Women in 'The Odyssey'

Women play a variety of important and influencial roles in the clearly patriarchial society of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’.

The many female characters we are given portray the many ideals of womanhood in ancient Greece.

1. Penelope, the ideal greek woman. 1)Passsive victim in her home (neglected position in house, rudely ordered by son). She contrasts Helen and Arete with perfect palaces while she is in disarray). 2)Reasserts herself to the beggar (Odysseus), demands gifts from suitors and meets with beggar after abuse, she also uses her own key to open the storeroom(symbol for returning to head of the house). 3)Is the equal of Odysseus in terms of their intelligence and metis. A great representation of patience endurance and loyalty in the story.

2. Clytaemnestra and Helen, 1) Warning of the dangers of women who are disloyal to their husbands, the recurring story og Agamemnon’s return and the effect caused by helens disloyalty to Menalaus

3. Maidservants

4. Eurycleia

5. Nausicaa

6. Athena

7. Circe and Calypso