Theme Of Masculinity In The Odyssey

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The Aeschylean Cycle and Homer’s Odyssey explore the futility of female legitimacy by asserting that women can only be valued when they adopt the mantle of masculinity.
The theme of female legitimacy is exemplified in the scene between Clytaemnestra and the chorus leader. Mocked, overlooked, and disrespected, Clytaemnestra is mistreated from her first appearance in Agamemnon. When she tells the chorus leader that the “men of Argos have taken Priam’s citadel” he doubts the accuracy of her announcement, but she simply responds scathingly, "The Achaeans are in Troy. Is that not clear enough?" (Aeschylus 28). With this blunt retort, Aeschylus demonstrates that in the face of conflict, Clytaemnestra chooses a more direct, masculine approach in order to be seen as a respected source of information to the chorus leader. Despite her best efforts to be respected through the use of masculinity, Aeschylus asserts the futility of feminine legitimization by having the chorus leader call into question her rationality and judgement. Again, she responds with a startling amount of blunt honesty, asking if he thinks her "some young girl, that [he find her] thoughts so silly" (Aeschylus 29). At this obvious contrast between Clytaemnestra and a young girl, her masculine behavior is emphasized and the chorus leader's respect for her begins to …show more content…

This is what makes the Odyssey so singular a poem. Odysseus, "the man of twists and turns", redefines the standard for masculinity with his clever and cunning ways. Therefore, within terms of The Odyssey, Penelope best represents the male archetype by having a "fine mind and subtle wiles" (Homer 77) (homer 97). By having a woman portray this new brand of machismo, Homer proves that no matter how masculinity manifests within society, women still must adopt this mantle in order to gain

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