Stereotypes Of Mothers In Homer's Odyssey

From prehistoric times to modern times, mothers are assumed to be loving caregivers who only want the best for their children. For prehistoric mothers, the best for their children might have consisted of living long enough to have children of their own. Now, modern mothers may want their children to attend college and be financially and emotionally successful. Overall, the stereotype of mothers is that they are nurturing, caring, and devoted to their children; however, two literary mothers challenge this idea. Ninsun, Gilgamesh’s mother from The Epic of Gilgamesh, and Penelope, Telemachus’ mother from The Odyssey, demonstrate that the stereotype of mothers may be wrong. Based on Ninsun’s and Penelope’s behaviors after they received unfavorable

IV.800). If Telemachus is murdered before he is even able to become a successful hero, it reflects negatively on Penelope’s ability to raise children because it shows that she is unable to raise a son worthy of being a hero. Instead of inquiring about how she may be able to prevent Telemachus’ death, Penelope is worried about how Telemachus’ death will represent her as a mother and her ability to raise children. Consequently, Penelope’s actions suggest that, in addition to being concerned over Telemachus, Penelope has personal issues that she is troubled by. Subsequently, a nurse, Eurycleia, comes to Penelope’s aid and advises her to pray to the Gods to help Telemachus. During Penelope’s prayer to the Gods, she tries to appeal to the Gods by reminding them of how much Odysseus, Penelope’s husband, sacrificed for them, but she wants them to “remember it now for my sake, save my darling son” (Od. IV.862). Penelope does not want the Gods to save Telemachus so that he may live on, but so that he can return to her and keep her from being alone for the rest of her life, as well as

Although Ninsun prays to Shamash to help Gilgamesh defeat Humbaba by preventing Humbaba’s movements with winds, these prayers for Gilgamesh to win are selfish. Ninsun suggests during her prayer that she is more truly concerned about her status as a God and her ability as a mother to raise a heroic son, than about her son’s well-being. Ninsun worries about her status as a God being tainted if Gilgamesh dies in the battle against Humbaba and this is evident when Ninsun questions “will he not rule the human race with Irnina? / Will he not dwell with Ningishzida in the Land of No Return?” (Gil. 82-83). If Gilgamesh does not defeat Humbaba, than he will not spend his after life with these other Gods that Ninsun has mentioned. Based on Gilgamesh’s absence in the desired places of the afterlife, the other Gods will conclude that Gilgamesh was not worthy enough to be with the Gods. Since Gilgamesh’s worthiness is dependent upon how well Ninsun raised him, if Gilgamesh is not worthy enough to rest and rule with other Gods, it would show that Ninsun was an inadequate God because she could not raise Gilgamesh to Godly standards. Likewise, Ninsun is as concerned with her status as a mother as her status as a God. It is evident that she does not believe that Gilgamesh can defeat Humbaba without special