Both the Trojan Women (a play produced by Euripides during the 5th Century BC about the aftermath of the Trojan War in Troy), and The Odyssey’s Book 19 (a section of the epic poem The Odyssey [believed to be 8th Century BC] by Homer which depicts the grievances of Penelope to a disguised Odysseus), has been interpreted to be about how women should remain loyal to their husbands, with them having to be loyal in life, loyal in death, and eventually being rewarded for their loyalty / justice to their husbands. This is explored throughout both texts with examples present that show both the gains and losses of committing to a life of loyalty.
Both texts are Classical Greek poems / plays, both being written in such a way which could be both performed or read by itself. Firstly, the Odyssey, an epic poem attributed to Homer (either a real person who wrote the poem as a whole by himself, or a pseudonym being the manifestation of oral tradition from the 8th Century onwards) about Odysseus’ struggles in returning
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to his homeland after the end of the Trojan War. This poem was written during a time known as the Geometric period (in terms of art history), placed after the fall of the Mycenaean kingdoms (12th Century BC), which was nearing the end of the time of migration and settling throughout central Greece (12th – 8th Century BC), where many remnant populaces from these Mycenaean kingdoms had wandered, looking for new fertile lands to settle in. Because of this mass migration, many different cultures and people would have met and merged, sharing stories and ideas from their own previous nation’s histories, such as the Trojan War, supposedly one of the largest and most devastating wars of the 12th Century BC (between the Achaeans [Greeks] and the Trojans [ancestors of the Romans]). Thus, the Odyssey is about 8th Century BC values being explored in a 12th Century BC background, where heroism, the heroic code, glory, the role of women, etc., was being explored through the characters in the poem. The Trojan Women, performed and produced in 415 BC, however was made during a time of great grief, strife, and despair, where Athens was having to wage war with Sparta and her allies, all while combating a great plague that was killing its citizens and leaders.
Thus, the Trojan Women is considered a commentary on the brutality of Athens in numerous actions (mainly the conquering of Melos and the slaughter of its people) and how their own actions brought judgement upon themselves (hubris), all told through the mask of the end of the sacking of Troy (the end of the Trojan War) in the perspective of the remaining Trojan Women of Troy [Melos / the victims of Athens], whose city was desecrated and destroyed by the Achaeans [Athens]. It was actually written for a large festival in Athens in honour of the god of theatre, chaos, and celebration, Dionysus; various theatrical performances were held for the enjoyment of the Athenians during this time of trouble and
hardship. The loyalty of women while their husbands remain alive is one of the key discussions and interpretations that can be made from both texts, mainly presented in The Odyssey’s Book 19 through Penelope and her constant torment. With Penelope being the representation of a loyal wife, as shown through her character’s journey throughout The Odyssey, her constant thinking about how she could remain loyal to Odysseus while keeping her son and her own interests at heart (as shown with her constantly wondering if she should just marry one of the suitors, as if she doesn’t anytime soon, her son [Telemachus] will not be able to inherit anything of value, as they will be eaten out of their own home). Penelope’s whole character is based around her constant worrying for her husband’s safety, whether he will ever return home, and how to protect herself from the suitors so that she shall remain sexually and morally uncorrupted. This is evident through her use of wit and cunning, a trait which she shares with her husband, when she used to constantly weave and destroy a cloak at night, which is supposed to mean, if she ever finished creating it, that she could marry again; her protection of her marital innocence also being shown through her always wearing some kind of cloth to cover her face whenever she was near the suitors. Her loyalty is eventually rewarded with her husband returning towards the end of the poem, her not being stricken with any punishment for being disloyal throughout the poem by the gods, and all of the suitors being slaughtered by Odysseus & Telemachus in Book 22 (Slaughter in the Hall). In terms of the other text, the Trojan Women, loyalty by the women to husbands which still remain alive is shown differently, as the majority of the women’s husbands have been killed in war, with the exception of Cassandra being forced