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A Comparison of the Role of Women in Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad
Homer's iliad and gender dynamics
Role Of Women In English Literature
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The Role of Women in Homer’s Iliad Homer’s Iliad is undoubtedly focused on its male characters: Achilles, primarily, but also Hector and Agamemnon. Nevertheless, it seems that the most crucial characters in the epic are female. Homer uses the characters of Thetis, Andromache, and Helen as a basis for comparison to the male characters. Homer wants his audience to see and understand the folly of his male characters in choosing war over peace, aggression over kindness, and honor over family. While the behavior of these characters clearly speaks for itself, the contrasting attitudes and behaviors of the female characters proffer an alternative; in comparison, the reader can hardly fail to concur with Homer’s message that war, aggression, and honor are misplaced and self-defeating values. The men of the Iliad are very emotional individuals; however, the emotions they express are consistently rage, pride, and jealousy. Achilles and Agamemnon jealously bicker over Briseis, a war prize that neither man particularly values. Agamemnon eventually returns her to Achilles with the admission that he never actually coupled with her; Achilles is less-than-enthused to have her back. Not only is Briseis, as a woman, regarded less as a human being as she is chattel, but the real issue dividing Agamemnon and Achilles is petty jealousy and pride. This is symptomatic of a general attitude among men that "might makes right," and the only priority is to exert a dominance over others whenever possible and at any cost. Achilles is willing to risk the lives of his compatriots and eventually forfeits his own life in pursuit of glory. Hector also loses his life and fails his family and country for glory despite having weighed the alternatives and con... ... middle of paper ... ... remembered for their great glory. Kindness, to them, is a weakness; yet ironically, it is their kindness for which they are remembered and mourned by those who loved them best. One role of the women of ancient Greece was mourning for the dead; the lamentations of the women in the Iliad are a role well fulfilled. Works Cited and Consulted: Calame, Claude. Choruses of Young Women in Ancient Greece : Their Morphology, Religious Role, and Social Fucntion. Trans. by Derek Collins and Jane Orion. 1997. Sissa, Giulia. 1990. Greek Virginity. Trans. by Arthur Goldhammer. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Orig. pub. as Le corps virginal. 1987. 000: Librairie Philosophique J. Vrin. Steiner, George, and Fagles, Robert, eds. Homer: A Collection of Critical Essays. Twentieth Century Views, ed. Maynard Mack. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice Hall, 1962.
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For the Greeks, Homer's Odyssey was much more than just an entertaining tale of gods, monsters, and men, it served as cultural paradigm from which every important role and relationship could be defined. This book, much more so than its counter part The Iliad, gives an eclectic view of the Achean's peacetime civilization. Through Odyssey, we gain an understanding of what is proper or improper in relationships between father and son, god and mortal, servant and master, guest and host, and--importantly--man and woman. Women play a vital role in the movement of this narrative. Unlike in The Iliad, where they are chiefly prizes to be won, bereft of identity, the women of Odyssey are unique in their personality, intentions, and relationship towards men. Yet, despite the fact that no two women in this epic are alike, each--through her vices or virtues-- helps to delineate the role of the ideal woman. Below, we will show the importance of Circe, Calypso, Nausicaa, Clytaemestra, and Penelope in terms of the movement of the narrative and in defining social roles for the Ancient Greeks.
Lefkowitz, Mary R., and Maureen B. Fant. Women's Life in Greece and Rome. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 2005.
of the book. USA: Simon and Schuster, Inc. 2000. The.. Print. The.. Blundell, Sue. Women in Ancient Greece.
When Americans think of oil today, they think of it a substance that the United States relies heavily upon, that it is necessary in everyday life. Of course, that cannot be denied considering people use oil in an assortment of ways, from producing gasoline to fuel cars to heating homes and even as an ingredient in cosmetic products. However, during the 1800s, oil was considered a nuisance by farmers. When the use of oil was discovered in the 1850s, it soon became known as “black gold” and the oil industry soared. Many started to test their luck in oil refining, one of whom was John D. Rockefeller. Unlike many others, Rockefeller had great success as he soon became the president of Standard Oil, a company
The indirect power of women is well illustrated in Iliad. Helen of Sparta, also known as the “most beautiful woman in the world”(223), whose beauty has the power to start the Trojan War. It all begins when Paris, the prince of Troy, was attracted to Helen’s beauty. Despite the fact that Helen's husband Menelaus is the King of Mycenae, Paris still insists on taking Helen with him to Troy. Menelaus bursts into a furious rage after Helen is taken decided to drawn a coalition with many Greek cities and started a decade long war with Troy. If it weren’t for
Charles Macdonald was an early founder of American golf. He recalled playing golf in the Chicago area as early as 1875. Another promoter of golf, a young man named Andrew Bell from Burlington, Iowa, was initially exposed to golf when he went to Scotland to attend the University of Edinburgh. Upon his return to the United States in 1883, he laid out four informal golf holes on the family farm and played a few rounds with his friends. In 1884 Colonel Hamilton Gillispie, a former Scotsman who went into the lumber business in Florida, was known to hit golf balls in a field that is now the main street of Sarasota (History of Golf 7). Also in 1884, the Oakhurst Golf Club was formed in North Carolina now famous for it’s first hole from the Club’s Homestead course, celebrated to...
