Double Standards For Men And Women In Homer's Odyssey

Ancient Greece was not a high point for gender equality in history. The duties and obligations of men and women were entirely different, and the rules were often much more complicated and stringent for women. For example, a female companion or the man who “owned” them had to accompany them, and if they wished to visit the theatre, the law forced them to sit in the back rows. The laws also banned them from watching any genre besides tragedy. However, even in an era of such gender discrimination, Homer includes many examples of strong, independent women, including both goddesses and mortal women. In the Odyssey, Homer uses Calypso as a sympathetic example of the effects of the double standards for men and women in Greek society.
Calypso’s speech

Calypso is judged for having an affair with Odysseus, but on the other hand, Odysseus, who is married, had an affair with Calypso. However, Calypso’s affair is never mentioned as Odysseus’ affair, and she is forced to take the blame for the affair, even though it was equally Odysseus’ fault. One could argue that Odysseus is more at fault, and Calypso is the one swept up in his seduction. For example, Odysseus knows what he is doing is wrong – he talks about his desire to be with Penelope and his love for her, but then willingly sleeps with the goddess in the next paragraph. Although he was with Calypso, Calypso was simply in a consensual relationship, while Odysseus was engaged in an extramarital affair, willingly. In addition to this, the goddess is confused as to why Odysseus would wish to leave Ogygia. Barring the fact that everyone who comes to Ogygia has to leave because of something waiting for them in the outside world, the gods only send heroes to Calypso, that she will fall in love with. However, the implications of the goddess being confused as to why he would pick his wife and land over her may confirm that the lines of their relationship have blurred into an actual relationship. Otherwise, it would be much clearer where their relationship stops – as friends, perhaps. Calypso is a sympathetic character because she gets blamed for the affair, and perhaps for being a homewrecker, but Odysseus is doing things just as

As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, Calypso is forced to fall in love with every man that reaches Ogygia, and none of them love her back, or can stay with her, because they have duties waiting for them. She received this punishment because she was the daughter of Atlas, a Titan who fought against the gods. Although she stayed neutral the entire time, she was punished for not fighting with the gods against her own brothers, sisters, and parents. That is also the reason why Calypso has such a nice island, compared to the place where the people who fought against the gods ended up – Tartarus. Calypso has no say in her love for Odysseus, and she lets him go to his wife once the gods ask her to. Calypso is simply tired of being forced to give up love. She rarely gets visitors, and those that are there are only there for short amounts of time. Calypso is indeed a sympathetic