Women in Homer's "The Odyssey"

Paper Summary:

The paper explains that women not only appear in places of honor in "The Odyssey", but also in the day-to-day life of the Homerian society. The author points out that the goddesses, representing key elements in the world that the gods on Olympus oversee, are held in high esteem and are able to exert their power. The paper stresses that most powerful women and goddesses of "The Odyssey" show high levels of intelligence, through which they are able to use their wisdom and deceptive powers to manipulate men to get what they want

Table of Contents
The Role of Mortal Women
The Goddesses' Roles on Olympus,
Where are Women Most Powerful?

From the Paper:

"Despite the fact that women play a significant role in "The Odyssey", it is interesting to note that, though many are esteemed, they are identified with fathers, sons and husbands, as if they would not be important if they were not coupled with a male. Odysseus furthers this idea when he says, "but I could not ell over the whole number of them nor name all the women I saw who were the wives and daughters of heroes" (xi 327-329). While Homerian society respects most of the women and women are crucial to the well being of the society, they are subjected to men for their social status and their reputations. In a reprimand of Penelope, Telemachus describes the view men have of women in Homeric society. "[Penelope] go therefore back in the house, and take up your own work, the loom and the distaff, and see to it that your handmaidens ply their work also; but the men must see to discussion . . . For mine is the power in this household" (i. 356-360). The result of this view is that women must use their wits to deceive men in order to get their way."

More papers on Women in Homer's "The Odyssey":

• Analytical Essay # 62223 : "The Women of the Odyssey"
• Analytical Essay # 2245 : "Women in "The Odyssey"
• Analytical Essay # 54666 : "Woman of the "Odyssey"

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