Women of The Odyssey

Macy Phillips
Hodges
English 201- H
11 February 2013
The Women of The Odyssey In today’s society women are just as capable of doing things as men. The role of a woman has changed greatly since the times of Ancient Greek. In Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, we see how each different woman is portrayed. From the roles of, the cunning seductress, and the faithful obedient wives. Women are the key to everyday life of men, children, and other women. Throughout this epic, most of the women fall under two categories: they are either faithful wives or cunning seductresses. One example of the role of women in The Odyssey is their roles as seductresses. When Odysseus and his crew land on the island of Circe, they are drawn to Circe’s house because of the charming voice of the beautiful, monstrous goddess. She is described as “singing with sweet voice, while tending her great imperishable loom and weaving webs, fine, beautiful, and lustrous as are the works of gods” (Homer. Book 10. 122). Odysseus’s men respond by calling onto her and entering her house. Their desire for Circe to exploit their weakness, trick them, and turn them into pigs. Odysseus, with advice from Hermes, goes to Circe’s island to rescue his men. When the goddess tries to strike at him with her sword, he lunges toward her. Odysseus draws his sword; perhaps Homer wants to show a woman’s appeal and sexuality as a threat to the male dominance. Even though Odysseus is wise and resourceful, there are times he finds himself lost when he is in these type of situations with seductive women. He becomes so infatuated with Circe due to her seductiveness that he stays on the island for a year forgetting his voyage home. The Sirens are another example. The Sirens’ role is to sing their song that seduces and compels anyone listening to linger to their death. Scylla and Charybdis are depicted as birds. They are portrayed as seductive by luring sailors to death with their bewitching song. Circe warns Odysseus of the Sirens, First you will meet the Sirens, who cast a spell on every man who goes their way. Whoso draws near unwarned and hears the Sirens’ voices, by him no wife nor little child shall ever stand, glad at his coming home; for the Sirens cast a spell of penetrating song, sitting within a meadow. Near by is a great heap of rotting human bones; fragments of skin are shriveling on them (Homer. Book 12. 148).
Circe tells him of the Sirens luring song and tells him what to do. She also lets it be known that they will kill him and his men like they do all the other sailors who pass by. Being warned and protected, Odysseus and his men survive temptation, although Odysseus is nearly driven mad by his desire to submit to the Sirens’ luring call. Even though he gets past Scylla and Charybdis call, he still loses six of his men. Behind every great man stands a greater woman. From this it is seen that Penelope is successfully portrayed as the faithful wife, the strong, loyal, and responsible woman who cares about her husband and herself. During her husbands’ absence she continues to perform the duties expected of her. She manages to achieve a good reputation for her and Odysseus, even though the role of a woman was restricted at that time. To men, women were seen as possessions instead of people. They were expected to act a certain way and exhibit certain traits while men had no limitations. If they did not live up to these standards, they were to be punished. Penelope plays the role of a wife and a mother, and is considered the main woman as the other females are goddesses or creatures. Women in that time were to be loyal and faithful wives whether their husbands were or not. However, Penelope is a special role model because she possesses characteristics of an ideal wife and lover.
As the faithful wife of Odysseus, she kept suitors at bay for 20 years while her husband fought at Troy and suffered the wrath of Poseidon on his voyage home. During this time, she raised her son Telemachus to adulthood. She still holds on to hope that Odysseus is alive and will return home never losing faith. Even though she does not actively put effort into finding him, her participation in his homecoming is seen in her efforts to defend and protect the heritage, reputation, and the House of Odysseus in his absence. She withstands against the temptations to give in to the suitors, to give up on her faith, her husband, and even herself. She puts in great effort to put off remarriage. Her strength in keeping high standards in her role as a wife, woman, and mother contributes to Odysseus’ homecoming by keeping the home and family for him to come back to. Penelope never stands helpless and idle, she continues the duties expected of her while her husband is missing. Even though she is a very wise woman she still does not hold the rights as a male. Telemachus, her son, tells his mother, seek your chamber and attend to matters of your own,the loom, the distaff, —and bid the women ply their tasks. Words for men, for all, for me; for power within this house rests here (Homer. Book 1. 9).
Although Penelope is the mother she still does not have that power of a male. Even though Telemachus is her son he still has the higher power of being a male to tell his mother what to do. Doing so, Penelope performs the duty of the household faithfully.
As a wife, Penelope must keep a good reputation for herself, her husband, her family, and maintain the system of the household. After all, she was the reason Odysseus returns home. The portrayal of these characters from The Odyssey create a powerful cause in the meaning of Odysseus’ every step. They all helped shape his entire journey. Even though the women were not seen as a great part in the epic, they did make some major reasons for situations to evoke. Circe tries to stop Odysseus’ journey home with her seductive ways, and Penelope stays faithful and loyal as his wife in hopes that he returns home. The roles of these women play an important part in helping make this epic wondrous and essential to making it wonderfully written.

Works Cited
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans, George Herbert Palmer. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. Print.

Cited: Homer. The Odyssey. Trans, George Herbert Palmer. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003. Print.