Athena And The Black Widow In The Odyssey

In The Odyssey by Homer and the Marvel Comics Universe (MCU), Athena and the Black Widow, respectively, are characterized as strong and powerful women. However, the context of their portrayals highlight the patriarchal undertones present in each of their worlds. The depictions of Athena and the Black Widow represent the different societal beliefs that their respective general publics held about women.
Athena and the Black Widow are able to use their feminine wits and intelligence against men to gain the upperhand. Athena is able to take notice of her surroundings and assess her situation through the use of her powers. “She seemed /a family friend, the Taphian captain, Mentes, waiting, with a light hand on her spear”. Athena changes her appearance
Throughout the epic, Athena’s purpose is to serve as a supernatural guide for Telemachus and Odysseus. “Would that bright-eyed Athena should care to love you as once she cherished mighty Ulysses in the land of the Trojans, where we Achaeans suffered woes -- for I never saw the Gods showing such open affection as Pallas Athena stood by him for all to see.” In the Odyssey, it is acknowledged that gods and goddesses generally do not favor specific human beings. However, Athena is drawn to Odysseus’s character and seems unable to resist his charm. Her portrayal throughout the epic is that of helper and guide to Odysseus and Telemachus. Athena is represented in such a way that it appears that the sole use of her powers is to guide Odysseus home and to help Telemachus mature into a strong and respectable man. Athena’s presence seems only to serve Odysseus and to get him home. Similarly, the Black Widow is portrayed to be malleable in the palms of men. The New York Post also agrees. In the film, The Age of Ultron, sexist stereotypes were impressed upon the Black Widow. “For one, at the Avengers mission “wrap party” early in the film, Widow looks to be the only Avenger working the bash, pouring drinks from behind a bar while she bats her eyes in flirtation. Later, she grabs Captain America’s shield off the street and quips, “I’m always picking up after you boys.”” The Black Widow is declared to be “the most popular female superhero of the decade,” yet from the very start of the film, she is the only superhero that seems to be doing domestic work. The Black Widow is supposed to be the embodiment of female independence and strength but her actions and representation in the film do not represent independence or superiority; in fact, they enforce the female stereotype that women are meant to be submissive and do domestic