the women in the odyssey essays

the women in the odyssey essays The Treatment of Women by Men in Homers The Odyssey Women in Homers The Odyssey are judged mainly by looks. If important men and gods consider a woman beautiful, or if her son is a hero or important king the woman is successful. The way women in The Odyssey are treated is based on appearance, the things men want from them, and whether the woman has any power over men. During Odysseus journey to the underworld he sees the shades of many prominent women. We hear about their beauty, their important sons, or their affairs with gods. We hear nothing about these womens accomplishments in their lifetime. Odysseus tells how Antiope could boast a god for a lover,(193) as could Tyro and many other women. Epikaste was called that prize(195) her own son unwittingly married. Some women are known for the deeds of their sons, but never for a heroic deed of their own, their personalities, who they are, and what they do independent of males. It seems the only accomplishment women could achieve was be ing beautiful. Theseus had no joy of(195) the princess Ariadne because she died before this was possible. Homer makes it sound as if Ariadnes life was useless because she did not give Theseus pleasure. The only woman we hear of for a different reason is Klymene, and we only hear of her because she betrayed her lord for gold.(195) This is the only time we hear of a woman for something she did, and once we do, it is a negative remark. Penelope, Odysseus queen, is paid attention to only because of her position. Because she has a kingdom, she has suitors crowding around her day and night. Being a woman, Penelope has no control over what the suitors do and cannot get rid of them. The suitors want her wealth and her kingdom. They do not respect her enough to stop feeding on Odysseus wealth; they feel she owes them something because she wont marry one of them. One of th...