For twenty years now Penelope has maintained the city of Ithaca as well as raised her son Telemachus all by herself. This shows her power and strength because it proves that women can also keep a kingdom such as Ithaca from dwindling. In the story we read about the suitors begging for her hand in marriage when we truly know all they want is to be King of Ithaca. Penelope is a strong willed women; not wanting to believe that her husband is dead and therefor refuses all of the suitors. Even though Penelope has no powers or immortality she still holds true to what she believes and is patiently awaiting for her husbands return.
The character of Penelope is an illustrious representative of loyalty in this epic. Penelope is a faithful wife, who after twenty long years apart from her husband, still refuses to marry one of the awaiting suitors. There even came a time when Penelope told the suitors that she would wed once she finished Odysseus’s father shroud, yet she narrates how , “.. by day I’d weave at my great and growing web-by night, by the night of the torches set besides me, I would unravel all I’d done†(Homer, Book XIX ,p 431 ,167 ). The fact that she devises schemes to keep the suitors distracted shows her intention to remain true to Odysseus. The author uses this scenario this to prove her complete loyalty to her beloved husband.
The fundamental source of conflict, between the characters, in the play is the importance to Antigone of honouring her family versus Creon’s determination to establish his authority as King. To each, the honour received or given is highly valued and greatly defines their personalities. Antigone is very dedicated to and loving of her family, in ‘Oedipus at Colonus’ she proves her love and dedication towards her family by accompanying her father as he blindly wandered, an outcast from his kingdom. Antigone’s love for her family, no matter what their previous crimes were, makes her determined that to honour her family was the right path to take ‘...what greater honour could [she] wish?’. Antigone is so determined to honour her brother, and equally certain that her path was the correct one that she believed that the punishment she would receive would ‘...not be any pain’ and would’ve been had she ‘...left [her] mother’s son lie there unburied.’ Antigone appeared to be unafraid of death, as she believed she lived in ‘...daily torment’ due to the inherited family “curse”.
It so happens that Petruchio is looking for a wealthy bride and does not care about her behavior. Near the end of the play, Kate displays her submissive self through her monologue of how a woman should act around her husband. What’s ironic about the speech is that it isn’t docile at all. As she starts the beginning of her speech with, “Fie, fie! Unknit that threatening unkind brow”, it is amazing that she still holds that same authority, preventing the widow and Bianca from interrupting.
Antigone’s pride came from her respect for her family and honoring the gods and their divine law, while Creon’s pride was an arrogant trait. Tiresias, the blind prophet claims Creon will lose his family for the crimes of leaving Polyneices unburied. Creon later realizes his mistaken pride. For example, “Fate has brought all of my pride to a thought of dust (Creon, Exodus).” This quote reveals that Tiresias’ prophecy or fate had portrayed Creon’s downfall, yet still filled with pride, refused to admit to his wrong doing. After Creon’s family’s deaths, Creon’s pride crumbles as he realizes he was wrong in his actions.
Throughout his entire journey, he never forgets about home and he remains dedicated to his wife. When the beautiful goddess Calypso asks why he wishes to return to his wife, Odysseus gives an honorable response. 'My lady goddess, there is no cause for anger. My quiet Penelope –how well I know – would seem a shade before your majesty, death and old age being unknown to
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.
All these men here would praise me Were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you. Ah the good fortune of kings, Licensed to say and do whatever they please!” (2. 109-117). This is a great example because typical ancient Greek women were controlled by the men and they were very quiet and did not speak unless spoken to. This is also a great example because women were supposed to manage the household and have children.
But without love Granny’s radically human hurt was never healed.”(Unre, 108) At the age of forty, Granny Weatherall suffered of a second life changing jilting when her husband John died. After her husband’s death Granny Weatherall was left to be both mother and father to her five children. Even though she was left alone to raise her children she believed she had done a good job, and good enough for John to one day
Conversely, Paul’s story is actually tragic in nature. Motherly love is supposed to be unconditional and unwavering; Paul however, never seems to be loved by his mother no matter what he does. Both Emily Grierson, the southern lady and Paul the young child suffer from Oedipus complexes. Emily loved her father and refused to give up his dead body for three days after he died. She attempts to replace him with a man that is similar, her lover Homer Baron, who carries a horsewhip like her father.