The Role of Women in Homers The Odyssey Essay -- Papers Odyssey Home

The Role of Women in Homers The Odyssey Women form an important part of the folk epic, write by Homer, The Odyssey. Within the story there are three basic types of women the goddess, the seductress, and the good hostess/wife. Each role adds a different element and is inborn to the telling of the story. The role of the goddess is one of a supernatural being, but more importantly one in a position to pity and help mortals. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is the close prominent example of the role in the very beginning of the story she is seen making a plea for Odysseus return home, and throughout the first half of the obligate she assists him in his journey. She is the driving force behind arranging Odysseus return home from getting Kalypso to release him to making sure Nausikaa found him on Skheria. In books 1-4 she helps Telemakhos, Odysseus son, gather up the courage to go out and get news about his father. Other than Athena, there are many examples o f goddesses taking pity on a mortal, ordinarily Odysseus, and helping him out. When Odysseus is s...