In The Odyssey, there are four types of women: the good hostess, the goddess, the temptress, and the concubine. A prime example of a good hostess would be Penelope. She is not sure whether or not Odysseus is coming home. “If he returned, if he were here to care for me, I might be, I might be happily renowned”(Book 19:135). Penelope yearns for the day when Odysseus will return from his journey, however, Penelope has a predicament. Suitors have taken over her house and they want her to choose one of them to be her husband. In addition, they have taken advantage of her and her son, Telemachus’, hospitality. “She wept for Odysseus, her husband till Athena cast sweet sleep upon her eyes”(Book 19:645).

Another example of a good hostess would be Nausicaa. She is the daughter of gene

rous King Alcinous. She tells her maids “here’s an unlucky wanderer strayed our way and we must tend him well. Every stranger and beggar comes from Zeus, and whatever scrap we give him he’ll be glad to get.. Give our guest some food and drink and take him into the river, wherever you find some shelter from the wind”(Book 6:218). Nausicaa befriended Odysseus while he was there. She helped him out when she did not really have to. “The white-armed princess thought of one last thing. Folding the clothes, she packed them into her painted wagon”(Book 6:277). She was also taken with him because she wanted Odysseus to go with her into town to “see my wise father’s palace, where I promise you, you’ll meet al the best Paeacians”(Book 6:282).

When Odysseus and his men fell into Circe’s island, they were mesmerized by her singing. Polites “urged and the men called out and hailed her. She opened her gleaming doors at once and stepped forth, inviting them all in, and in they want, all innocence” (Book 10:252). Circe is an example of a temptress. She invited Odysseus to “come, sheathe your sword, let’s go to bed together, mount my bed and mix in the magic work of love- we’ll breed deep trust between us” (Book 10:370). “First you will raise the island of the Sirens, those creatures who spellbind any man alive whoever comes their way, whoever draws too close, off guard, and catches the Siren’s voices in the air- no sailing home for him, no wife rising to meet him, no happy children beaming up at their father’s face. The high, thrilling song of the Sirens will transfix him, lolling there in their meadow, round them heaps of corpses rotting away, rags of skin shriveling o

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