Gender Stereotypes In Homer's The Odyssey

Although men are the Epic characters of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey, women also play a very important role in both stories. In general, these two stories portray women as being overly sexual, deceptive, and having a power over men. Women use their sexuality to hold control over men, to confuse and deceive them.

Homer’s Odyssey is an epic tale set in the world of ancient Greece - a world dominated by men. Admirable men such as Odysseus, the story’s protagonist, are strong, cunning, and wise; they have control over their lives and the people within them. In The Odyssey, the quintessential man is characterized by his authority, including control of the women who surround him. As is suggested throughout the novel, the patriarchal world would fall into disarray without the force of intrinsic male authority. Odysseus’s struggles with his wife, his son’s search for manhood, and the wiles of cunning women like Clytemnestra and Calypso highlight the disordering powers of women. These disordering powers justify, to the men within this world, the necessity

Stories reflect and mirror culture. Some writers write about how things currently are in their own society and the position that certain people hold in that society. It is because of that kind of thought and style of writing that a reader can learn and in some ways better understand the hierarchical position of peoples in a society at a particular time in history. In ancient Mesopotamia, women had fewer privileges and rights then the men. Despite their lack of rights and privileges, women in high position were viewed as temptresses, tamers, and a essential part of Mesopotamian culture.

The #MeToo movement has brought the most recent revelations of misogyny in modern society. Sexism has been present throughout history, and the Greek society in Homer’s The Odyssey is no exception. It tells of the hero Odysseus’ journey back to his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemakhos, on Ithaka, including his delays by the nymph, Kalypso. Throughout the epic, Homer portrays that society’s perceptions of female inferiority lead to harsher expectations of and stereotypes for women, as shown by the powerlessness, sexual double standard, and seductive stereotypes of women.

The Greek and Roman societies were a very patriarchal society. This is reflected throughout the myths in classical mythology. By looking at the many pieces of literature involving Greeks and Romans we will see that the roles women portrayed are very different from women’s roles in today’s society. Although there are a few similarities to women’s roles in today’s society, their roles are more like those women in the past. We can see this by looking at the qualities of Greek and Roman female gods and looking at the roles women play in the myths.

In the poem written by Homer, "The Odyssey", there is evidence of these views as pointed out by Sue Blundell. In her book, Women in Ancient Greece, she gives many examples but I would like to just touch on a few. Sue suggests many of the monsters encountered in The Odyssey are unmistakably female. Woman are to be seen as having a sexual power to engulf and obliterate men if they become to closely involved with them (Blundell, 51). This might explain why women are kept in check in Greek society and why men are not to be blamed for their

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

Throughout the Odyssey, by Homer (translated by W.H.D Rouse) it is clear that he uses stereotypes to show that men and women are not equal. In the beginning of Book 1, the minstrel begins to play a song, and Penelopeia complains that it is too sad. Telemachos responds, “My dear mother, why won’t you let the worthy minstrel entertain us as he likes? Go to your room and see about your own business, loom and distaff, and keep the servants to their work; talking is always the man’s part, and mine in particular, for the man rules the house”(12). This statement makes it very clear that women are the ones taking care of household jobs, and that they have no power in society. It also makes it clear the men always have the power over the women, and

Therefore to restore order Homer uses this symbolic reverse of the sexes. This in part disrupts the norm in order for peace to be restored. Without Odysseus experiencing the limitations of his masculinity, order within Ithaca and his family would not be restored. On his journey back to his native land, Odysseus experiences many cultures who’s social order is a complete reversal of his own. This includes variations of where women are placed within their society as well as their communal, sexual and political roles. In book 10 when Odysseus is on Circe’s island, his men flock around him like calves about their mother. This symbolically makes the men feel like they have regained Ithaca, however Odysseus is not Ithaca. When Odysseus journeys to the underworld he realizes that his masculine identity depends not only on his heroic duties and warlike actions, but also on the people who surround him like his wife, son, mother and father. When talking to Achilles in the underworld, Odysseus learns that because these warrior’s identity is directly associated with their masculinity their identity basically disappears in death. Death is therefore the emasculating form of loss of oneself to these characters. Since his masculinity is gone while he resides in the underworld, he learns that his brave and heroic actions and everything he fought for does not hold any significance in this