to marry Agamemnon by being assigned as her slave / mistress. Cassandra however isn’t really planning to be truly loyal to her new husband to the same degree or fashion as Penelope, as she saw through visions of the future, that both Agamemnon and her will be slain by Agamemnon’s wife, Clytemnestra, when they arrive in Argos. However, Helen, the legal wife of Menelaus, is a representation of what a good woman would not do in terms of loyalty to their husband, as the whole Trojan War set off by Helen’s leaving of Menelaus and Sparta / Greece, whether it be by force, by natural will, or by divine intervention. Even in this play, where she pleads for Menelaus to not kill her for her heinous crimes against almost everyone, she lies to her husband and cites that she was not willingly leaving Greece, as she was led away by Aphrodite’s will; her staying in Troy is also explained through this. She is never punished for her crimes though, as her beauty and her persuasion of her accusers keeps her alive. However, The Trojan Women in terms of women’s loyalty is more of a theme in terms of what the women do when their husbands are dead. The exploration of loyalty by women towards their husbands when their husbands are dead is greatly explored throughout the Trojan Women, and in a different fashion in The Odyssey, as Penelope’s loyalty for a presumed dead husband is tested at the same time as her loyalty for a presumed living husband, as no one knows whether or not Odysseus is dead or alive. Thus, Penelope’s loyalty can be seen through her actions when she thinks he is alive as well, as they are essentially one in the same. However, due to all the Trojan men being dead in the Trojan Women, the examination of loyalty is tested greatly more in this text, as the women are now only bound by their own morals, which come from society’s expectations and beliefs of what the gods wanted, as well as what they wanted in turn. For example, Hecuba and Andromache are never really rewarded for staying loyal to their husbands as a whole, besides them used to having multiple children (Hecuba = Hector, Paris, Cassandra, Polyxena (and 15 others), Andromache = Astyanax), being only rewarded with the death of their children, whether this be in the play (with Astyanax being killed offstage by the Greeks near the end of the play & Polyxena being sacrificed on top of Achilles’ tomb) or in the Trojan War. This play is all about these women’s grievances and sorrows; it’s about how they are going to be sent away to be slaves to their enemies after they had to watch their city burn, their people (including their children, husbands, family, friends, etc.) be killed off and their city (Troy) being destroyed, their nation collapsing as a result. No singular person is rewarded for staying loyal to their husbands in this play. Thus, while in The Odyssey, Penelope represents the ideal woman who is constantly loyal to her husband, never failing to keep out of the greedy grasps of the suitors and the men around her, constantly fearing and praying for her husband’s life, the Trojan Women depicts a different side of the story where all women who were loyal to their husbands, before and after they died, were never rewarded for their actions; Helen being the only one who is rewarded, even though she was disloyal to her husband throughout and before the play.
Homer's great epic, "The Odyssey" was written several thousands of years ago, a time in human history when men played the dominant role in society. The entire structure of civilization was organized and controlled by men; It was an accepted fact that women held an inferior position in society. Society was constructed as if women were around only to serve the men. The involvement of women in any circumstance was almost completely dominated by what the men allowed. The women were valued in society, only they were not given important roles or any decision making power. It is as if they held no power in the ancient Greek society. This is why Homer's Odyssey is very unique, Homer put women into roles that were previously unheard of for women to possess. Unlike in The Iliad, where women served merely as an object to men; female characters of Odyssey are distinctive because they possess personality, and have intricate relationships with the male characters of the Odyssey. By characterizing the women in "The Odyssey", a reader may come to some conclusions about the role of women in this epic. Along with the belief that women played a secondary role to men in society, the female characters displayed certain traits that could not be exhibited by the men. Athena demonstrated the most intelligence and valor out of all the characters in "The Odyssey." The male characters play the most significant roles in this epic, but without the support of the females in "The Odyssey", Odysseus would not have made it through his journey.
For the Greeks, Homer's Odyssey was much more than just an entertaining tale of gods, monsters, and men, it served as cultural paradigm from which every important role and relationship could be defined. This book, much more so than its counter part The Iliad, gives an eclectic view of the Achean's peacetime civilization. Through Odyssey, we gain an understanding of what is proper or improper in relationships between father and son, god and mortal, servant and master, guest and host, and--importantly--man and woman. Women play a vital role in the movement of this narrative. Unlike in The Iliad, where they are chiefly prizes to be won, bereft of identity, the women of Odyssey are unique in their personality, intentions, and relationship towards men. Yet, despite the fact that no two women in this epic are alike, each--through her vices or virtues-- helps to delineate the role of the ideal woman. Below, we will show the importance of Circe, Calypso, Nausicaa, Clytaemestra, and Penelope in terms of the movement of the narrative and in defining social roles for the Ancient Greeks.
The women in The Odyssey are a fair representation of women in ancient Greek culture. In his work, Homer brings forth women of different prestige. First there are the goddesses, then Penelope, and lastly the servant girls. Each of the three factions forms an important part of The Odyssey and helps us look into what women were like in ancient Greece.
The women presented throughout The Odyssey provide a respectable representation of women in ancient Greece in general. There are several women introduced in The Odyssey, all of various backgrounds and social classes. The most notable women or type of women in this epic include goddesses, Penelope, and the housemaids and servants.
...ow Greek civilization was founded by women; they were the ones who gave birth to the heroes. Similarly, The Odyssey is a story created by women. The plot revolves around the actions of women. Athena orchestrates all the events. The seductresses, such as Circe, the sirens, and Calypso, attempt to stop Odysseus from reaching home. The helpmeets, such as Nausicaa, Arete, and Athena, aid Odysseus in his homecoming. The wise and virtuous Penelope is the object of Odysseus’ quest. Unlike Helen who forsakes her husband, Penelope remains faithful. Unlike Clytemnestra who assassinates her husband, Penelope patiently waits for Odysseus. She becomes a model of female patience and of female intelligence. Her craftiness is the only one which can match up to Odysseus’. The Odyssey presents a wide array of women and demonstrates the influence that women have in the life of a hero.
The theme of women in the Odyssey is essential in establishing one of the if not the main message in the poem. The paradoxical messages give insights into the lives of the characters and generalizations into the reader's lives. Although this theme would have a noticeable affect on the poem in its absence, it is odd that in a story about war and adventure that they hold such dominating roles. In the setting of the Odyssey, women did not have a status that measured up to that of a man. However, whether seen as demonic or angelic they still hold in the example of Odysseus a significant role in the determination of the final fate of a man.
This essay explores the role of women in Homer's Odyssey, James Joyce's Ulysses (1922) and Derrick Walcott's Omeros (1990), epics written in very different historical periods. Common to all three epics are women as the transforming figure in a man's life, both in the capacity of a harlot and as wife.
The Iliad by Homer and the Women of Troy by Euripides are both Greek works of literature that look at the Trojan War from different perspectives. Book 6 of the Iliad illustrates that the ultimate glory is to fight for the city with no regard to the impact on the family. The Women of Troy focuses on the negatives that war causes, especially towards the soldier’s wives and children. Whereas the Iliad focuses on the battle itself and centers on the warriors, the Women of Troy focuses on the wrath the war brings upon the families left behind. The central theme in both the works is the Trojan War and they both offer perspectives of the duty of a person, the role of predetermined fate, and the role of women.
Penelope intelligence, and her simple but elegant way of presenting herself, and apparent inherent sense of modesty make her ancient Greece ideal woman, she was unwavering in her loyalty and love to her husband and the in which she treat everyone. Throughout the poem the Odyssey we are shown that all challenge’s and obstacles can be overcome through love and togetherness, and willingness of a family, something that is completely lacking in today society where everyone is only out to make them self’s better and not the family structures as in the poem.
