work is “The Odyssey”. Homer was believed to be the first and most fascinating epic poet of his time by the ancient Greeks. Many scholars believe “The Odyssey” was composed near the end of the 8th century and is a sequel to “The Illiad”. Although “The Odyssey” was composed near the end of the 8th century, many scholars believe that it was orally passed since around 1200 B.C. During the time in which “The Odyssey” was written major economic and social changes were underway. “The Odyssey” illuminates
battles. Odyssey is both a spiritual and physical hero in a sense. He overcame so many extreme dangers and always came out alive. All through Odyssey’s voyage, the thing that got him through it all, I believe, is the thought of returning home to his wife and home. Sometimes when life hits us hard, it’s the people around us and who love us who help us get through these trials. Not only were Odyssey’s trials tough ones but he also defies immortality twice on his journey. Just like Beowulf, Odyssey fought
struggle to find a place in society. Next I will discuss how Penelope uses clever charm to mess with men’s emotions while she is waiting for her husband to come home from battle. Finally, I will talk about how Phaedra uses her cunning charm just to get revenge on the nurse and Hippolytus and how Euripides clearly wanted to portray Phaedra as a cunning
Debate Despite their heroic efforts and urge to not give into societal norms established by the patriarchal society in which they live, women’s actions are mostly left unnoticed by the men who rule the places in which they live. In examining The Odyssey, Hecuba, and Genesis one can begin to see how women (despite their heroic actions) were often looked past because of their gender. While women in these texts may possess heroic qualities and perform brave deeds, the title of hero is almost never
to details, can be read a proto-feminist. Taking the example of Homer’s Odyssey and Euripides’ Medea, I will attempt to demonstrate how these texts engage in debate over the distinction and hierarchy of genders. I will first observe how women are shown as morally superior, before describing their role as intellectual and cunning figures. Finally, I will analyse how men in both texts compare when it comes to these qualities.
In this essay I will first discuss the comparison between Medea and the ancient expectations of women and then the expectations of Penelope, wife of Odysseus, to contrast the story of Medea. Throughout Greek dramas there is always an underlying message of opposing values. This allows the audience to learn about the nature of humans, and life. The play Medea, by Euripides, is no exception to this in Greek dramas. The play manifests the conflict between the conflicting values betrayal and loyalty through
A warrior king on his journey home; the wrath of the gods, love, lust and revenge, this is the story of Odysseus. After a great victory at Troy, Odysseus and his crew are looking forward to a triumphant return home to Ithaca. Their journey becomes a twenty year odyssey, complicated and extended by the caprice of the gods, the strength and weakness of men, and divine intervention. In Homer’s The Odyssey, three characters who greatly impacted Odysseus’s journey are Circe, his crew, and Athena. First
works have been highly revered for centuries, especially that of Homer’s. One example of Homer’s works is the “Odyssey”, which has been a renowned epic for numerous years. The Odyssey discusses the adventures of a hero, Odysseus, who returns home after twenty arduous years. Throughout his journey, Odysseus helps us learn Greek culture and mythology, through the various Gods and Goddesses who appear. Most importantly, the Odyssey embodies important Greek values, such as honor, hospitality, respect, bravery
In my previous essay, I explained positive deception and how the female characters in The Odyssey sought to deceive to save themselves or their loved ones. Reading the Euripides’s tragedies Medea and Hippolytus I have found that deception in the female characters come from revenge and to protect their own reputation. Medea deceived so that Jason could feel the same pain that she has endured. Since Hippolytus did not worship Aphrodite she resulted to act in treachery. The women in both of Euripides
letter’s existence to be known to anyone...Do you understand?’ ‘I am a man of word, Your Majesty’”. This naivete and innocence lead to a rough patch in Edmond’s life, where he struggled with survival in prison, dealing with betrayal, and wanting revenge. Here, Edmond can be seen spiraling down the path of the anti-hero’s journey and it is clear he is revengeful, grudgeful, and hateful. This is exemplified when he says “‘If you ever loved me, don’t rob me of my hate. It’s all I have.’” However, his