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Women in The Odyssey - Online Essays

Women in The Odyssey

While Greek society certainly makes women appear as inferior or at least less sociable than men, Homer’s The Odyssey seems to put women in a different light, making the story appear incredibly feminist, even arousing the suspicion of some, believing that Homer was actually a woman or a group of women. The characterization of different women can be shown by the descriptions Odysseus makes of the women he comes in contact with throughout his odyssey from Troy back to Ithaca. While some are the “ideal types” of the Greek society, others were portrayed as sly, cruel, or even monstrous.
The first woman that we see Odysseus encounter in the selected works from The Odyssey is Circe, the witch ...

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or a witch. Circe puts Odysseus on such a high level that she even refers to her as, “Son of Laertes and the gods of old, Odysseus, master mariner and soldier.” Circe eventually tells Odysseus a lot of clues and hints about ways to get home, as well as many advice about how to survive, such as being tied up to a mast to hear the Siren’s songs, and also about avoiding theft of Helios’ cattle. Her obedience and helpfulness earns her the title “the loveliest goddess.”
The second group of important women Odysseus encounters is the sea monsters that try to obstruct his path, blocking his way home. They represent a more negative view on women in Greek society. They are evil, monstrous, cunning, and fierce. The sires are compared to the beauty and attractiveness of men. What the sirens seem to suggest is that some women use their beauty and attractiveness to deceive and eventually destroy men, just like how men are under the siren’s spell once they hear her sing, and eventually drown ...

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Women in The Odyssey. (2011, May 16). Retrieved February 8, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Women-in-The-Odyssey/99191

"Women in The Odyssey." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 16 May. 2011. Web. 8 Feb. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Women-in-The-Odyssey/99191>

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 5/16/2011 09:07:39 AM
Submitted By: xheartland
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 910
Pages: 4

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