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Women's Role In The Odyssey

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While Greek values are traditionally opposed to strong, powerful women, the females in Homer’s epic The Odyssey have great impact on the story and Odysseus's journey. The bold women in Odysseus’s life are very influential and can make or break him. The women play main roles in the story, going against the patriarchal Greek values. While arguably women possess more destructive influences, Athena has guided and assisted Odysseus. Many of the females provide supplies for him, and Penelope was his main incentive to get home. Penelope is a strong female figure who is easily overlooked. Penelope did not give up on Odysseus, and even after twenty years, she continued to have hope. As Eumaeus said, “Why, any tramp washed up on Ithaca’s shores scurries …show more content…

Athena has transformed Odysseus to appear more like a god so that Nausicaa would be more inclined to assist him. “...holds Odysseus captive, luckiest man-- despite his tears, forever trying to spellbind his heart with suave, seductive words and wipe all thought of Ithaca from his mind...Why Zeus are you so dead set against Odysseus?”(Fagles 79 lines 64-76). Athena pleads with Zeus to show mercy for Odysseus and to end his torment on the island with Calypso, that he can finally start heading back to Ithaca. Not only does Athena assist Odysseus, she also helps Telemachus. Athena disguises herself to convince Telemachus to find information on his father and she blessed Nausicaa with the confidence to be unafraid of Odysseus when he emerged from the bushes naked, and not to run like her maids, because of that Odysseus was given great hospitality. “...for Athena planted courage within her heart, dissolved the trembling in her limbs, and she firmly stood her ground and faced Odysseus…”(Fagles 172-173 lines 153-156). Nausicaa then gave Odysseus clothes, food, water, a bath, and a escort to

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