The Odyssey written by Homer allows gender roles to have a big impact, as well as social hierarchy and humanity, all in which connects to today’s world, and all of which are similar due to the fact they all rely on other people, not the person themself. He uses heroic characteristics to bring attention to Odysseus, the main character, which puts him at the near top of the social hierarchy. Immortals and mortals are also held at different standings, but connect to each other with their powers and wishes. Woman and men are separated in the things that are considered good, or not. Men are allowed to not be loyal, but woman should be, and women are the maids and slaves, and looked at in not the same manner.

Males’ authority is also clearly visible in Theogony. In this text all major duties and decisions are made by the male God (Zeus), while there are also goddesses who could have made those decisions. Hesiod writes that, “He [Zeus] has appointed their [Muses’] ordinances to the immortals, well in each detail, and assigned them their privileges” (Hesiod, pg 4). He further explains that the kings were the ones that made important judgments and settled disputes whenever the need to do so arises. Moreover, Hesiod tells that “When he [king] goes among a gathering, they seek his favour with conciliatory reverence, as if he was a God, and he stands out among the crowd” (Hesiod, pg. 5). This portrays a male as a superior being and a ruler.

            There were far more restrictions placed on the women of the ancient world than on the men.  To many, this may appear to be an obvious fact.  However, the comparison of women to men in the Odyssey does not show such a discrepancy.  The women created by Homer had certain characteristics that set them apart from ordinary women.  Penelope was a woman who did not give in to the demands of her surroundings.  She suffered throughout the twenty year absence of her husband, Odysseus.  She maintained her dignity and her chastity through her refusal of the hoards of suitors that flocked to her home. Penelope represents the ideal woman for balancing her refusals of marriage and the preservation of her respect.  When ready to address her suitors, Eurymachus, a suitor himself, speaks out from the crowd in praise of Penelope.  He states, "Ah, daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope . . . You surpass all women in build and beauty, refined and steady mind" (18. 276,280).  The acts of Penelope would not have been allowed of an ordinary woman of those times.  Her loyalty to Odysseus was unflagging and quite contrary to Clytaemestra's loyalty, another character in the Odyssey, though she is never mentioned by name.

The Greco-Roman society was a very patriarchal society. This is reflected throughout the myths in classical mythology. By looking at the classic mythology we will see that the roles women portrayed are very different than women’s roles in today’s society. Although there are a few similarities to women’s roles in today’s society, their roles are more like those women in the past. We can see this by looking at the attributes of Greco-Roman female gods and looking at the roles women play in the myths. By comparing the roles of women in the myths with women’s roles today we will see that the roles have many differences and few similarities.

Sheryl Sandberg once said, “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.” The Odyssey incorporates an epic adventure with family drama. The book is staged in ancient Greece 20 years after the trojan war. The Odyssey is narrated by Homer, the first person to write down the adventures of Odysseus. The epic poem focuses on Odysseus’s journey home and what is happening to his family in Ithaca. Overall The Odyssey is a journey about gender stereotypes and how some women defy those gender stereotypes. Homer uses many traits of characters to address this everyday life topic. He specifically Athena’s wisdom, Circe’s strength, and Penelope’s cleverness to convey the theme though gender stereotypes often elevate men, women have prized traits as well.

Women in ancient Greece had very few rights in comparison to male citizens. Women were unable to vote, own property, or inherit wealth. A woman’s place was in the home and her purpose in life was to rear children. Considering this limited role in society, we see a diverse cast of female characters in Greek mythology. We are presented with women that are powerful and warlike, or sexualized, submissive and emotionally unstable. In many myths, we encounter subversive behavior from women, suggesting, perhaps, the possibility of female empowerment. While produced in an ostensibly misogynistic and oppressive society, these myths consider the possibility for a collapse of male power and the patriarchal system. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey,