Christine Fox
Professor Barry, Horwitz
CS 110-04
14 March 2011
The Women of The Odyssey
Although, the women of Homer’s The Odyssey seem minor compared to the Greek Gods
and the men throughout this play, they show much more strengths and ambitions. Actually, the
women represent more masculinity, than the men compare to in this play. The women show
bold
characteristics and clever statics in achieving what they want. The women make up the book,
The Odyssey, through the ways they use deception, seduction, and fearlessness.
Because, the women posses the characteristics of deception, they have been able to
manipulate men and get what they want. When Penelope portrays deceitfulness through the way
she tricks the suitors, she than continues to keep them as admirers. Penelope, shows her
cleverness through the way she tells the suitors that she will chose a husband after she has
continued knitting the shroud.
... ‘Young men,
my suitors, now that King Odysseus is no more,
go slowly, keen as you are to marry me, until
I can finish off this web...
so my weaving won’t all fray and come to nothing.
This is a shroud for old lord Laertes, for that day
when the deadly fate that lay us out at last will take him down.
I dread the shame my countrywomen would heap upon me,
yes, if a man of such wealth should lie in state
without a shroud for cover’ (Penelope, pg. 96, line 104-113).
This depicts the sneaky way of making the suitors believe, that Penelope is serious about
picking
a suitor to marry. I think this is a clever way of procrastinating, making the suitors think that she
has moved on from her beloved husband, Odysseus. Needless to say, that she has been undoing
a
stitch each night, so that she will not have to come to the realization that her husband may be
dead. Therefore, she will not have to subside to the fact of picking one of these tasteless men as
her husband. In my opinion this is genius, to think of such a plan that will never be completed.
This quote is saying to the suitors, now Penelope’s husband is dead, she can remarry. So, once
she is finished making a blanket for the great Laertes, incase he may die. Although, she fears for
that day, but she will make a blanket to cover him, but the blanket must be complete before she
will give her hand in marriage.
Athena, shows deceptions, through the ways she uses disguises to hide her identity.
Athena, is a masculine character who, helps Odysseus return. Athena, portrays to be someone
else, when she disguises herself in Nausicaa’s friend in her dream.
“Nausicca,
how could your mother bear a carless girl like you?
Look at your fine clothes, lying here neglected-with your marriage not far off,
the day you should not be decked in all your glory
and offer elegant dress to those who form your escort...
...So come,
the first thing in the morning press your kingly father
to harness the mules and wagon for you, all to carry
your sashes, dresses, glossy spreads for your bed.
It’s so much nicer for you to ride than go on foot.
The washing-pools are just too far from town” (Athena, pg. 169, lines 28-44).
She tell’s Nausicaa to go to the river to wash her clothes. Athena, does this in order for Nausicaa
to meet Odysseus. Athena, show different disguises, through out the entire play. She uses the
disguises to help Odysseus to help him along his journey of getting back to his home. I feel
Athena is a vivid character, and with out her clever ways, of getting across a message, without
revealing her true identity is intriguing. She is manipulating others, so that she gets what she
wants. I feel, this powerful characteristic, if what makes the character of Athena come to life.
Her
concept of deception is devouring. She can manipulate any situation, which with out this
Goddess’s help, Odysseus, would have been helpless.
As a result of the women of The Odyssey being deceitful towards the men, they have
been able to dominate through their use of seduction. Calypso and Circe, use inducement from
keeping Odysseus from returning to his wife Penelope. Calypso, uses seduction as a way of
getting Odysseus to become her lover, even though, her initial plan is make Odysseus her
husband. Odysseus, stays under the control of Calypso for seven years, due to sex. Odysseus to
demoralizes Penelope, because he is under the influence, of the female way of seduction.
“don’t be angry with me
please. All that you say is true, how well I know.
Look at my wise Penelope. She falls far short of you,
your beauty, stature. She is mortal after all
and you, never age or die...” (Odysseus, pg. 159, line 238-241).
I believe, this shows the spell of love that has been placed upon Odysseus. The power a
woman’s
body and image effects the mind of a man. The seduction and sex, makes a man lose himself.
I like the way women in this book make seduction seem effortless and it puts an emphasis on the
fact that men can be seduced no matter if they have made a commitment to their wives. Homer
speaking about Odysseus and his encounter with the Goddess of Aeaea, Circe:
I knelt in her bed and wept. I’d no desire
to go on living and see the rising light of day.
but once I’d had my fill of tears and writhing there,
at last I found the words to venture,... (Homer, pg. 246, line 547-550)
This show the power a female has over a man, she has just turned Odysseus’s men into pigs and
even though he has scene her evil ways, he becomes Circe’s lover. Odysseus, is a foolish
coward,
who lets any women have their way with him. The woman in this play are seducing the man and
showing them, that women have the upper hand. Homer, tries to illustrate that Odysseus, is only
becoming loves with the females, in order to get what he wants, but in my opinion, he is a typical
man and will do anything for female affection and sex.
Because Penelope and Athena, are portrayed has bold, they show fearlessness, when left
to the challenges men have conflicted on them. Penelope, shows fearlessness, when she thinks
of
a challenge to get the suitors to believe that they are in hopes of becoming her wife. She
demonstrates fearlessness, because she is confident that only her great and powerful husband is
the only one who will be able to achieve this task. Yet, there is a chance that one of the suitors
will be able to master this challenge. She has to instill faith in what she believes and not be
fearful, that a suitor can win her hand in marriage.
“One more thing I’ll tell you--weigh it well.
The day that dawns today, this cursed day,
will cut me off from Odysseus’ house. Now,
I mean to announce a contest with those axes,
the once he would often line up here inside the hall,
twelve in a straight unbroken row like blocks to shore a keel,
then stand well back ad whip an arrow through a lot.
Now I will bring them on as a trial for my suitors.
The hand that can string the bow with greatest ease,
that shoots an arrow clean through the twelve axes-he’s the man I follow...” (Penelope, pg.408, line 641-651).
Penelope, bold and courages, instills in her faith that no man will be able to achieve this
challenge, but her husband. By staying strong, she’s shows that what she believes is correct, and
the only man that is able to do it is her husband. Which, reveals itself when Odysseus conquers
the challenge. Penelope, shows the readers how confidence and strength gets her through the
toughest time in her life, the time of losing a beloved one.
Even though Athena is a goddess, when she acts as a mentor, it shows her fearlessness.
Athena, to me is the boldest character in this book. She is the woman that stands alone. She is
the
one who helps Odysseus find his way back and face all his challenges. She is a coach and
courages others. She helps Odysseus, return home and take over the suitors.
“Where’s it gone, Odysseus--your power, your fighting heart?
The great soldier who fought for famous white-armed Helen,
battling Trojans nine long years--nonstop, no mercy,
mowing their armies down in grueling battle-you who seized the broad streets of Troy
with your fine strategic stroke! How can you-now you’ve return to your own house, your own wealth-bewail the loss of your combat strength in a war the suitors?
Come, old friend, stand by me! You’ll see action now,
see how Mentor the son of Alcimus, that brave fighter,
kills your enemies, pays you back for service!” (Athena, pg.446, line 236-245)
Athena, mentors Odysseus, to stand up for what he believes in and she emphasizes what a
warrior he is and what he has achieved. She shows fearlessness, by saying stand by me and we
will conquer this together. If I was able to have such a mentor as Athena, I would be able to
achieve so much. It is as if Odysseus has a garden angel always looking out for him. Athena, is a
goddess of good in my perception. She doesn’t use evil, she uses cleverness and bravery, to help
Odysseus succeed on his journey. She help Odysseus survive and get home to Ithaca.
In conclusion, the women of the book The Odyssey, by Homer, may seem minor
compared to the Greek God’s and the men throughout this poetic play, but actually they show
defined characteristics than the men.
Work Cited
Fagles, Robert. Homer The Odyssey. United States. Viking Penguin a division of Penguin Books
USA Inc. 1996. print.