The definition of masculinity is constantly evolving around the world, making it no surprise that different time periods had different expectations as to when it is acceptable for men to cry. The 20th century’s image of a stoic, self-restrained man does not match the Bible’s and the Iliad’s references to men weeping and the expectations society has for the modern man is different from both of 20th century and ancient images. Today, politicians can cry in the wake of a tragedy or men can cry during certain films or after the victory of a game. Despite the evolving concept of masculinity, society continues to perpetuate the idea that boys do not cry because society is still teaching young boys that sadness is something only girls feel, and that sadness is replaced eventually by aggression. …show more content…
Up until the romantic period, tears were as proof of a man’s sincerity, honesty, and integrity. In Homer’s Iliad and The Odyssey, there is no conflict between heroic qualities Achilles and and Odysseus and the weeping for home, loved ones, and dying comrades. Achilles is described in the Iliad as having “His comrades/Gathered around, weeping, and with them Achilles, /Shedding hot tears when he saw his loyal friend/Stretched out on the litter, cut with sharp bronze” (Heroic Weeping or Iliad?). When the Gospel writers recorded that “Jesus wept”, the manhood or godhood of Christ was also not questioned.
It wasn’t until the Victorian period that tears were considered unmanly and the idea emerged that crying was more acceptable than women then it was for men. This concept of masculinity evolved as the 20th century emerged with the tearless man as the latest standard for masculinity. The stoicism ideal held strong, notably in the 1972 presidential election when the possible democratic nominee Ed Muskie had his political career destroyed after crying during a press
The Odyssey: Portrayal of Women How does Homer portray women in the epic, The Odyssey? In order to answer this question you must look at woman and goddesses as two separate groups of people who are "people". This is because they are portrayed in two separate ways. You see, a regular woman like Penelope is looked at as beautiful but has.
In The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, the author states: “The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” Patrick Rothfuss instates the position that when one experiences change, they can not expect it to be easy. An individual relies on their ability to overcome and accept change before it begins to take advantage of them. Similarly, in Books 1-4 of Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, Telemachus shifts from boyhood to manhood while searching for his father. Thus, through characterization, Homer develops the theme that life is filled with obstacles, hardships, and responsibilities, but an individual must have strength to work through it.
Odysseus ' principles and characteristics are a prototype of an ideal Homeric Greek leader. Odysseus is noble, clever and loyal. Through his distress and blunders, he gains knowledge that was not only crucial for his survival but for his companions too. Odysseus’s cleverness constantly allowed him to avoid death because he relied on trickery, rhetoric and disguise. “The society depicted in The Odyssey is one where male values were dominant and where all socially relevant transactions took place between the male members of the community”. (Whittaker 39) While males’ dominance takes the forefront in society, their principles are continuously being challenged by the allurement of women. In The Odyssey, many instances of such seduction reveals
Jensen provides evidence throughout the text for three assumptions on why masculinity must be terminated from pertaining to just males. It is proposed that masculinity is harmful for both men and women, that men are surrendering their humanity by conforming with masculinity, and
Sexism has occurred throughout history and has impacted women significantly.The Odyssey follows the narrative of a man and looks at love from the perspective of a man. The famed poem was written by an ancient greek man and until recently, has always been translated by a man. For these reasons, The Odyssey provides a great example of how love, women, and marriage have been perceived by society, especially men, in the past. By examining the sexist undertones and the perception of women and love from the men in the epic and comparing those to criticisms made today we can truly understand how far we have come as a society.
Women play an influential role in The Odyssey. Women appear throughout the story, as goddesses, wives, princesses, or servants. The nymph Calypso enslaves Odysseus for many years. Odysseus desires to reach home and his wife Penelope. It is the goddess Athena who sets the action of The Odyssey rolling; she also guides and orchestrates everything to Odysseus’ good. Women in The Odyssey are divided into two classes: seductresses and helpmeets. By doing so, Homer demonstrates that women have the power to either hinder of help men. Only one woman is able to successfully combine elements of both classes: Penelope. She serves as a role model of virtue and craftiness. All the other women are compared to and contrasted with Penelope.
