Women of the Odyssey

Figuratively speaking, the Odyssey is a story created and controlled by women, and consequently, the plot revolves around the actions of women. The women in the poem could be divided up into two major groups: the seductresses, such as Circe, the sirens, and Calypso, who attempt to hinder or stop Odysseus from reaching his home, and helpers, such as Nausicaa, Arete, and perhaps most importantly Athena, who all aid Odysseus in his homecoming. These two sides of “help” and “hinder” are clearly separated, and only one woman is able to rise above these two roles: Penelope.
The seductresses, though portrayed by women in the story, could also be viewed as metaphors for the obstacles and various temptations we all face during our lives / journeys.
Odysseus, being a flawed man, human and hero, gets tempted time and again by the seductresses, and in some cases it takes him a long time to make the right choices and resist the temptations. Calypso is perhaps the greatest temptation along the journey, a beautiful and bewitching woman, offering immortality and never-ending pleasures to Odysseus. Her beauty is beyond that of a human’s, and even Odysseus’ legendary intelligence and cunning were not enough to resist her charm. She forces Odysseus to stay with her as her lover for several years, dominated by Calypso, who is angered by his defiance.
For the role of a helper, I decided to take a closer look at Athena. As a goddess, she is the most powerful female character in the Odyssey, and the one most instrumental in Odysseus’ final success. She became Odysseus’s ally because our hero is not only a revered warrior, but also a supreme strategist, a master of intelligent war, the embodiment of the values Athena herself stands for. She pleads with Zeus to take pity on Odysseus and aid him. This shows her strength, for even as a god, she still has to stand up to Zeus, the king of Olympus and her own father. After Odysseus’ release from Calypso, Athena guides him every step of his voyage to Ithaca. She even uses her divine influence to “move” other humans in ways helpful to Odysseus. She moves Nausicaa to go down to the river to wash her clothes. She also tells Telemachus to search for his father and keeps him safe from the plotting suitors.
Penelope is portrayed as the perfect wife. With her husband gone for 20 years she is the head of the household and she raises Telemachus to be a fine man, someone his father can be proud of. She is strong, self reliant and loyal (something that can not be said for Odysseus), but she is also more than that. While Penelope shows all the characteristics of the women of her time (taking care of the household, working diligently and quietly, seemingly obeying the rules and traditions society has placed upon her), she also shows a different side, a courageous and even cunning one. She doesn’t refuse the suitors, but by each night unraveling the shroud she has weaved during the day, she fools the suitors and wins time for Odysseus to return. She also tests Odysseus upon his return, showing strength and intelligence.
She is a counterpart and equal of Odysseus. While the other women in the story share certain characteristics with Odysseus, Penelope is the only one who is his true counterpart. Throughout the story she earns the name “Wise Penelope”, a virtuous, courageous and cunning woman, but she is also the driving force behind Odysseus’ actions, the reason he want to get home, the ultimate goal of the Odyssey.