The Patriarchal Role Of Patriarchy In Homer's The Odyssey

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

What is more, Telemachus’ behavior shows how patriarchal concepts span generations. Telemachus is a young man, but he already feels like it is his duty to protect the family. In fact, despite his young age Telemachus already considers himself a “master” and feels entitled to order his mother around. Thus, not only do patriarchal attitudes spread across generations, but a patriarchal hierarchy is above an age hierarchy. Regardless of the age differences between a man and a woman, the man’s power is undeniable in Homer’s

The poem showed that even if in our world men are “superior”, that there is still someone out there that can over power them. The example that the Odyssey gave were the praised Greek gods who even as women can control the moral men. In the Odyssey by homer, we get suggestion that life’s journey that is filled with many difficult situation and obstacles. Odysseus had to overcome each obstacles.Every time it’s a battle to fight just trying to get his home. And lastly, Life is like a grapple, but with determination and perseverance, the journey is attainable and the end result will be worth all the difficulties situations or obstacles one has