Leading ladies in Greek mythology heroes make a significant contribution to their quests, both positively and negatively. In the story “Perseus”, his leading lady Andromeda delays his completion of his quest to bring Medusa’s head back to Polydectes. However, through this, Perseus finds his true love. Next, Hercules has a life full of trouble all because of Hera’s hatred towards him, leading him to his well-known twelve labours. Finally, when Theseus’s quest of killing the Minotaur presents itself, Ariadne aids him with his essential tool, a ball of string, but creates trouble for Theseus later. These stories prove that the heroes in Greek mythology have contributions made to their quest by their leading ladies. Andromeda is saved by Perseus front a sea serpent, delaying Perseus’s completion of his quest in “Perseus and Medusa”. “Perseus landed beside her… Helmet of Invisibility” (Creighton, 93) As said in the quote, when Perseus sees Andromeda on his way home, he offers to help slay the sea serpent that is endangering Andromeda’s life. This extra stop during Perseus’s journey puts a pause to Perseus’s journey to present Polydectes with Medusa’s head and put himself in more danger. However something good did come out of this. “Perseus asked for … given so willingly.” (Creighton, 93) Through Perseus saving Andromeda’s life, he receives the pleasure of being able call Andromeda his wife. Andromeda’s contributions to Perseus’s quest affected him both positively and negatively because even though she delays him from finishing his quest, Perseus receives his one true love. Like most cases in Greek myth, Andromeda plays a small role in this story compared to the bigger picture of Perseus’s quest. This being said though, Perseus’s rewa... ... middle of paper ... ...r. Therefore, with a grieving heart, Theseus becomes the new King of Athens. Ariadne proves to contribute to Theseus’s quest first positively, but then negatively when Theseus loses her trust. In conclusion, no matter how big or small, positive or negative, contributions are made by the hero’s leading lady regarding their quest. Perseus’s leading lady Andromeda contributes both positively and negatively to Perseus’s quest. Hera, the leading lady in Hercules’s story makes a negative contribution to Hercules quest affecting him greatly. Finally Theseus’s leading lady Ariadne make both positive and negative contributions regarding Theseus’s quest. All three of these stories also prove how small women’s’ roles are in Greek mythology and how little they are valued in Greek society. Overall, leading ladies in Greek mythology contribute immensely to the hero’s quests.
Women in ancient Greek times did not have equal or political rights. Athena and Antigone, who were both very heroic women went above and beyond the stereotypical woman. In society today, women are still not looked as an equivalent to men. Athena and Antigone share the Greek heroic traits of honor, perseverance, and of living in a higher class. In Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, Antigone, and Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, the female characters, Antigone and Athena are not solely traditional female characters, instead, they embody the heroic characteristics, honor, perseverance, and high social standing.
The women in The Odyssey are a fair representation of women in ancient Greek culture. In his work, Homer brings forth women of different prestige. First there are the goddesses, then Penelope, and lastly the servant girls. Each of the three factions forms an important part of The Odyssey and helps us look into what women were like in ancient Greece.
...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.
Throughout Antigone, Electra, and Medea, many double standards between men and women surface. These become obvious when one selects a hero from these plays, for upon choosing, then one must rationalize his or her choice. The question then arises as to what characteristics make up the hero. How does the character win fame? What exactly is excellent about that character? These questions must be answered in order to choose a hero in these Greek tragedies.
Medea and Lysistrata are two Greek literatures that depict the power which women are driven to achieve in an aim to defy gender inequality. In The Medea, Medea is battling against her husband Jason whom she hates. On the other hand, in Aristophanes' Lysistrata, the protagonist Lysistrata plotted to convince and organize the female gender to protest against the stubbornness of men. In terms of defining the purpose of these two literatures, it is apparent that Euripedes and Aristophanes created characters that demonstrate resistance against the domination of men in the society.
In the era of Homer, women played a very specific role in society, and even in literature. Women of this time were basically put in a box, and expected to never step out of line. If they did go against the arbitration of men, then they were faced with serious consequences. However, female characters play a huge role in both aiding, and delaying Odysseus’s journey home. I will proceed to analyze, and interpret the actions and intentions of every major female character in The Odyssey.
Greek tragedy incorporates female characters that symbolize women in Ancient Greece. Through the portrayal of Antigone in the playwright, Antigone in Antigone by Sophocles and Penelope in the epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, these two women play opposing roles depicting how they appear to society through their actions. In both of these stories, they embody the ideals of passionate women who are very loyal and brave. Through other female characters in each story such as Penelope and Ismene, we can construct a better view of traits illustrated by Antigone and Penelope.
2. Describe two of the women in Hercules' life. What connection or influence did they have on him? One of the women was hera, the queen of the gods, she thought that by making his life miserable that she could break him, but really she is making him stronger. The second woman was his dear wife hue so unfortunately killed. The influence that she had on hercules was, remorse and forgiveness, so that hercules could find his inner-self and be forgiven of his deeds.
In learning about the feminist movement, we studied the three articles and discussed and reviewed the different authors perspectives on the topic and learned how important the role of woman in Greek Mythology. In presenting the feminist theory to the class we analyzed the three articles, Women in Ancient Greece; Women in Antiquity: New Assessments; and Women in Greek Myth, and discussed how although the three articles provided different views on Feminism in mythology, they all essentially are aiming to teach the same basic concept.
In the works The Odyssey and Gilgamesh, women are depicted as mentors to the heroes of the story. The epic poem, The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus and his son, Telemachus, are both in inescapable situations where they are trapped until the goddess Athena comes by to offer them help out of their situations. Athena,
Most people would define a great female protagonist as intelligent, strong minded and willing to fight for what she believes in. Both Bernarda Alba from Federico Garcia Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba and Medea by Euripides fit this description. One is a tyrannical mother who imposes her choices on her five daughters, the other is arguably the strongest non-Olympian woman in all of Greek mythology. If we take a closer look, we notice that these two characters have many things in common. From their positions of strength, to the masculine aspects of their personalities; from the way they deal with situations to the part they play in the deaths of their children. In this essay we will attempt to seek out their similarities, as well as discover how two playwrights, who wrote for distinct audiences millennia apart, could have created two women so alike.
Mortal and immortal women inspire many of the events that take place in The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh. For example, without the harlot, who “tames” Enkidu, the story of Gilgamesh would not be, as we know it. A chapter entitled, “Women in Ancient Epic” from A Companion to Ancient Epic by Helene Foley compares Ishtar in Gilgamesh to Calypso and Circe in The Odyssey. By comparing the role of immortal and mortal women in both The Odyssey and The Epic of Gilgamesh, one will be able to discern how the feminine figures have played a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of the epic heroes, as well as, understanding the interrelation amongst the female figures of both ancient epics.
Women have given birth to new generations for centuries and have the common stereotype of being caring and gentle. But in the creation myth, women were given to man as a punishment. In the book of collected Greek tales, " Mythology Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes", by Edith Hamilton, women take up important roles that shape each story. Although women are usually characterized as being helpful and motherly, Greek mythology, on the other hand, portrays them to cause distress, fear, and anxiety to numerous men. Women’s actions are shown to be influenced with jealousy and vengeance which gives them an evil nature.
As a general rule, Women throughout history have not been highly regarded. This was especially true of the women in ancient Greece. In fact, “women were,” as Foley States in her article “Sex and State in ancient Greece,” “universally legal minors; citizen women participated at best indirectly in the political and intellectual life of the city” (31). This is the society in which the original Theseus was created, so it stands to reason that all of the major heroes passed down from that society would in fact be male. He...
Perseus then goes out of his way to rescue a woman named Andromeda. Andromeda is a woman who was