Women Of The Odyssey

4 Pages 1094 Words

Women of the Odyssey

When Homer wrote “The Odyssey” he wrote about many women, all of which were similar but had distinct personalities or opposed motives. Each woman used these different traits to help Odysseus get home, whether intentional or not. These women are Eurykleia and Melantho; Circe and Kalypso; and Penelope and Clytemnestra.
Eurykleia and Melantho are both maidservants in Odysseus’ home. They both help Odysseus make the decision to kill the suitors. Although Eurykleia and Melantho do this in very different ways, they each have a very strong impact on the end of the story.
Eurykleia is Odysseus’ old nurse. She has raised him up from childhood. Eurykleia is not rude to Odysseus when he comes to the house dressed as a beggar, instead she bathes him. While bathing him, she recognized the scar on his thigh from the boar. Eurykleia immediately knows who it is yet she keeps quiet. Even though Eurykleia does not like the suitors being in the house, she is not rude or cruel to them.
Melantho is another maidservant in the house. Unlike Eurykleia, Melantho judges the beggar, Odysseus, and taunts him along with the suitors. Melantho has befriended the suitors and became accustomed to them being in the house. Melantho shows Odysseus how cruel the men are and shows Odysseus that there are traitors in the house. This gives Odysseus just one more reason to kill the suitors.
Circe and Kalypso also help Odysseus get home faster. Both Circe and Kalypso are beautiful goddesses and seductresses. They both fall in love with Odysseus and want to keep him there for their own sexual pleasure.
Circe is a goddess that lives in Aiaia and keeps Odysseus at her house for a year. When Odysseus and his men first arrive, Circe intentions are to harm Odysseus and his men. Circe uses drugs to turn Odysseus’ men into pigs, but then falls in love with Odysseus. She bathes, feeds, and clothes Odysseus. Circe te...