Women in the Odyssey.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Women in the Odyssey.

Homer in his book- the Odyssey classifies women according to the archetypical conventions of his time. Mortal women have to fit into the two categories ordained by society for their sex, which consist of the virtuous and the non-virtuous. The qualities of beauty, fidelity, obedience and servility place the deserving woman into the ranks of the morally upright and the honorable, while vile, deceitful, scheming and infidel woman are best left to bear the wrath of the gods and men alike and burn in the fires of hell. It is a fact well worth mentioning that mortal men do not have to adhere to these moral codes of conduct. The only quality, which separates them in stature, is their valor in battle and their ability to acquire riches from generous guests.

The goddesses in the Odyssey however are recognized to be above the moral conventions set for mortal women and do not have to adhere to them in order to be classified as being virtuous. Goddesses being the daughters of divine beings do not have to prove their incorruptibility over and over again. Their divine births establish them as being pure