Depiction of Women in the Odyssey While reading The Odyssey, the subject of women and the roles they portray throughout the epic poem are quite evident. The Odyssey is not just a depiction of the journey of Odysseus, it is also a depiction of women from all walks of life. Homer portrays the women in The Odyssey objectively and fairly, never making judgments.
For example, in this classic, Penelope watched and waited for Odysseus to come back from the long war for Troy. Penelope exemplifies the personification of faithfulness as well as the early Greek depiction of women as loyal creatures. Homer, created the character Penelope as a strong, bold woman to carry on her husband's legacy. Penelope was never timid or submissive. In addition, while her son and husband were off on adventures she stayed at home. Penelope runs the affairs of the household and constantly holds off the suitors and defends the honor of her son and husband.
ODYSSEUS karnavires 66
Mnêstêrophonía: slaughter of the suitors by Ody...
c. 1563Throughout The Odyssey, we see this depiction of women again and again. Because Penelope was still young, beautiful, and wealthy, suitors flocked to Ithaca to try to win her favors. Penelope did not respond to their flattery or their foolish antics; her grief for Odysseus was too great. Instead, she withdrew to her rooms, where hour after hour the only sounds to be heard were the whirring and click of her spinning wheel as she filled spindle after spindle with ever softer and finer strands of wool. Penelope had every incentive to give up waiting for Odysseus and to make the best match she could from amongst the suitors. She made it clear that she was not going to give up on Odysseus and chose to wait for him. The stereotype of women here is that they were again, unquestionably...