stay with her is Princess Nausikka of the Phaeacians. Nausikka aids Odysseus when he asks for help and gives him instruction abou...

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...Kalypso.

Although women are one of his weaknesses, Odysseus does not get distracted by the offerings of luxury and immortality offered to him by women throughout his journey, that could interfere with his dedication to get home. The women he meets are beautiful and have many wonderful pleasures to offer to Odysseus but he is still looking forward to reuniting with his wife, Penelope. The women that he meets are both wealthy morals and immortals who will provide Odysseus a life of lavishness. However, he gives it all up for the true adoration he has for Penelope. Odysseus was unsure of how faithful Penelope was to him while he was at war in Troy but he was still willing to come back for her and risk his life doing so. The love that bonds Odysseus with Penelope was strong because he was faithful to Penelope even though he had been away for a long period of time.

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