The Women of the Odyssey

Paper Summary:

The story of "The Odyssey" has frequently been described as a man's journey home from war, struggling to overcome the opposition of gods, man, and nature itself. However, if one looks a little below the surface, one can also see it as a serious of short stories about the power and powerlessness of the women in his world. This paper explains that Odysseus' journey is not just a flight from one danger to another. He also flies from one woman to another, and their help or hindrance in each case determines his fate. It concludes that if one rearranges the story in a linear fashion, rather than allowing Odysseus' pride to focus on his own part in the story, the role of the women becomes patently clear.

From the Paper:

"Helen's love for Menelaus is the active force that dragged a thousand ships across the ocean to Troy. It would be a grave mistake to think she was a passive player in the game. Odysseus' great plan to destroy Troy with a wooden horse very nearly got derailed when Helen tried calling to the men inside to discover their position. Helen is a strong and manipulative queen, and even after Troy she survives to work her magic on her husband and Odysseus' son. Helen is the one who watches her adopted city be destroyed, and all the women she has befriended slaughtered or raped by the Greeks. The tragedy of the Trojan women is only hinted at in the Odyssey, but it is an important backdrop to the story."

More papers on The Women of the Odyssey:

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• Analytical Essay # 2276 : "The Role of Women in Ancient Times"

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