Homer was an outstanding writer and his works are among the most lasting in history, this however, does not mean that he radically modern in his views on women. While there are some great models of strong and confident women, these seem to be exceptions, rather than the rule. Penelope, the loyal wife of Odysseus is helpless to defend her home from the likes of her suitors and is left at their mercy, unable to assert herself because of her position as a mere female. This demonstrates to sheer domination that men had in Greek society. Even in her own house, Penelope was forbidden by rules of social decorum to establish authority over unruly strangers. Her son, Telemachus, is also helpless to oust the lawless suitors from the house of his father. Yet he still has command over his mother and on numerous occasions he bids her to go to her room and leave the affiars of the house to him. Even though Penelope is his mother and his elder, Telemachus' gender still gives him the status to issue orders to her.
Not only do the mortal women have less affluence than men, but the immortal women too are subject to a lower level of respect. Calypso complains of this injustice when told that she must release Odysseus from her caverns. She points out that the gods are allowed as many affairs and wives as they wish but when a goddess shows interest in a mortal, thwy are met with scandalized attitudes. Now, granted, if perhaps Caypso had picked a less prominant hero, she might have fared better. But the truth remains that she is forced to give up her love. The character of Circe can also be seen as a female who is portrayed in a dark sense. She is an immortal witch who turns Odysseus' men into swine, which is a rather unsubtle metaphor for the evils of women. Circe does turn the men back to human form and allows them to live with her in comfort, but as a character she does little but illustrate the obvious sexism within the story of the Odyssey.
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3 comments:
I would disagree that Homer could be called a sexist. Penelope may be helpless against the suitors, but there are many of them and only one of her. Even Telemachus can't do anything to make them leave until Odysseus comes and helps him. As for Calypso, all the gods and goddesses are subject to Zeus's divine authority. Poseidon in The Iliad was powerless against Zeus when he ordered him to abandon the Achaeans. Contrarily, Athena is greatly favored by Zeus in the Odyssey.
I think you make a good point that Telemachus has authority over his own mother because of his male gender. Telemachus would never have control over his father Odysseus. It is almost comical to picture Telemachus telling Odysseus when to go to bed, as he does to Penelope. Also, I think that Penelope's helplessness against the suitors until Odysseus arrives says a lot about the limitations women experienced in ancient Greece.
I agree with your point about the portrayals of the immortal women as less than their god counterparts. After reading through Mythology and hearing about numerous, if not innumerable accounts of a god keeping a mortal woman. Although i don't think this is not something to be condoned, it is interesting how the tables are turned when the divine power is female.
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