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Patriarchal Women In The Iliad

709 Words3 Pages

Females may not always have a high rank in society but yet they tend to influence many choices in society. Throughout the Iliad most females are not present on earth but with the immortals females are given a high place in society in which some even posses more power than the male. Whether the female is a human or an immortal they have a place in society in which they impact others lives. Within the patriarchal structed culture of the Iliad, females play the motherly role as well as an influential and sometimes deceiving role that give them a say in important events. The goddess Helen is one who portrays the typical role of a woman in a patriarchal society, where a women is a mother and a wife. “Come here, dear child, …show more content…

“Athena spoke and convinced the fool.” (line116Bk.4) Athena the goddess of war was one who most influenced battles throughout the war with her deceiving words she tricked men into death and failure. “And Hera, with every intention to deceive.” (line304Bk.14) The goddess Hera also didn’t give a feminine look to her character by caring traits that didn’t fit into the stereotypical female role in a Patriarchal society. Although Zeus was in control of everything occuring during the war of the Greeks and the Trojans, Athena and Hera had their ways into manipulating the God of gods. “Give me now the sex and desire you use to subdue immortals and humans.”(lines197-198Bk.14) Hera is determined to seduce Zeus and use everything in her power to distract him from men so that Poseidon can help the Acheans in battle and eventually turn the victory over to them. . “While Zeus still sleeps, for Hera has bedded him, and I have wrapped him in downy slumber.” (lines365-366Bk.14) Hera then goes to the extreme of seeking the god of sleep in order to get Zeus to sleep to buy time for the Achean soldiers. “...you look over me wherever I go. Be my friend once more, Athena…return to the ships in glory.” (lines289-292Bk.10) Athena being the goddess of war is always called upon by men in order to receive some type of help from her. Athena here takes the

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