"Is Homer a Woman-Hater!?"

Tuesday in class Dr. Schuler very briefly and I think rather jokingly asked “Does Homer just hate women!?”  Well, does he?  There are certainly some questionable women throughout The Odyssey, and the Iliad as well.  However, I don’t think that Homer created those female characters to prove that all women are terrible, but to show the craftiness of some women.  I also do not think that Homer despised women in any way, because there are some women in his novels who are highly virtuous and great role models.

Obviously, the first woman everyone thinks of when hearing about great women in The Odyssey is Penelope.  She is not only faithful to her husband, but also a great mother, and a very smart and cunning person.  She is probably just as cunning as Odysseus, which makes them a great match for each other.  For example, she tells the suitors that Odysseus told her to choose a man who showered her with gifts, in order to gain some of her wealth and property back from the suitors (even though Odysseus never said that). 

Eurycleia, Odysseus’s wet nurse, is also a very noble woman.  Even thought she is a lower class servant, her character in the story is highly respected and in a way loved by Odysseus.  Before she ever knew that Odysseus was the child she raised returned from battle, she bathed him.  Even thought he was probably smelly, dressed in disgusting clothes, and haggard looking, she bathed him, and then realized that it is her long lost master, finally come home.  After she discovers who Odysseus is, she is so excited, but does not tell a soul, just as her master commands.  She even identifies which of the other servant girls were unfaithful, and tries to convince Penelope of Odysseus’ true identity when the right time finally comes.  Eurycleia was also the one to give Telemachus supplies before he left to go search for news of his father.

Another very important woman throughout The Iliad and The Odyssey is the goddess Athena.  If the Greeks thought so badly about women, they would not worship goddesses, who are obviously women.  Homer, especially in The Odyssey, talks a lot about Athena, and portrays her as a very wise and powerful goddess.  I mean, she is “the patron goddess of human ingenuity,” meaning that she is very knowledgeable and cunning.  She helps Odysseus many times in the Odyssey, and possibly is the main reason why he returns safely home.  She also helps out Telemachus, giving him advice in the very beginning of the epic poem, and then later when she tells him to return home and how to do so.  I believe Homer makes her seems very likeable.

These three women especially show that while possibly, as a whole, women were looked down upon, there were still some who were very important and highly respected.  If Homer hated women, he would not have included females in his story that are so great.   

P.S. I commented on Amanda's blog, "Let's Have Tea"

Love, Susan