The depiction of woman throughout history has been overall degrading. Whether it be through media, books, or sometimes even research we see how females are degraded in many ways, mostly sexually. We hardly see media depicting women in leadership positions, over 20 countries have female presidents. For the last few years there has been a powerful movement known as “Latina made not maid” that was born out of anger because when you google Latina, you would usually get images of sexy maids’ outfits and cleaning staffs. Media is easy to sexualize women to sell things. In the work field you’ll see salary gaps and unfair positioning of employees. Something I always find funny is the people that have the mentality that women belong in kitchens, yet the largest percentage of chef and cooking staffs are men. The reason I bring this up is because I will be focusing on the importance of women in The Odyssey.
After doing research and reading the Odyssey I found that the women that held most significance were Penelope, Circe, Calypso, Helen and Athena. I would like to start off by speaking about Athena. Athena’s presence could not go unnoticed throughout the Odyssey; as she guided, advised, and aided Odysseus. At times she even aided Telemachus, the son of Odysseus.
Zeus was told that his son would take his throne from him. Since he had taken power from his father Cronus he saw the recurring them. When Metis, Athena’s mother, was pregnant, he swallowed her, and Athena was born from Zeus’ head, wearing armor and fully grown. I found it funny how Cronus would swallow all his kids, and in a way, Zeus became the man he hated.
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Athena is believed to “naturally has a soft spot for the brave and wily Odysseus.” They are both wise and battle oriented which helps them connect. She helps him out time and time again. For example, the shipwreck in Book 5. There is also the battle of Book 22. She takes an interest in Odysseus for the talents he already has and actively demonstrates. Although she reassures Odysseus during the battle with the suitors, she does not become fully involved, preferring instead to watch Odysseus fight and prevail on his own.
She also often helps Telemachus. First, she sends him off to Pylos and Sparta to earn a name for himself. It is believed that Athena was confident, practical, clever, a master of disguises, and a great warrior; all things which she felt she saw in Telemachus. Athena shows how women are confident, care takers, wise, and resilient.
Penelope is Odysseus’s wife. In the Odyssey Penelope plays a huge role. Penelope became the motivating factor for Odysseus’s return to Ithaca. She is also the what is stopping the suitors from taking over. By doing this she is protecting both Ithaca and the life Telemachus. Odysseus is driven by the hunger to see his wife throughout his adventure. Odyssey is so focused on getting back to her that he turns down the gift immortality that Calypso offers him.
Penelope never loses faith in her husband; not even after 20 years passed without seeing him. This shows how loyal she is not only to her husband but to her country. Because of the uncertainty of how she may react, she is often kept in the dark about what is going on in the background. For example, so that she does not discover Odysseus’s identity when Eurycleia is bathing him, Athena comes to her in dreams. Also, Penelope would spend her nights crying in her bed, so Athena comes in comfort. Penelope never refuses to remarry outright. Instead, she puts off her decision and leads them on with promises that she will choose a new husband as soon as she finishes a burial shroud. She is extremely clever. Every day she would knit the shroud and undo it at night. At some point it becomes suspicious and her decision to marry whomever wins the archery contest of Book 21. This decision is born from the fact that only Odysseus could string and shoot the bow.
Calypso is best remembered for her appearance in Homer’s Odyssey. She lived on the island of Ogygia. When Odysseus ends up on the island, she kept him prisoner. Calypso fell in love with Odysseus. She used her powers to enchant him as she wove, keeping under her spell for most of the time he was on the island. Calypso wanted to keep him and make him her husband. At one point she even offers him immortality. Although Odysseus wanted to go home, he didn’t make much of an effort to leave on his own. Eventually Athena to intervenes. She was ordered to let Odysseus go by the Olympians. Calypso was upset but extremely kind to him. She lets him go, but she also gave him supplies so he could complete his journey home.
In Greek mythology, the witch Circe was the daughter of the sun god Helios and an ocean nymph. Circe lived on the island of Aeaea. According to the legend, she built herself a palace and practiced spells that enabled her to turn men into animals. Mentioning this is important because of how it affects Odysseus.
Odysseus and his crew sail by Aeaea. Odysseus decides to send some men to look the island. Upon their arrival they find Circe’s palace. The palace was surrounded by many animals, like lions, bears, and wolves; the book describes the emotions of the men by saying they were surprised that the animals were “tame and did not attack.” It is later revealed that the animals were people that Circe had changed into animals. According to Homer, Circe then appears and invites the men inside her castle to eat and drink. Everyone accepted her offer. At least everyone except Eurylochus. Eurylochus was a warrior that Odysseus sent to lead the men and the encounter made him feel extremely suspicious. After eating Circe’s food, which was enchanted, the men all turned into pigs. Eurylochus is the only one who remained safe. Then alone he makes his way to the ship to tell Odysseus what had happened.
Upon receiving this information, Odysseus decided to go to leave the ship and go to the castle. On his way there he runs into a young man. The young man is actually the god Hermes, disguised as the young man. Hermes aimed to discourage Odysseus from continuing to the palace, but he fails to change his mind. Odysseus, loyal to his men, was determined to get his men back. Odysseus is gifted herbs, by Hermes, that would protect him from Circe’s spells. Odysseus finally reaches the palace. Circe immediately invites him in and attempts to enchant him too. However, thanks to Hermes’ intervention, the herb protects Odysseus from the witch’s spells. He then continues to draw his sword and threaten her. Circes then falls to her knees and beings to pleaded for her life. Odysseus, once again loyal so his men, agrees to not kill her if she would return his men back into people. He also agrees to spare her life if she allows them to get away safely.
Circe agreed and returned the crew to human form. Strangely, she offered to entertain them before they returned to sea. Odysseus and his men felt at peace on the island. Life on the island was found to be to enjoyable that they ended up staying a full year on the island before continuing their journey home. They finally leave. Circe sent them on their way with “a favorable wind.” She also offers advice about how to avoid traps and dangers that they might, or will, encounter on their travels.
Lastly, I would like to speak about Helen. In a way she is indirectly at fault that Odysseus isn’t home in Ithaca with his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. Helen is the wife of Menelaus. She is also the queen of Sparta. Helen’s “abduction” from Sparta is the reason the trojan war took place. As I looked up Helen, most sites and articles describe her looks as, “without parallel.” She was criticized, and even hated, because she “gave into” the Trojans. She is also atoned with costing many Greek men their lives. She also plays a role in Homer’s “The Odyssey”, she offers Telemachus help in his journey to find Odysseus.
In conclusion, the Odyssey offers many examples of women’s importance. It was amazing to me how most of the woman did not show stereotypes or sexist beliefs. Most of the women in the Odyssey showed independence, resilience, and help power. For example, Athena was a goddess. Circe and calypso both were somewhat evil but had their own land and ran it. For most of history, women have always been second to men. Yet Homer is believed to have been around 750-700 BC. We see how Homer showed that women can be evil, powerful, subjective, helpful, loyal, faithful, and a lot of times they are shown as weak, but men are weaker. I say this because at many times Odysseus had the opportunity to head home and would choose to stay or explore. Furthermore, the woman in the classic read are the ones who push the plot forward the most. They held as much importance as Odysseus.
