The Odyssey, by Homer Essay - 1150 Words

Homer’s Odyssey was written around 700 BC. During this time there was major social and economic change, which brought the development of new cities, as well as new laws to govern them. Political rights and citizenship in Greek society truly defined the roles of women in this time period. All of the laws governing the population of Greece were not only written by men, but also enforced by men. Homer’s Odyssey is the product of a society in which men played the dominant role. Women were held at a very low status compared to men. The most important role in which the women were viewed was domestic, as a part of the household, and primarily responsible for weaving cloth and preparing food. However, throughout Homer’s Odyssey there is†¦show more content†¦In fact, her decision to remarry is to fulfill the instructions that Odysseus had left her that when their son, Telemachos reaches maturity, she will consider remarrying. In Book Eighteen, Penelope st ates, â€Å"Watch over my father and mother in the palace,/ just as now, or perhaps a little more,/ when I am far from home./ But once you see the beard on the boy’s cheek,/you wed the man you like, and leave your house behind† (18.269-273.) Penelope is being very strategic, which gives her the power to control her palace. It is this literal act of weaving that is keeping the peace in Penelope’s household. Penelope is refusing to conform to the pressures of society, which reinstates that she is not like every other woman of her time. These skills are what make Penelope a powerful woman in a patriarchal society, and not one who gives their fate to the men. Another significantly powerful woman in Homer’s Odyssey is Helen, the wife of Menelaus and the instigator of the Trojan War.Show MoreRelatedThe Odyssey by Homer1210 Words   |  5 Pages Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† takes place ten years after the events in â€Å"The Iliad†, to wh ich the Odyssey is an indirect sequel, and the fall of Troy; even though the story is believed to have been composed some time during the eight century B.C.E. it is estimated to be set sometime between 1300 and 1000 B.C.E. in Mycenaean Greece during the Bronze age. In this novel all Greek heroes have returned home after the fall of Troy, except for Odysseus who after a three year journey has been held captive by theRead MoreThe Odyssey, By Homer1388 Words   |  6 PagesIs a hero only characterized by their success? If a leader’s last actions carry them to victory, are their flaws unimportant? 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Athena, daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom, is a character that appears in disguise throughout the whole story. She controls when to disguise herself and when to make herself known; essentially havingRead MoreThe Odyssey by Homer1172 Words   |  5 Pages Homer’s, The Odyssey spins an exciting tale of war, fantasy, and magic spanning twenty years. However, the thrust of the story focuses on human relationships and Odysseus’s strong desire to reunite with his wife and soul mate, Penelope and their son Telemachus. However, to truly understand his desire return home, one must examine many facets of the epic. What is the significance of the turmoil experienced in the househol d during his absence? Is Penelope a cunning equal and meet spouse for OdysseusRead MoreThe Odyssey By Homer1337 Words   |  6 PagesTaylor Michael CLAS342 Paper #2 November 28, 2014 The Odyssey is a work by Homer, written to take place ten years after the fall of Troy. In the Iliad Odysseus was not a crucial character, but this particular text follows him around and details his experience after the war. To give some background, He has yet to return to Ithaca in the beginning of the text, away from his wife now for the duration of the battles as well as these ten years following. While he was gone, his palace was overthrown byRead MoreThe Odyssey, By Homer Essay1679 Words   |  7 PagesThe Odyssey, a text written by Homer, originates from Ionia (a part of Asia Minor). This epic poem relates the journeys of both Odysseus and Telemachus. During their journeys, they encounter a wide variety of hosts. Telemachus provides Mentes a great meal and is later also given a feast from King Nestor. In addition, King Nestor also gifted Telemachus two horses and a chariot; Athena gave Telemachus the gift of wise advice, for which he used to go on his journey. And as their pat hs crossed in a meetingRead MoreThe Odyssey by Homer1275 Words   |  5 Pages The Odyssey is one of the two epic Greek poems attributed to Homer. The Odyssey is the sequel of The Iliad and mainly focuses on Odysseus’s return from the battle of Troy to his home, Ithaca. Odysseus’s travels take him beyond the realm of the known world and he encounters many mythological beings, which he has never met before. Every encounter with these creatures in The Odyssey is full of adventures, twists and most important of all, life lessons. If we assume Odysseus’s longRead MoreThe Odyssey By Homer829 Words   |  4 PagesThe Odyssey by Homer tells the story of a Greek warrior named Odysseus, who faces challenges placed upon him by the supernatural, or more specifically, the Greek gods and monsters. His journey begins while sailing home from Troy, where Odysseus had won the Trojan war for the Greeks. Odysseus’ ship is forced to dock on many islands, m ost of which have hostile environments. Odysseus serves as the model for an epic hero, a fictional character who possesses many traits admirable to his or her society