Stereotypes Of Women In Homer's The Odyssey

Book 19 of The Odyssey reveals the standards that each member of the Greek nuclear family was expected to uphold. The Odyssey is an epic poem allegedly made by a man named Homer in Greece during the 7th century BCE. Because of its setting, it reflects the values of Ancient Greece. One aspect emphasized when these roles were implemented was gender. In Book 19 of The Odyssey, there are various scenes that demonstrate the principles that Ancient Greece installed in both women and men. Although all citizens in Ancient Greece had stereotypes applied to them; one group directly oppressed by these stereotypes was women. While men in Greece were regarded as the leaders of their households, women were required to stay loyal to their husbands and remain

This is shown through her usage of xenia, which is a Greek social practice that requires homeowners to treat all their visitors with hospitality regardless of their vistor’s intentions. During the events of book 19, Penelope continues to comply with the rules of xenia and houses her suitors, although they have threatened both her and her son. Not only does she provide these suitors with a place to rest, but she also continues to feed them. Moreover, Penelope not only shows devotion to the practice of xenia but also to her husband. While Odysseus is suspected to have died because of his disappearance after fighting in the Trojan War, Penelope still refuses to marry any of the suitors in her palace. Instead, she deceives the suitors by telling them that she will marry one of them after she finishes weaving a robe. However, she would unravel the robe after completing it to postpone marrying another. This action represents Penelope’s commitment to her husband and dedication to him, despite not knowing his current status regarding whether he is alive. All of these are attributes that men in Ancient Greece found desirable in a

Both characters are said to have accomplished great feats of strength and courage during their teenage years. One example is the backstory of Odysseus’ scar on his foot. While Odysseus is dressed as a vagabond to disguise himself from the rest of the household, Penelope commands one of their servants to wash his feet. Coincidentally, this servant happens to be the wet nurse who took care of Odysseus as a child. She noticed the scar on his foot and recounted the story of how Odysseus killed a boar that had struck him in the foot when he was still a teenager. This story emphasizes not only Odysseus' physical strength, which was needed to kill the boar, but also his pain tolerance, which allowed him to persist through his pain. Furthermore, Telemachus carries on the cultural trait of teenage boys in Ancient Greece, acting as leaders by leaving the palace to find his dad. Prior to book 19, Telemachus left his residence and navigated the sea without permission from Penelope. These actions accentuate Telemachus' level of independence, while dismissing Penelope’s authority. The stereotypes supported in Book 19 of The Odyssey surrounding Greek men actively put Odysseus and his son in dangerous