Poem Analysis: The Odyssey And Domineering Females
1Rossi
Juliann Rossi
02/24/2014
Dr. Motard Noar
The Odyssey and Domineering Females
In
The Odyssey
, particularly during the ending of the epic, Homer challenges the archetype of male dominance by essentially making Odysseus powerless, and instead, while it is often disguised, gives the female characters all the power and control. This is seen most obviously with Athena who saves Odysseus’ life countless times, and also with Penelope who controls not only her husband but also several suitors. In addition, Circe, Calypso, and Arete hold power over Odysseus as well as other men in
The Odyssey
. These strong female characters exercise emotional, as well as physical control over their male counterparts, and oftentimes use …show more content…
Athena never ceases to aid Odysseus and save him from harm and “not only does she launch the narrative, she steers it as well, remaining in control of the plot throughout the poem, up to and including its conclusion” (Clayton, 25). Without Athena, Odysssues would never have returned
4Rossi
to Ithaca, she is the sole reason he managed to survive. More often than not however, Athena must disguises herself as a man in order to accomplish her goals. Were she to appear before powerful people as a woman she would be ridiculed. She does however appear as a woman a few times during the poem but each time it is strategical. For instance, Athena appears in Nausica’s dream as a woman who encourages Nausica to wash her clothes so that she is more desirable for marriage. It is evident, that Athena uses her femininity to appeal to Nausica’s girlish desire for marriage. In addition, Athena also appears before Odysseus as a young girl directing him to the castle of the Phoenicians. In this case, Athena is playing up the innocence and gentle tendencies of young girls, so that Odysseus will trust her …show more content…
By testing, and doubting Odysseus as he offers himself to his wife after twenty years, Penelope’s authority and control over her husband are evident.
Ultimately, the female roles prove to be vital in the development and success of
Odysseus’ journey. Without Penelope, Athena, Arete, or Ino, there would never have been a homecoming for Odysseus. The women in
The Odyssey directly defy the traditional female roles, and give women a sense of empowerment and entitlement that was extremely uncommon for the time period during which
The Odyssey was written.
7Rossi
References: Clayton, Barbara.
A Penelopean Poetics
. N.p.: Lexington, 2004. 2659.
Google Books
. Web. 24
Feb. 2014.
Doherty, Lillian Eileen. "Gender and Internal Audiences in the Odyssey."
The American Journal of Philology 113.2 (1992): 16177.
JSTOR
. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
Van Oenen, Gijs. "Fabrications of Self: Identity Formation in the Odyssey."
Cultural Values 5.2
(2001): n. pag.
Academic Search Complete
. Web. 18 Feb.
Juliann Rossi
02/24/2014
Dr. Motard Noar
The Odyssey and Domineering Females
In
The Odyssey
, particularly during the ending of the epic, Homer challenges the archetype of male dominance by essentially making Odysseus powerless, and instead, while it is often disguised, gives the female characters all the power and control. This is seen most obviously with Athena who saves Odysseus’ life countless times, and also with Penelope who controls not only her husband but also several suitors. In addition, Circe, Calypso, and Arete hold power over Odysseus as well as other men in
The Odyssey
. These strong female characters exercise emotional, as well as physical control over their male counterparts, and oftentimes use …show more content…
Athena never ceases to aid Odysseus and save him from harm and “not only does she launch the narrative, she steers it as well, remaining in control of the plot throughout the poem, up to and including its conclusion” (Clayton, 25). Without Athena, Odysssues would never have returned
4Rossi
to Ithaca, she is the sole reason he managed to survive. More often than not however, Athena must disguises herself as a man in order to accomplish her goals. Were she to appear before powerful people as a woman she would be ridiculed. She does however appear as a woman a few times during the poem but each time it is strategical. For instance, Athena appears in Nausica’s dream as a woman who encourages Nausica to wash her clothes so that she is more desirable for marriage. It is evident, that Athena uses her femininity to appeal to Nausica’s girlish desire for marriage. In addition, Athena also appears before Odysseus as a young girl directing him to the castle of the Phoenicians. In this case, Athena is playing up the innocence and gentle tendencies of young girls, so that Odysseus will trust her …show more content…
By testing, and doubting Odysseus as he offers himself to his wife after twenty years, Penelope’s authority and control over her husband are evident.
Ultimately, the female roles prove to be vital in the development and success of
Odysseus’ journey. Without Penelope, Athena, Arete, or Ino, there would never have been a homecoming for Odysseus. The women in
The Odyssey directly defy the traditional female roles, and give women a sense of empowerment and entitlement that was extremely uncommon for the time period during which
The Odyssey was written.
7Rossi
References: Clayton, Barbara.
A Penelopean Poetics
. N.p.: Lexington, 2004. 2659.
Google Books
. Web. 24
Feb. 2014.
Doherty, Lillian Eileen. "Gender and Internal Audiences in the Odyssey."
The American Journal of Philology 113.2 (1992): 16177.
JSTOR
. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
Van Oenen, Gijs. "Fabrications of Self: Identity Formation in the Odyssey."
Cultural Values 5.2
(2001): n. pag.
Academic Search Complete
. Web. 18 Feb.