Odessey Women

Athena, the goddess of wisdom and battle, has a soft spot for Odysseus, the main male character, and Telemachus, Odysseus' son. The action begins with a meeting of the gods, where Athena makes a plea on behalf of Odysseus, asking her father, “O Zeus, what do you hold against him now?” (I, 81). This action, paired with another intervention into a meeting of the gods, shows Athena’s initiative and nerve. Athena shows cleverness and ingenuity when she disguises herself and others on several occasions: The goddess fir

The contradictory views of women presented by Homer, and the complexities of all main characters in the Odyssey, prove that Homer had a very good sense about human nature. Not all women are virtuous and admirable, but not all women lack positive virtues; and of course, some women cannot fit either extreme. Even the characters he sets up, as role models are not perfect. The Odyssey is a fascinating study of human nature and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Penelope also has traits that put her in a much more negative light; she is seen as overly emotional, indecisive and in denial about Odysseus’ return. Penelope is repeatedly described as weeping until Athena brings sleep. Also, Telemachus makes Eurykleia promise not to tell his mother that he is leaving for he knows that it will greatly upset her. She is seen as indecisive in the sense that she never outright refuses to marry any of the suitors and leads them on to an extent (XIX, 159). Finally, while the audience is certainly sympathetic to Penelope’s grief, it has been twenty years since she has seen Odysseus and ten since she expected him to re

Some topics in this essay:
Odyssey Sirens, , Telemachus Penelope’s, Telemachus Odysseus', Odysseus Telemachus, penelope traits, human nature, meeting gods, characters odyssey,