Roles Of Women In Homer's The Odyssey
The Greek society focused on in Homer’s The Odyssey seems to be very male-dominated, but women are able to undermine the men to gain freedom. The women in The Odyssey are either mothers or daughters, they are not independent of their family, and their place in society is based on their husband or father’s social status, but the smartest women know that they can go behind the men’s back to gain more power. Two of the women that are able to gain individuality from the men’s influence are Penelope and Calypso.
Penelope is Odysseus’ wife, and while he is away she is bombarded by suitors. Although the men think they have complete authority over Penelope because she is a woman, she is able to be gain ability without their knowing. When the suitors …show more content…
She keeps him there with the intention of making him her lover. Calypso is able to manipulate Odysseus by allowing him to go whenever he chooses, but if he stays he will never die and have everything he could ever want. This makes it seem like Odysseus has the right to make his own choice, but staying is better than leaving. After all, who would want to return home to a mortal woman, when she can rival an immortal goddess “neither in face nor figure” (V, 234). Another way that Calypso is able to deceive Odysseus is by using her knowledge of Odysseus’ fate to influence his decision. While they are eating Calypso mentions how “if you [Odysseus] only knew, down deep, what pains are fated to fill you cup before you reach that shore” (V, 228-229). Since she is part goddess, she knows his fate so he has to believe her, but if she heeds her warning is up to him. When the gods meet to decide Odysseus’ fate they decide that he must go home, which is why he leaves Calypso’s island. It is unclear if Odysseus would have left without this fate because Calypso makes staying seem much better than leaving.
Throughout Homer’s The Odyssey women play major roles, in a society dominated by males. To gain leverage the women must subvert the men’s authority by using their intelligence. Women do this in a way that will not draw attention to themselves, but they still get the power they need. Both Calypso and Penelope are able to gain
Penelope is Odysseus’ wife, and while he is away she is bombarded by suitors. Although the men think they have complete authority over Penelope because she is a woman, she is able to be gain ability without their knowing. When the suitors …show more content…
She keeps him there with the intention of making him her lover. Calypso is able to manipulate Odysseus by allowing him to go whenever he chooses, but if he stays he will never die and have everything he could ever want. This makes it seem like Odysseus has the right to make his own choice, but staying is better than leaving. After all, who would want to return home to a mortal woman, when she can rival an immortal goddess “neither in face nor figure” (V, 234). Another way that Calypso is able to deceive Odysseus is by using her knowledge of Odysseus’ fate to influence his decision. While they are eating Calypso mentions how “if you [Odysseus] only knew, down deep, what pains are fated to fill you cup before you reach that shore” (V, 228-229). Since she is part goddess, she knows his fate so he has to believe her, but if she heeds her warning is up to him. When the gods meet to decide Odysseus’ fate they decide that he must go home, which is why he leaves Calypso’s island. It is unclear if Odysseus would have left without this fate because Calypso makes staying seem much better than leaving.
Throughout Homer’s The Odyssey women play major roles, in a society dominated by males. To gain leverage the women must subvert the men’s authority by using their intelligence. Women do this in a way that will not draw attention to themselves, but they still get the power they need. Both Calypso and Penelope are able to gain