Homer's Iliad is the product of a society in which men played the dominant role. Throughout history, women have been viewed as playing small roles in society. The role of women in the Iliad is very small and overshadowed by the main story of Achilles and the Trojan War. The shadow that is cast over the women in the Iliad can often block readers from seeing the important role that they play in this classic Epic Poem. Most readers view the women of the Iliad as simply war prizes but without them there would be no story. The men of the Iliad are very emotional and prideful. Achilles and Agamemnon jealously feud over Briseis, a war prize that neither man particularly values. Even though Briseis is seen as a possession she plays a key part in the battle for Troy. Perhaps the war would have ended much sooner if Achilles and Agamemnon could have settled their differences instead of fighting. Not only is Briseis viewed as a prize of war, but the real issue dividing Agamemnon and Achilles is petty jealousy and pride. Achilles is willing to risk the lives of his compatriots and eventually f...
Homer's "Odyssey" depicts women as strong subjects-they are real substantive characters. Women in this poem are tough, strong-willed and are treated with the respect and seriousness they deserve. Homer characterizes the women in his poem as the real counterparts of men-they have real feelings, real plans and are able to accomplish them on their own.
The role of women in the Iliad is a subject that remains open to debate. Lefkowitz, in her article The Heroic Women of Greek Epic, argues that without the role of women in the Iliad the story would not have occurred (504 ).
According to Sue Blundell’s book, Women in Ancient Greece, women at the time were given little-to-no respect or authority but Homer challenges this by placing women in powerful strong roles and referring to them in a respectful manner. He has given women a voice and
Homer's great epic, "The Odyssey" was written several thousands of years ago, a time in human history when men played the dominant role in society. The entire structure of civilization was organized and controlled by men; It was an accepted fact that women held an inferior position in society. Society was constructed as if women were around only to serve the men. The involvement of women in any circumstance was almost completely dominated by what the men allowed. The women were valued in society, only they were not given important roles or any decision making power. It is as if they held no power in the ancient Greek society. This is why Homer's Odyssey is very unique, Homer put women into roles that were previously unheard of for women to possess. Unlike in The Iliad, where women served merely as an object to men; female characters of Odyssey are distinctive because they possess personality, and have intricate relationships with the male characters of the Odyssey. By characterizing the women in "The Odyssey", a reader may come to some conclusions about the role of women in this epic. Along with the belief that women played a secondary role to men in society, the female characters displayed certain traits that could not be exhibited by the men. Athena demonstrated the most intelligence and valor out of all the characters in "The Odyssey." The male characters play the most significant roles in this epic, but without the support of the females in "The Odyssey", Odysseus would not have made it through his journey.
In the Iliad we saw women as items of exchange and as markers of status for the men who possessed them (Chryseis and
“A woman cannot be herself in the society of the present day, which is an exclusively masculine society, with laws framed by men and with a judicial system that judges feminine conduct from a masculine point of view” (Ibsen). This saying also applied to the times of the Odyssey, an epic constructed by the blind, eight century B.C.E. poet, Homer. As one of the few representatives of ancient Greek social order, the blind, Homer witnessed women as substandard to men, regardless of their actions; many of them existed as seductresses, prostitutes, or slaves. He engraved into his poem women’s roles; the roles of women, as mothers, wives, seductresses, and goddesses are exemplified in this epic, when shown in comparison to the men of that era.
So going back to the topic question: What role did the women play in The Iliad? They each hold onto their own powerful meanings and they each have their own way of doing things. Some of these women can relate if you would group them into categories. In this case they would fall into property, prized possessions, goddesses, wives, and some might say even mother figures or guidance counselors.
In conclusion, the women of the Iliad have varied roles in the story's plotline. The different parts that vary from prizes to goddesses, and even have some roles tucked in between are the roles that define the women of the Iliad. Even though it is a violent, male-dominated war story, the women still play a large part in its invention as well as its progression, and their parts should not be overlooked.
...ks for ways to increase his power even at great cost. This portrayal represents the Greeks fear of dictators who would take advantage of the Greek people for their own well-being. The conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles is a reflection of the evolving Greek culture and the question of which should be held in higher regard. Ultimately Achilles seems to yield to Agamemnon who has the power of authority. Homer’s conclusion of the story shows that ultimately Greek society would surrender to the power of politics and authority instead of the power of the strongest warrior. This decision ultimately benefits the Greeks because it allows their civilization to grow and continue to advance instead of freezing in a type of feudal system. Ultimately Homer’s Iliad provides interesting insight into Greek beliefs and civilization as they transitioned into more advanced states.
In the Iliad, we are only exposed to a handful of women; however in the Odyssey, many more women become integral parts in the story but with little character development. This is expected because in times of war, the only women that these men were exposed to were concubines or their wives which both had little significance because they were preoccupied with battle. When the men returned to their homes, women began to have a larger role because the men were not solely focused on war. Many of the women have either a negative or positive connotation associated with them with little variation between the two. We have the vengeful seductresses Calypso and Circe to the unfaithful wives Helen and Clytemnestra. These women represent the traits that were abhorred by the society
The role of women in the Iliad is a subject that remains open to debate. The Iliad is set during and tells the events of the Trojan War. For the war men belonged to the battlefield as warriors. Women on the other hand were not involved in the activities of war in anyway. While men were bravely at war, women were to stay home for years without seeing their loved ones. Homer portrayed female characters having no substance and were nothing more then property, while males were ideal in every sense of the word. Women were only accessories for male used for status. When it came down to it males dominated in work, lifestyles, and even love. Homer may have portrayed females as the inferior characters just so the plot could play out. But without women would there be an epic of the Iliad to tell? With Agamemnon capturing Chrysies the following events unravel into what becomes the Trojan War and the story of the Iliad. If you focus on mortals in the epic, females may seem like they have little to offer, but the Iliad contains strong female characters if you include the gods. All the gods are all portrayed, as powerful beings. Aphrodite, Athena and Hera, are not lacking of power with them being female characters. Helen should also be noted; for she is the reason that Troy was destroyed. So to say that women had little to no substance I would have to disagree, as they were crucial to the story.
Achilles is introduced into The Iliad getting into a debacle with the leader of the Greek army, Agamemnon, during the last year of the Trojan War. Achilles starts a quarrel with Agamemnon because he has demanded possession of Achilles’ woman, Briseis, in consolation for having to give up his woman, Chryseis, so that the gods will end their plague upon the Greek soldiers. Achilles does all he can to get his loved one back, but he knows that nothing will waver Agamemnon’s decision. This is when Achil...
Women living in Ancient Greece had limited rights, if any, and were treated as property, owned by either their father or husband. They were never allowed to enter battle and their job was to keep to household in order. However, in Greek stories, women were given a major role and showed strength, wit, and cunning unusual to the stereotypical woman of the time. The Greek writers used women who possessed these traits to progress the plot and evoke the emotions famous in Greek drama and tragedies.
In Ancient Greek times, women were considered to be inferior to men. They were never part of the action, nor were they given significant roles in a world dominated by men. However, in Homer’s The Odyssey, women were not downplayed to weak, helpless beings blended into the background, dependent on men to survive. In fact, together they shaped Odysseus’s journey and contributed to such a strong feminine attitude that have led some scholars to believe that a man could not have possibly have written such an epic.
In The Odyssey, Homer brings one back to Ancient Greek society through his writings about the lifestyles, perspectives, and values of the people. Trapped within a cruel, patriarchal social order society, women hold very low statuses in comparison to men. In fact, they are considered objects of male power. Homer uses female characters such as Penelope, Calypso, and Circe to show views of women and how their portrayals represent the patriarchal perspective of their male-centric society.