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How Did The Trojan War Objectify Women

655 Words3 Pages

In the Trojan War, it includes a variety of characters who each have different roles. It characterizes heroes like Achilles as having immense physical strength or those like Odysseus who use more brains than brawn. In comparison to other characters, women tend to lack important roles because the Trojan War characterizes women as weak while objectifying them by using them as prizes for men. To begin, the Trojan War objectifies women because of the dialogue and actions between characters. Starting at the wedding of King Peleus and Thetis, the god of discord Eris was not invited and she started scheming. She appeared at the wedding with an apple proclaiming it for the fairest person. Eventually, it narrowed down to Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera as the choices with Zeus as the judge. …show more content…

She brings him to Helen, the fairest woman for him to marry but she is married to the King of Sparta, Menelaus. So in the versions of the event, Helen either leaves with Paris willingly or is taken but she leaves nevertheless with him and so, this starts the Trojan War. To start, Helen is introduced as the fairest woman and the reward for Paris and immediately the theme is clear that women are viewed as prizes and at the least, something for men to earn. Also, when Paris takes Helen, she either goes willingly or Paris takes her. Firstly, if he took her by force, it demonstrates the subservience of women solidifying the sentiment via this version of Helen seemingly doing nothing to stop her abduction. Secondly, if she went willingly, that means that she disregarded her husband which characterizes her as disloyal and not thinking of the potential consequences caused by her leaving. With this in mind, the Trojan War demonstrates the objectification of women via dialogue and

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