Women play an influential role in The Odyssey. Women appear throughout the story, as goddesses, wives, princesses, or servants. The women in “The Odyssey” dictate the direction of the epic. Homer the blind creator may have contrived the story with the aim to depict a story of a male heroism; but the story if looked at from a different angles shows the power women have over men. The Sirens and women that posses the power of seduction when ever they are encountered take the men off their course, and lead many to their death. The power women in the Epic pose can be seen from the goddess all to the wives. From The nymph Calypso who enslaves Odysseus for many years posses all the way back to Penelope who many argue is of equal importance to
The Theme of Women in The Odyssey by Homer In the Homer's epic poem the Odyssey, there are many themes that serve to make a comment about the meanings of the story. The theme of women in the poem serves to make these comments but also establishes a point of view on women in the reader. From this point of view, a perspective is developed into the "best" and "worst" in women. Achievement of this is through the characterization of many women with single notable evil qualities.
The Odyssey was written near the end of 8th century B.C. by Homer. Homer wrote this epic poem in the Greek coastal region of Anatolia called Ionia. This poem talks tells the famous story of Ulysses journey back home after the Trojan war. In the surface the poem gives an interesting story about Ulysses battle against monsters and Gods, but after analyzing the story in depth one can find important information about Greek society in this time period. The Odyssey has the theme of women as monsters tempting men away from home and also the theme that men actually settle in a different area rather than return home. Historically, we are able to see that women were the reasons that many sailors prefer to settle on an island away from
“A woman cannot be herself in the society of the present day, which is an exclusively masculine society, with laws framed by men and with a judicial system that judges feminine conduct from a masculine point of view” (Ibsen). This saying also applied to the times of the Odyssey, an epic constructed by the blind, eight century B.C.E. poet, Homer. As one of the few representatives of ancient Greek social order, the blind, Homer witnessed women as substandard to men, regardless of their actions; many of them existed as seductresses, prostitutes, or slaves. He engraved into his poem women’s roles; the roles of women, as mothers, wives, seductresses, and goddesses are exemplified in this epic, when shown in comparison to the men of that era.
In the era of Homer, women played a very specific role in society, and even in literature. Women of this time were basically put in a box, and expected to never step out of line. If they did go against the arbitration of men, then they were faced with serious consequences. However, female characters play a huge role in both aiding, and delaying Odysseus’s journey home. I will proceed to analyze, and interpret the actions and intentions of every major female character in The Odyssey.
A hero is defined as “a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal.” Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, is mostly focused on pivotal roles like leadership, courage and, patriarchy. Throughout history we notice how male dominance takes place within a society. This is called patriarchy, which is a form of social organization in which the father or oldest male is the head of the family, and descent and relationship are reckoned through the male line; government or rule by a man or men.(OED) That is portrayed in the Odyssey through the actions of the protagonist Odysseus, his journey to get back home, his wife Penelope, his son Telemachus, and the Greek
Homer wrote the classic epic The Odyssey more than 2,500 years ago. At that time in ancient Greek society, as well as in the whole of the ancient world, the dominant role was played by men. Society was organized, directed, and controlled by men, and it was accepted that women occupied a subservient and inferior position. Women, of course, were valued, but were expected to possess certain traits and perform certain tasks that men demanded of them. Does Homer's writing in The Odyssey support or refute the common belief of his time regarding women? Homer endorsed the dominating belief of his time concerning women by treating the female characters unequally and differently compared to the male characters in The Odyssey.
Although he is taught these ways, man is deeply fragile. However, this fragility is covered in a shell of masculinity that society has placed upon
As a female, I had never put much thought into the social pressures to be masculine. I see, now, that there was never as much pressure for women to be feminine, as there was for men to be masculine. Dr. Kilmartin outlines some of the attributes of masculinity as, not showing feelings, not being allowed to cry, and doing something because it would “make a man out of you.” In my past, I have been with guys that were emotionally unavailable; I chalked this up to immaturity, but now I wonder does it have something to do with their unconscious and inherent need to be seen as masculine. I could have also easily been insensitive because they did not know how to be in a relationship.