Based on the women that Odysseus encounters in his life and adventures, what view do you believe Homer (and ancient Greek society?) has about females / female roles? Use specific examples from the text to support your arguments.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
16 comments:
I think that the Greeks believed that women were used to tempt and punish them. In the texts we have read so far, they generally were degrading towards women (only a little). For instance, on the Island of Calypso, Odysseus is held captive of Calypso for seven years. Although it was paradise there, he wanted to go home but they made it so that he was being held in a woman's wrath and it was almost like a punishment. Also with Pandora and her curiousity. The first woman was the reason for why there were evils on earth.
I think that the Greeks viewed women as a temptation and they are only good for one purpose: to sleep with them. They were not seen as intelligent or portrayed as having the same qualities as men. Although the virgin goddesses like Athena are an exception, the majority of the time women are viewed in this way. An example is when Calypso holds Odysseus captive. Obviously they are not having deep and meaningful conversations about politics and such.
I agree. For the most part, Homer portrays women as a problem. However, there is one exception. Circe, although seen as a temptaion at first, later helps Odysseus and his crew by telling them ways to get around monsters such as Scylla, Charybdis, and the Sirens.
I think that women were portrayed as temptaion to men. It has been noticed that men were very attracted to women. For example, Odysseus has a wife at home, however he keeps her true in his "heart" while he cheats with another woman. So basically, Homer and the ancient Greeks veiwed women to be temptaions and puniushments.
But in the case of Calypso she keeps Odysseus as a boy toy on the island. He stays there as her prisoner and stays faithful to his wife in heart.
Women are blammed for many things in mythology. Like, Pandora was a punishment to man and because of her we now have all the horrible things like jealousy, death, anger, and other horrible feelings. Homer portrays women as if he is looking down upon them...
women in the odyssey were portrayed as either temptations or punishments to men. for example, pandora was a punishment to men for eccepting fire. the sirens were women to tempt men at sea with their song.
Thank you for you comments. Good thoughts. I agree that we see women as a temptation but I also think we see them as something else, too. I think they have more than one dimension. What do you think?
I agree with the previous comments saying that women were a temptation and a punishment. However in my opinion, i think that at times they were a gift or pleasure. Although men used women, some men truly loved their wives/girlfriends and stayed faithful to them through everything. Also, Without women there could not be love.
Like I said before, women help men and give them advice like Cice did. I The Odyssey, women also stay true to their husbands like Penelope did. Her case is a really good example because she had so many other men that she could easily choose over Odysseus, but she didn't.
Now you're thinking ladies... any thoughts from the boys?
I think that the women were viewed as temptations, but also monster-like. Calypso, Circe, and the Sirens were all temptations, but they all could also be potentially dangerous. Scylla was a dangerous monster too. Homer certainly doesn't portray females as having the same qualities as men. Odysseus is described as brave, courageous, wise, etc. Women were being described by their looks, or how they could torture people, though.
I believe that Homer has two different views on women. In the case of Calypso, Homer is trying to show that women are used to tempt and punish men. His other view is that women are faithful and loyal at heart. This is shown when Penelope remains loyal to Odysseus even after he has been gone for twenty years.
In Greek culture women, like most other ancient cultures, were considered to be inferior to men. In the Odyssey you can see by the way that the suitors treated Penelope that they believed that they were much better than she was. Women were also viewed as temptation and evil. On Odysseus's voyages you can see how Homer depicts women like the Sirens and Calypso as tempting.
I think that men believed that women were less intelligent than them. For example the suitors never would have thought Penelope was weaving during the day and unweaving at night. Penelope had tricked them for three years without them realizing; this shows Penelope's intelligence. Also, Penelope shows he love for Odysseus when she chooses to wait for him instead of choosing to marry a suitor. As said from others, there can't be love without the women.
Thank you for your insightful commentary; this blog thread is now closed.
Post a Comment