Assess the role that women play in The Odyssey

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Women play an important role in The Odyssey; they are seductive, cunning and have influential roles in the development of the plot. Penelope is one such woman. She is in a vulnerable position throughout the whole poem, she doesn’t know if her husband will ever return and she must endure her household being destroyed at the hands of the Suitors. In this essay I have chosen to examine Penelope and the role she plays in the development of the poem’s plot.

The role Penelope plays in the plot can be seen as one that the reader must sympathise with. She is in a highly vulnerable state and has often ‘wept for Odysseus, her beloved husband.’ (1: 361) As a character, she appears to be one of fragility and sorrow which can be seen through her constant crying. The repetition of the passage ‘wept for Odysseus, her beloved husband, till bright-eyed Athene closed her eyes in sweet sleep,’ emphasizes how she is always crying for Odysseus and shows her vulnerability as Athena has to put her to sleep, therefore she is almost like a helpless baby being nursed to sleep.

Penelope also plays the role of a caring and good mother. While Telemachus has not yet came of age at the start of the poem, it can be seen that he is a well mannered and well spoken young man, shown when he meets the disguised Athena in Book 1. This proves she is a good mother as she has raised this boy, with no father figure around and with all the troubles that have fallen on them. She also cares dearly for Telemachus and is heartbroken when she finds out that he has left to find out more information about his father, then when he returns home in Book VII, she is overcome with tears of joy and possibly relief that he has returned safely.  Despite this, she does not stop Telemachus go on his journey which is key to his development as a character, and ensures that he will come of age and has matured in time for his father’s return and the dealing of the Suitors.

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She may be a caring mother, but Penelope, much like most women in the time period of the poem are very much second to men. Men’s dominance over the woman can be seen in two examples, the first when Telemachus orders his mother to return to her room when she asks the bard to sing a different song as the other is too sad. (Book II) He also does it again in Book VII when he returns from his travels. By obeying Telemachus’ orders, she is allowing him to try and regain control of the situation and shows that he ...

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