Thoroughbred Park in Lexington Kentucky, clearly shows a lack in recognition of African American and female contributions to the thoroughbred industry. The lack of public documentation of a significant time or event also shows how race and gender were seen at the time of the areas construction—Cheapside of Lexington Kentucky, was the location of slave auctions in the city's early years, a fact that new comers to Lexington would not know unless told because there were no public acknowledgment of this time in Lexington's history until a few short years ago. This lack of landscape in the city shows a clear distressed view about the history of this city, until
“A Thoroughbred racehorse is one of God’s most impressive engines” (Citation). For decades, horse racing has enchanted many audiences. During the Great Depression, American Citizens loved to root on the famous horses (Citation). However, if the beast is fascinating, then shouldn’t the man who tames it be even more alluring? Often forgotten from the compelling sport are the daring jockeys on the horses. During the 1930s, jockeys suffered much unknown pain as a result of their destructive sport, were not appreciated, and were underestimated for their stellar athleticism.
The culture of the modern day racetrack involves lots of frilly hats, fancy outfits and all around extravagance. However, behind all the luxury stand the animals enduring these events. The thoroughbred breed holds a strong reputation for their speed, endurance and work ethic. They exceed at almost anything thrown at them, from racing to showjumping. Originally the output of an arabian stallion and various mares, thoroughbreds became most popular around 1727 (Wikipedia). Whether they are for the racing or against it, Sea Biscuit, Secretariat, and American Pharoah ring familiar. Thoroughbreds undergo a variety of treatments and training methods that leave them with devastating effects which follow them through the entirety of their lives.
What is the role of women in the Iliad? Is this another ancient poem that demonstrates male dominance? Throughout the history of Greek mythology, women have had typical and preconceived roles. However, this does not affect the role of Briseis in Homer’s Iliad. In Homer’s epic poem, Briseis, Achilles’ captured Trojan slave, is significant because she is a prize, influenced the Trojan War, and is similar to the other strong women of the Iliad. In the ancient poem, Briseis was a princess who was captured once all her family members were killed by Achilles. The women played a vital role in the fate of the battles in this poem. It is startling because in archetypal Greek
It is generally accepted that modern golf developed in The Netherlands during the Middle Ages. The game did not find international popularity until the late 19th century. A game similar to golf is recorded as taking place on February 26th, 1297, in Loenen aan de Vecht, where the Dutch played a game with a stick and leather ball.
Walcot, P. “Greek Attitudes towards Women: The Mythological Evidence.” Greece & Rome 2nd ser. 31.1 (Apr., 1984): 37-47. Cambridge University Press on Behalf of The Classical Association Article Stable. Web.
In the Iliad we saw women as items of exchange and as markers of status for the men who possessed them (Chryseis and Briseis, whom Agamemnon and Achilles argue over in Book I). We saw them in their normal social roles as mothers and wives (Hecuba, Andromache in Book VI). We saw stereotypical characterizations of them as fickle (Helen in Book VI), seductive, and deceitful (Hera in Book XIV). We see them as an obstacle that the male hero has to overcome or resist to fulfill his heroic destiny (Andromache 's entreaties to Hector in Book VI).
The poem “Iliad,” by Homer, is known for its violence between men during a war, but under that violence, is the different type of women who play a significant role in the poem (Homer 189). This poem’s narrative seems to show a male dominated world between the Greek commanders. This male dominated world cannot happen on its own, thus the different background roles of women are needed in order to make sense of all this rage. As the University of Michigan article How Do Women Make Their Way Into This Cycle states, “They are seen as the objects of both lust and domesticity, yet they are also used to excuse war, cause conflict, and display the power of men” (www.umich.edu). The focus in this poem steers towards the rage between the men, but this rage most of the time is inspired and initiated by a woman. The women of Iliad play a significant role in the poem such as war prizes, male hero partners, and women gods.