Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the treatment of women in the times of the ancient Greek and Trojans by analyzing Homer's epic "The Iliad". The author gives several examples that support the idea of Helen being representative of the cultures' perceptions of women as subordinate to men - first by being treated like a treasure that can be won through battle, then by being blamed as the cause for war. The paper also notes that other than being cited as the cause of the war in the epic, Helen is mainly absent from the story. The author's interpretation of this is that women were often viewed as both physically and mentally weaker than their male counterparts and were not welcomed in battle or in political situations.

From the Paper:

"Her characterization highlights some of the cultural beliefs and perceptions of women in her time. While women were expected to remain faithful to their husbands at all times, men were not penalized for claiming other women as war prizes. While Helen was cited as the cause of the War, she was not allowed to have any say about the happenings on the battle field. Additionally, she internalized all of the blame held against her and carried it on her shoulders. As a woman, she took the blame in full, never opposing the accusations that she was the cause of so many deaths. Her beauty was her only virtue, looked upon by men as being second to the gods; but this beauty could not saver her from being ostracized and blamed for such a tragedy at the end of the story."

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