Men Vs. Women In Homer's Odyssey

Intro

In recent times, kind acts are often made because influence, benefits, or other selfish alterior motives. Another opinion of mind would be that things aren't just done out of spontaneous action but implied or commanded. The 7th President of United States quoted precisely," It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes."(Corruption Quotes). This is relevent to one of the areas of discussion in this essay. I want analyze the moral standards or lack there of between The Gods in Odyssey and recent politicial values. Also, I want to discuss the morality of the men vs woman in odyssey being displayed toward Penelope in the absence of Odyseus. Furthermore, how she was catergorized

because of her attributes and talents that would help the suitors gain power. My goal is to show the resemblence of present humanity and The Odyssey. Moral and immoral actions that can be found in the writings of Homer displayed in these current times and generations.

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Its easy to say "that's enough", when people are tired, bored, or satisfied.

Its also easy to stop wrong doing when you're tired, bored, or satisfied. Odyseuss, trapped on an island after he blinded the son Posiedon, was forced away to a remote desolate island. The reason he went to the island was the purpose of what seemed like entertainment to the Gods. As he was trapped on th island Athena had to imply to Zeus that Odyseus needed to be home,"Odysseus I'm worried about...didn't odysseus please you with sacrifices beside the greek ships"(book 1,53-66). In addition to her imply she had to announce Zeus' title each she began to speak to him, "Yes, O father who art most high"(p.333), just as the God's in this text seem to do. This reminds me of the current politicial figures and event nowadays. How we have to be reminded to do things that human nature should have presented to us, in other words our morals. Or how there is the over punished people played as pawns and placed in situations of others malicious motives. "Brutal charachter of the behavior of all human collectives, and the power of self-interes and collective egoism in all inter-group relations"(Lang), a quote in reference to the newfound religion called "politics". In book five, when egotisctic Zeus decided to agree with Athena and Hermes was sent to meet Calypso, she then was upset to release Odyseuss. Stating that the other God's were jealous. She let him go home after they slept together, not before letting him

know how her beauty and attributes are ones of a goddess.

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Which leads me to my next topic of discussion, the role and moral standings of sanctity of marriage.

The suitor's disrespect Odyseuss after they find out he isnt returning home to Penelope, they kill all his cattle and take over his house with a party. In book 2, Antinous stated that Penelope was toturing the suitors because she wasnt willing to remarry and share her talents or gifts.Women are portrayed as objects or accesories unless they're in power. Today, we can use many examples on how the woman are described as product through what they can offer or give. For instance, the first lady makes the husband look good with her smarts and presentation, also how they support there man. You can always find a women of any type that has sold theirselves; to get a job, to play a role, etc. Opposed to the men who just have to persuade or advise to make a move, and if a man is caught selling theirselves they're labled feminime. Going back to the sanctity of marriage being disrespected by the Gods and suitors but also between woman and man. During Odyseuss' stay with Calypso, he mourned for Penelope but slept with the goddess. Whereas, Penelope tricked the suitors by knitting and unknitting her soon to be father-in-laws robe. Until, Penelope was forced to finish the robe she took the inititive to stop her from being with another. Why is it more frowned uponed or questioned for the woman to take up the moral thinkings of a man? What makes it unpleasent that manly ways make a woman

unbecoming? There are things I noticed that seemed unfair in a since from Penelope and Calypso. I noticed that Penelope was soon to be forced to marry a man by her father. Also, Calypso had a point when she referenced the actions of the male Gods having their affairs with humans but the Goddess not being able to keep there mortal lovers. So how could marriage be taken seriously, when even the Gods had part on why Penelope was being harrassed. In the journal article, Colonial Citizens, they subject the woman to four categories with men: Patrioatic Mother, Good wife, Backward woman, and the Deviant.(p.219) There is always a label, except for the right one woman. Marriage is a joke in mythology and in recent times, because there is no respect in the marriage or in some cases to the woman.
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Does anybody want the other party to be happy themselves or does present society only make people happy to benefit them? There are so many reminders to do whats right, in reference to the converstartion between Athena and Zeus. Or there is a command to do the right thing, like how Hermes had to remind Calypso of how Zeus didn't like to be disobeyed. Or how about the overuse of authority or power, an example of this would be the mistreatment of Odyseuss. Recently there have been many cases of muders by police, or mistreatment by someone in authority, and unfit parents. Egotism at its finest is portrayed by The Gods, as they play with the destiny's of humans. This is almost identical to how citizens of different nation are ran through ringers of petitions for legal action or extremeties of voting for change, and called unconvential for having different opinion. You have to prove you're God-like to prove yourself worthy of assistance. Doesn't almost mirror the statement, you have to be socially equipt, educated and in some position of authority to be taken seriously or cause chaos to be heard.