Greek women, as depicted in their history and literature, endure many hardships and struggle to establish a meaningful status in their society. In the Odyssey, Penelope’s only role in the epic is to support Odysseus and remain loyal to him. She is at home and struggles to keep her family intact while Odysseus is away trying to return to his native land. The cultural role of women is depicted as being supportive of men and nothing more. Yet what women in ancient Greece did long ago was far more impressive than what men did.
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.
Homer’s Odyssey effectively demonstrates the numerous societal roles played out in Greek culture with a stress on the expectations of the two sexes, particularly those of females. Two main factions of women, categorized according to their differing levels of prestige, are used to represent the different ancient Greek women. The lower level is the common mortal woman, separated into women of sovereignty like Penelope and the everyday women like the housemaids. The higher level is the immortal goddess— ranging from well-known Pallas Athena to nymphs and witches like Circe and Calypso. Even though women hold a different locus in society in comparison to men, they assume an undeniable domain of influence and power, which predominantly drives the
Homer, Iliad is the narration of the Trojan war. The Trojan war was one of the most important and significant wars of Greek mythology, Homer described how the war was triggered by the abduction of the most beautiful women known as Helen. This paper will argue how the traditional view of this poem is accurate because it indeed was Helens beauty and her selfishness that sparked the Trojan war. Although Helen was not happy about the outcomes of her mistakes. This paper will present how Helen faced many forms of self judgment, how she created many relationships with significant characters, such as Paris, Priam and Aphrodite. Homers portrayal of this significant women was remarkable as we were able to feel her pain and anguish, the readers were
In The Odyssey, the poem seems to be a man world and have women portrayed as a muse or siren that lures men “When Calypso, that lovely Goddess, tried to keep me with her in hollow caves, longing for me to be her husband, or when, in the same way, the cunning witch Aeaean Circe held me in her home filled with keen desire I’d marry her, they never won the heart here in my chest” (Bauschatz, 22). In the Iliad, it has similar connections when it comes to portraying women compared to the Odyssey, but not quite. The Iliad has women like trophies or prizes. Agamemnon was threatening Achilles of taking Briseus from him “but I shall take the fair-cheeked Briseis, your prize, I myself going to your shelter, that you may learn well how much greater I am than you, and another man may shrink back from likening himself to me and contending against me” (Bauschatz, 6). In Works and Days, the Women have a duty in the household and getting married “Don’t put things off to tomorrow and then to the next day; no sluggish worker f ills up his barn, and neither does a man who delays. It is care that prospers the work; Do-it-tomorrow wrestles with ruin (Bauschatz,
Three Different Views Of Women In Greek Society The role of women in ancient Greek life was considered to be insignificant compared to that of Greek men. However, in tragedies, women were frequently written as main characters, revealing insights on how women were treated and thought of in society. Many famous Greek plays contain numerous well-written, multifaceted, female characters. Each female character takes upon herself, the role of villain, the role of victim, and the role of heroine. Euripides (485-406 BC) is considered to be the most socially critical of all the ancient Greek tragedians. The Trojan Women (415 BC) has long been considered a fresh artistic depiction of the Trojan War and a penetrating portrayal of the barbaric deeds of Euripides' own countrymen, the Athenians, towards the women and children of the people they conquered in war. Due to the fact of similarities between authors Aeschylus and Euripides, writing in the same place and time, one often make the mistake of presuming their stance are the same on the particular subject. It would be a mistake to expect Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and Euripides’ Medea to express identical views on the subject; each author had a distinctive way. The opinions of these two writers on this subject are in fact different. Aeschylus’ plays revolved around ethics, and usually he presented as impartially as possible, by asking the audience to judge the ethical questions for themselves. Agamemnon is not actually about Agamemnon as much as is about Clytemnestra, his wife. Aeschylus has created a woman, with whom his audience could sympathize, and whose pain felt real to them. This was no small attempt, bearing in mind the fact that in ancient Greece women were looked same as slaves. Euripid...