He made adultery a crime, although men were only found guilty if the woman they were involved with was married” (“Women in Ancient Greece and Rome”). In the poem, Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, respects this standard. She remains loyal to him although she is unaware if he is dead or alive and he does not do the same. She cries every night for her husband, whom she
During classical Athens women could not leave there homes unless there was a religious festival, birth of a child, or funeral but have to have their heads covered. In Athens, women like slaves and resident aliens, had few rights under the law. “The courage of a man is seen in commanding, of a women is obeying” (Document Q). This was said by the student of Plato and the teacher of Alexander the Great, Aristotle one of the greatest philosophers. This idea, of women having to be subordinate to men, passed down from teacher to student is what caused it to spread worldwide (Document Q).
Although women occupied an entirely different position in society compared to men, they too held a certain sphere of influence and power; they simply exerted it in ways that were distinct from men’s strategies. By examining the character of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, one can see just how women exerted their power and influence in The Odyssey and to what ends. Penelope uses clever cunning and sexual charm to toy with men’s emotions and to meet her own needs while she is waiting for her husband to return from battle. The types of strategies and her relative success in using them will be examined in this essay. Athena is the daughter of Zeus who helped Odysseus throughout his quests.
Be it between general Men and Women, Husband and Wife or Kings and Gods. Firstly, discussing the power structure between king and god, in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Tyrannus” the king Oedipus says, “I would be no true man if did not perform all that the god reveals.” But earlier, he also tells his citizens “Your pain comes on each of you for himself alone, and for no other, but my soul is in pain at once for the city, for myself, and for you.” Here, the author is trying to proclaim that Oedipus is an exceptional king by showing us the two qualities of a great ruler, which are, obeying gods and taking care of his citizens. Moreover, in Euripides’ Bacchae, a play that showcases God
Of course, the tale is well known as an anachronism; however, the main protagonists emulate the ancient Romans in mythological and pagan practiceof reverence. Amongst the temples of Diana and Venus; Mars takes lead in interest. Chaucer depicts Mars as a figure who induces, or promotes, the conflicting and chaotic elements of destruction and warfare.However, his depiction of war falls into two categories. Chaucer illustrates the good and the bad elements of war in his description of the artisticwalls in the temple of Mars. Temples are known to represent otherworldly figures presiding over man and his actions.
For well-off southern white women who stayed at home during the war, there was a lot of responsibility to take on. They had to keep the rich businesses of their husbands who went off to the war. According to Maddie Dwyer, “With their husbands being the wealthiest of society (planters or business owners), they had a lot of responsibility to take over once they were Gone.” (Dwyer 2). This quote explains that they had to play the role of the mother and father proving that women are obviously capable of doing what
Artemis may not be one of the most widely known goddesses but her role in how we view powerful women today. Artemis is not inherently Greek, as research indicates a female hunting figure dating back to the Paleolithic Period (Powell 224). She is greatly revered and sought after by many men within her myths (such as Orion, the river god Alpheus, and many unnamed men and gods) but none could win her heart. This shows us that Artemis was truly independent and did not need to follow the normalcy of having a companion/husband, much like Athena. Unlike Athena, however, Artemis is still viewed as having her femininity.
She tells Odysseus, “Of course I will stand by you; I will not forget you when we are about this business.” This profound dedication severely contrasts Odysseus’s countless betrayals. In fact, Athena is so loyal she even aids Odysseus’s son, Telemachus. In the beginning of the poem she supplies him with a ship and crew so he can search for news of his legendary father. With Homer’s depiction of traitorous men and trustworthy women, it is clear that the realistic women of The Odyssey were unlike the common, sexist beliefs of the typical Greek men. Even though The Odyssey’s main focus is on Odysseus, women play a large part in this epic poem.
In one hand Mede is a part good as she was a women who wanted to have a happy life, have a family, sons, and leace peacefully, but Jason ten abandoned her and he can be seen as the “bad guy” of the novel. Medea in some point can make the author even feel sorry for her as she just wanted to be happy and when Jason left her she became crazy and did what she did. Medea feels she does not deserve this after all she had done for Jason “I saved your life- every greek who sailed with you on board that ship the Argo can confir it”(Euripides L.560). Furthermore she is even expelled from Corinth alone and she fears for her children. In the other hand Medea’s evil part takes control in almost all the play since Jason left her and betrayed her, she became totaly crazy and irrational in the search of revenge.
The Epic of Gilgamesh, as the title suggests, revolves around Gilgamesh; the ruler of Uruk, the shepherd of its people and a force that is revered as much as it is feared. Despite being the king, Gilgamesh has the uncanny habit of raping Uruk’s woman. Even more unfortunate for the gentle citizens of Uruk, no man, beast or god could seem to stand up against the epic strength that is Gilgamesh. Finally after extensive pleas the divine beings, which are evidently present in the epic; decide to aid the citizens, and to do so they create a counter force, a being equal in might but supreme in his principles. Enkidu the savour of Uruk, the man of beasts, an entity so distant from Gilgamesh and yet so parallel to him.