Women in the odyssey
Women in the odysseyThe literature composed during the era when the Odyssey was written was directed by men. Woman characters were valued but the only participated in affairs when they had the permission of men. The men, for the most part, directed the women's lives. The themes used in literature were on the subjects that men would be interested in; combat; warriors, and rulers. Domestic affairs, for the most part, were not noted. There is a immense contrast between the Odyssey and other epic poetry of the period. There are several women characters in the Odyssey. All of them add to plot in significant ways and they are also treated with admiration. The women of the poem change the lives of the gods and men, and how they link in significant ways to one another.
Penelope, the wife of Odyssues, is the perfect wife and mother. She is also independant and intelligent. Penelope's character is Homer's model of the ideal woman. She worries when her son Telemachos sails to locate his father and grieves over the absence of her husband. Many times throughout the poem Penelope cries herself to sleep, yearning for information of her husband's welfare. Even after nearly twenty years of absence, Penelope still praises of her husband. At any time Penelope could have married one of the suitors and provided a father figure for her son. This fact demonstrate
Penelopes loylaty to her husband. . Standing before the suitors, Penelope announces that whoever among them can string the bow and shoot an arrow through the twelve axes will win her hand. At first reading, one may be surprised that Penelope will give up hope for
the return of her husband, however, Penelope knows that Odysseus's bow was a gift from a god, and Odysseus's strength was unmatched by any mortal. Although Penelope may not have absolute power without her husband, her cleverness gives her some space to distance herself from the suitors and to remain loyal to her husband. Athen, the goddess, has intelligence and independent through the entire poem. Athena also has compassion for Odysseus, devising the plan to help him return home because she feels sorry for him. Athena also guide Telemachus on his journey. "You will not lack either courage or sense in the future, Telemachus, for we see now that there is...
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