Malthus and the Analysis of Population Control and Poverty

The Women and Their Roles in The Odyssey

Throughout his journey, Odysseus meets a few female characters who become essential elements of The Odyssey. In the beginning of the epic, Odysseus' main goal is to return home after many years of absence but along the way the sexual appeal of certain female characters distract him from his ultimate goal. Many of the female characters in The Odyssey are portrayed as seductresses creatures who desire different kinds of intimacy. Since they could not be dominant or had any input on certain situations they relied on sex and manipulation to get what they wanted. During Odysseus' journey he and his crew members arrive on Circe's island they are enchanted by her and the sound of her voice, “But still they paused at her doors, the nymph with lovely braids, Circe-and deep inside they heard her singing, lifting her spellbinding voice as she glided back and forth at her immortal loom, her enchanting web a shimmering glory only goddess can weave.” (X:239-49)
By letting themselves be seduced by Circe's beauty they enabled Circe to explore to explore their weaknesses allowing her to turn the men into swine. With the help of Hermes and a powerful potion, Odysseus was able to turn his men back and could have left the island at once. However, Odysseus became so enchanted with Circe that he enjoyed the luxuries of the island for a year, forgetting the fact that he wanted to return home. Odysseus is shown to be a very strong character who only has one goal, to return to his home but by letting himself be seduced by Circe, he showed just how strong Circe's act of seduction was.
Calypso, a nymph-goddess, holds Odysseus captive on her island to make him her husband.
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She is seductive as well but is very manipulative. They quickly become lovers but Odysseus only thinks about returning home to Penelope:
“Ah great goddess,” worldly Odysseus answered, “don't be angry with me, please. All that you say is true, how well I know. Look at my wise Penelope. She falls short of you, your beauty, stature. She is mortal after all and you, you never age or die...Nevertheless I long—I pine, all my days—to travel home and see the dawn of my return. And if a god will wreck me yet again the wine-dark sea, I can bear that too, with a spirit tempered to endure. Much have I suffered, labored long and hard by now in the waves and wars. Add this to the total—bring the trial on! (I)

Calypso takes on the dominant role in the situation which threatens Odysseus, a man who is usually the most dominant in all his situations. When Zeus sends out Hermes to tell Calypso to set Odysseus free, she is clearly unhappy. She states that there is a double standard. When a god has an affair with a mortal no one intervenes as opposed to a goddess having an affair with a mortal, ““Hard-hearted you are, you gods! You unrivaled lords of jealousy-scandalized when goddesses sleep with mortals, openly, even when one has made the man her husband.””(V:130-135) Although Calypso had to manipulated Odysseus in order to have him, she still appears to be a strong female character clearly noticed the injustices between gods and goddesses. She appears lonely and frustrated with always being overlooked by the gods. When she is forced to let him leave but decides to make Odysseus believe she is letting him go because that is what she chose it. Penelope is the most important female character in The Odyssey. Odysseus' strong desire to go back home is centered around his undying love for Penelope. Penelope has a son with Odysseus, Telemachus, who was born shortly after Odysseus left for the Trojan war. During his absence, Penelope continuously keeps her many suitors waiting while secretly waiting for Odysseus' return. During the
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many year of his absence, Penelope has remain faithful and loyal to her husband, ending Odysseus' worries of her possibly being with someone else. Although Penelope remained faithful to Odysseus, she becomes restless and even considers marrying one of the suitors. When Odysseus returns, who is in disguise, Penelope announces that she is ready to choose a suitor. The way Penelope treats Odysseus in disguise is indicates that she knew that he was her husband or subtle things about this man reminded her of her Odysseus, quickly hoping that he was him. This is an essential part of the epic in terms of the type of woman Penelope is because in a society where men dominate, Penelope would have needed to find a husband. Penelope flipped the role of dominance between her and the suitors by making them wait and obey her commands until the very end. Homer presents these female characters not only as seductresses but also as weak and fragile. It appears they need a man's hand to guide them; without they are confused or inconsolable just like Penelope was. In many ways, Penelope is a somewhat difficult character. For most of the epic, she mourns the loss of her husband. Telemachus become frustrated with his mother and takes on the dominant role within their relationship:
It's always the latest song, the one that echoes last in the listener's ears, that people praise the most. Courage, mother. Harden your heart, and listen. Odysseus was scarcely the only one, you know, whose journey home was blotted out at Troy. Others, so many others died there too. So, mother, go back to your headquarters . Tend to your own tasks, the distaff and the loom, and keep the women working hard as well. As for your orders, men will see to that, but I most of all: I hold the reins of power in this house. (I:405-413)

Although Penelope is not an aggressive female such as Calypso or Circe, she is a seductress as well. While thinking of Odysseus, Penelope lets her suitors wait for her for a few years. The suitors kept waiting for so long:
So high and mighty, Telemachus—such unbridled rage! Well now, fling your accusations at us?
You think again. It's not the suitors here who deserve the blame, it's your own dear mother, the matchless queen of cunning. Look here. For three years now, getting on to four, she's played it fast and loose with our hearts, building each man's hopes—dangling promises, dropping hints to each-- but all the while with something else in mind. (II: 91-100)

Nausicaa is different from the previous female characters I have mentioned. She never tries to approaches Odysseus with physical acts or seduction even though she has some sort of attraction towards Odysseus. After Odysseus is shipwrecked on an island, he begs Nausicaa for help. Nausicaa is affectionate towards Odysseus but nothing else happens between the pair. She shows hospitality towards Odysseus while telling him who she is: ...seeing you've reached our city and our land, you'll never lack for clothing or any other gift, the right or worn-out supplicants come our way. I'' show you our town, tell you our people's name. Phaeacians we are, who hold this city and this land, and I am the daughter of generous King Alcinous. All our people's powers stems from him. (VI: 205-216)

It is hard to analyze the dynamic between gender with a modern point of view. Though I believe that the females in The Odyssey are depicted solely as objects of seduction and beauty that tend to use these qualities to gain their source of power. Once powerless they manipulate men to get what they want but Homer makes it clear that these women are very intelligent and strong as well.