Invisible Women Research Paper

The Power of Invisible Women
In almost all myths, women are overshadowed by men because they are portrayed to be weak, passive and powerless individuals. Women are also regarded as tools and possessions that are enslaved to men. Conversely, men are characterized as strong, decisive, and courageous. Furthermore, they are presumed to be the ones to save the world. Even though women play a secondary role in myths, they are the ones who empower men to rise on the occasion and become a heroic figure. Despite being relegated to an inferior role in many myths, women are crucial in the lives of men in Orpheus and Eurydice, Theseus and the Minotaur, and The Life of the Buddha because they are the ones who support and inspire them. Without women, men
are not likely to defy adversities, and their paths to their heroic journey would be more challenging.
Women play an important role in heroes’ lives because they strive to support their men to overcome the predicaments they encountered during their heroic journey.
To be supportive, not only women are in agreement with men’s desire, but also they are committed to providing physical assistance or emotional reassurance to men. In Theseus and the Minotaur, Theseus (the son of Poseidon) is the chosen one to kill the Minotaur. To assist Theseus, Ariadne gives him “a sword […], a wound ball of woollen twine, [and] the torch” (O’Rahilly 3). This demonstrates Ariadne’s physical assistance to Theseus, which exemplifies a type of support. With the support of Ariadne in acquiring the necessary tools, Theseus defeats the monster, Minotaur. Ultimately, Theseus completes his mission, and the people in the community are no longer living in fear. Likewise, in The Life of the Buddha, Siddhartha starves himself on the brink of death while sitting beneath the Bodhi tree, trying to gain enlightenment. Fortunately, Sujata, a young woman, arrives with “a rich meal of rice and milk, served on a golden dish.” This meal is crucial to Siddhartha because it is “the last food he would touch for seven weeks” (The Life of the Buddha 31). This emphasizes a support as Sujata provides both physical assistance and emotional reassurance to Siddhartha. In light of her support, Siddhartha is able to resist the temptations from god Mara and gain his enlightenment as well as wisdom. Ultimately, Siddhartha is able
to become the next Buddha, and the people of Nirvana are given the opportunity to learn the meaning of life and death. Through the women’s support, both Theseus and Siddhartha are able to survive and thrive during adversities.
In addition to supporting men, women also inspire men to transform themselves into individuals whom are willing to risk in order to make a contribution to the world.
To inspire is to instil the importance of confidence in others’ lives. In Theseus and the Minotaur, Theseus grows up without his father and does not know his identity. His mother, who is a princess, inspires Theseus by telling him that “only on the day that [he] can lift [the] rock, [she] will tell [him] who [his] father is” (O’Rahilly 1). As a result, Theseus is able to gain confidence in knowing that he has a purpose in life. It is only when his mother instils in him the power of confidence; Theseus is able to gain the stamina to begin his perilous journey and kills the Minotaur. Similarly, in Orpheus and Eurydice, Orpheus is content to stay in his palace and play music with his lyre. When Eurydice dies, her death inspires him to enter the underworld in the hope to save his wife. In fact, he ignores his dad’s warning: “Those who go to the Underworld can never return” and he “sets out [with] his lyre slung on his shoulder, his mind full only of Eurydice” (Gibson 32). Again, Orpheus’ courage stems from his grief over Eurydice’s death. His decision to risk his life to save his wife and his confidence in undertaking this perilous journey are inspired by Eurydice. Through women’s inspiration, men like Theseus and Orpheus are able to transform into adventurous and courageous individuals who become admirable
heroes.
It is unequivocal that women’s support and inspiration play a pivotal role in helping their men physically and emotionally to complete an adventurous journey that eventually makes men a hero. In Orpheus and Eurydice, Orpheus would never have discovered his bravery and strength to abandon his music Likewise in The Life of the Buddha, Siddhartha would have left without his enlightenment if not for Sujata who brought him food. Similarly, in Theseus and the Minotaur, Theseus would not have ventured out of his status quo if not for his mother who inspired him by telling him to lift the rock. Additionally, Theseus would never have become the hero whom kills the Minotaur without Ariadne’s support. It is imperative that women are the invisible and unsung heroes who deserve to be acknowledged and lauded. If men and society realize and employ their talents and strengths, the world will become stronger and robust.