The Odyssey Of Homer, A Homeric Epic Essay - 1550 Words

The Odyssey of Homer, a Homeric epic translated by Richmond Latimore, has an abundance of women, all of whom fulfill various roles within the narrative. In The Odyssey, women are portrayed as obstacles, or, more specifically, temptations that men need to surmount in order to obtain what they truly desire. As a result, women are associated with negativity in the reader’s mind; however, it is this depiction as negative temptations that grants them power within the epic. Women, such as Penelope, Circe, and Kalypso, act as catalysts who drive the Homeric tale forward. Penelope, in The Odyssey, is depicted as a weak woman, one who is unable to take a stand against the suitors who â€Å"will not go back to [their] own estates, nor will [they] go elsewhere until she marries whichever Achaian man she fancies† (II. 127-128 pg. 42). Marrying Penelope entails receiving a dowry from her father and, of course, some of the wealth that Odysseus has amassed over the years. Antinoos, a suitor, declares that â€Å"she has been denying the desires of the Achaians. For she holds out hope to all, and makes promises to each man, sending [them] messages, but her mind has other intentions† (I. 90-92 pg. 41). The material treasures that are attached to Penelope are what the suitors desire, and what makes her desirable; and, so, Penelope is transformed into the obstacle that the suitors need to â€Å"conquer† in order to reach that ultimate goal of accruing wealth. It could be argued that the wealth that isShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Mysterious H omer, Author of The Odyssey and The Iliad663 Words   |  3 PagesThe Mysterious Homer, Author of The Odyssey and The Iliad   A sketchy figure by the name of Homer is given credit for the two great epic poems of ancient Greece. The Odyssey and The Iliad influenced Greek culture, education, and morality. Little is known about Homer and many scholars question whether he existed at all. 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