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Odyssey


            
            
             • Women's role in the Odyssey.
             In reading Homer's The Odyssey, it is interesting to compare the roles of women as opposed to men, and to discover the differences between the two. By drawing conclusions from the text about the views of women held by the author, a bigger picture of the role of women in ancient Greek culture can be drawn. No two women in the Odyssey are alike and each, through their vice and virtues, help depict the role of the ideal woman. In The Odyssey, we learn that women were placed on pedestals as beautiful creatures, but were often subordinate to men, had little input and involvement in government, and often had to resort to deceit and trickery to get what they wanted. And from this, men in The Odyssey only valued women who they could use for physical needs and wealth. Homer shows us how men in The Odyssey consider women less important than men. We rarely hear of women throughout the book. When we do, we are shown that men did not consider women important and are careless with their relationships with them, as we see in Odysseus' relationship with Penelope. However, women form an important part of the folk epic for example in The Odyssey. Within the story there are three basic types of women: the goddess, the seductress, and the good wife. Each role adds a different element and is essential to the telling of the story.
             The role of the goddess is one of a supernatural being, but more importantly one in a position to pity and help the mortals. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is the most prominent example of the role; in the very beginning of the story she is seen making a plea for Odysseus to be able to return home, and throughout a great deal of the book she assists him on his journey. However, see disguises herself multiple times in rags as not to let herself be seen in her true self by any other mortal men besides Odysseus and Telemachus. She is the driving force behind arranging Odysseus' return home from getting Calypso to release him to saving him from Poseidon's storm and making sure Princess Nausicaa finds him on Scheria.


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