In talking to the maids Telemachos says, "I would not take away the lives of these creatures..." ... Telemachos does not even refer to the maids as women anymore. ... Here the reader sees Telemachos assert him manhood over women. ... The fact that women, no matter how important they are to the story, are still used as a foil or background against which the poet is able to illustrate a certain quality of men. ...

• Word Count: 1585
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

From Telemachus' stand point, this must be a big moment for him because he is now looked at as a man due to the fact that he has to choose a husband for his mother. ... Not only does Antinoos report this to Telemachos, but we are allowed to hear Penelope tell the story to the disguised Odysseus" (Higbie p.133). ... As one can see, men and women were treated similarly, but in fact if you were at the same stage in the pyramid, the man was higher and had more power than the women....

• Word Count: 1272
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School