Women In The Odyssey

The Women of The Odyssey posses more than skin deep beauty. They show both good and bad qualities. Homer’s The Odyssey is about the trials and tribulations of Odysseus, a warrior of the Trojan War, on his quest to return home. He, and his crew, endure many hardships on their way back to the isle of Ithaca. While the woman in The Odyssey are portrayed as malevolent and deceptive, they also posses loyalty and helpfulness. The women of the Odyssey exhibit a malevolent nature and prevent Odysseus from getting back to Ithaca. A scouting party sent by Odysseus meets a cruel fate at the hands of The Enchantress Circe, “Scarce had they drunk when she flew after them with her long stick and shut them in the pigsty” (570-571). Circe has shown her wicked side, she shows she has no remorse for the men she curses. Her epithet is particularly deceptive as it does not necessarily show a reprobate nature, but after they are lured into a false sense of security they are shown the depths of her iniquitous ways. Additionally, Odysseus sees the malevolence of women when he and his crew have to traverse the seaway holding the malicious and monstrous Scylla and Charybdis, and when he is kept on the island of the sweet nymph Calypso for seven years. However, the women of The Odyssey have latent traits of loyalty

When Odysseus sails from Calypso’s island, Athena helps him find ground and lulls him to sleep. “ While over him Athena showered sleep that his distress should end, and soon, soon. In quiet sleep she sealed his eyes” (123-125). Athena gives him something eluding him for days. Grey-eyed Athena is not the only helpful woman in The Odyssey. The Nymph Calypso releases Odysseus from her wanton hands at Zeus’ behest, but she goes one step further and helps him from the island something she does not have to do. The Enchantress Circe tells him what he must do to get further in his