Calypso and Circe in Homers Odyssey Essays - 881 Words

Calypso and Circe The islands of Circe and Calypso in Homer’s Odyssey are places where Odysseus’ most challenging problems occur. In contrast to battles with men, Cyclops, or animals, sexual battles with women are sometimes much more difficult to win. These two female characters are especially enticing to Odysseus because they are goddesses. Though it is evident that Odysseus longs to return to Penelope in Ithaka, it sometimes appears that he has lost vision of what life was like with a wife, a son, and with thousands of people who regard him as King. Although his experiences on the islands of these goddesses were similar in that he was retained from Ithaka for the longest periods of his adventure, these goddesses and the†¦show more content†¦At first it appears as though the only reason Odysseus sleeps with Circe is to regain his companions, but she easily persuades them to stay. And what’s even worse is the fact that Odysseus isn’t even the first one ready to go . His men are the ones who urge him to leave: What ails you now? It is time to think about our own country. So though at a glance it appears that Odysseus is merely succumbing to Circe’s schemes for reasons related to their health and well-being, if we read between the lines, we soon begin to realize that Odysseus is weak in the voracious hands of lust. Odysseus arrives on Calypso’s island alone, after the loss of his men and ship. Calypso rescues him and loves and cares for him in her cave. At first, it seems like Odysseus doesn’t seem much to mind her taking care of him, but over time it is plainly evident that he is unhappy with her. When Hermes arrives on Calypso’s island to give her the message from Zeus to release Odysseus, he is bawling on the beach a day-long activity for him. Calypso is holding him with her by force; she has no companions to help him back to Ithaka, nor has she a ship to send him in. Athena pleads with Zeus to give Odysseus good fortune, saying that he lies away on an island suffering strong pains in the palace of the nymph Kalypso, and she detains him by constraint, and he cannot make his way to his country, for he has not any ships by him, nor any companions who can convey him backShow MoreRelated Lust in Homers The Odyssey and Aristophanes’ Lysistrata Essay1380 Words   |  6 PagesLust in Homers The Odyssey and Aristophanes’ Lysistrata Lust is defined as an intense longing or a sexual desire. It is a common theme in literature; particularly in classic Greek literature. The reason it is so prevalent in literature is that is prevalent in our daily lives. Everyone lusts after something or someone. It is an interesting topic to examine closely, and classic literature is an excellent medium for such an investigation. Two works I have studied, in which lust is a theme, areRead MoreThe Nature of Women Portrayed by Circe and Calypso in The Odyssey668 Words   |  3 PagesThe Nature of Women Portrayed by Circe and Calypso in The Odyssey In Homers composition, The Odyssey, the roles women play are very significant. The best examples of the true nature of women occur when Odysseus encounters Circe and Calypso. These two characters illustrate the thoughts and feelings of how women how a woman feels and how they think. As the quote states, Circe and Calypso illustrate how women really can be crafty, intelligent, sneaky, disloyal, and cruel. In contrast to battlesRead More The Role of Women in the Odyssey Essay1212 Words   |  5 PagesWomen in The Odyssey Homer wrote the classic epic The Odyssey more than 2,500 years ago. At that time in ancient Greek society, as well as in the whole of the ancient world, the dominant role was played by men. Society was organized, directed, and controlled by men, and it was accepted that women occupied a subservient and inferior position. Women, of course, were valued, but were expected to possess certain traits and perform certain tasks that men demanded of them. Does Homers writing in TheRead MoreSimilarities and Differences in the Aeneid and the Odyssey.1418 Words   |  6 PagesBoth the Odyssey and the Aeneid describe the journeys of the two Greek heroes –Odysseus and Aeneas, as they struggle towards their goal through the crises and deadly situations caused by the wrath of the gods upon them. In the Odyssey, we see that Poseidon (god of the sea/earth shaker) has a grudge against Odysseus while Athena, god of wisdom, aids him throughout his journey. Similarly in the Aeneid, we see that god dess Juno dislikes Aeneas as he is destined to destroy the city of Carthage lovedRead MoreEssay about The Women of Homer’s Odyssey1336 Words   |  6 PagesThe Women of Homer’s Odyssey   Ã‚  Ã‚   Homer’s Odyssey, by, is typically seen as a male dominated poem: the hero is male and the majority of the characters are male.   We follow the men on their attempt to return to Ithaca.   However, even though women are not the main characters, they are omnipresent through much of the story.   Women play a very important role in the movement of the story line: they all want to marry, help or hurt Odysseus.   During the course of his journey, Odysseus meets three differentRead More Important Role of Women in Homers Odyssey Essay examples1721 Words   |  7 Pages   For the Greeks, Homers Odyssey was much more than just an entertaining tale of gods, monsters, and men, it served as cultural paradigm from which every important role and relationship could be defined.   This book, much more so than its counter part The Iliad, gives an eclectic view of the Acheans peacetime civilization.   Through Odyssey, we gain an understanding of what is proper or improper in relationships between father and son, god and mortal, servant and master, guest and host, and--importantly--manRead More Women in Homers The Odyssey Essay627 Words   |  3 PagesHomers The Odyssey Women are important to the plot and overall theme of the Odyssey. In fact, without many of the women there would not be a complex plot to this epic poem. In the narrative and in Greek society women played a variety of roles, as mothers, herons, and many other strong roles yet, they were treated as less significant, and were made to be loyal and submissive to men. The women were required to wait on and sulk for love, as Penelope did for 20 years. In Greek society, the women hadRead MoreThe Aeneid, The Hero Aeneas Essay1731 Words   |  7 Pageschallenges. To overcome these challenges, Aeneas seeks help from the gods as he tries to make his way back home. In Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey†, the hero Odysseus spends ten years trying to return to his homeland, Ithaca. Both heroes face similar challenges that they need to overcome in order to accomplish their goals. The Odyssey has two characters that hinder the hero’s journey; Calypso and Circe. The Aeneid has the charac ter Dido who delays Aeneas’ journey. This essay will compare both stories, showing similaritiesRead MoreAnalysis Of Xenia And The Odyssey 889 Words   |  4 PagesHomer: Hospitality in the Illiad and the Odyssey The concept of Xenia was extremely significant in ancient Greek culture. As such, it played a prominent role in the works of authors, most specifically Homer. In fact, some of the most significant information we have about the concept of Xenia, as it relates to cultural norms come from the work of Homer, and the examples of hospitality demonstrated in the protagonist’s journeys in the Iliad and the Odyssey. More specifically, Xenia is presented byRead More Powerful Women of Homers Odyssey Essay516 Words   |  3 Pages The Powerful Women of Homers Odyssey nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Homers Odyssey depicts women as strong subjects-they are real substantive characters. Women in this poem are tough, strong-willed and are treated with the respect and seriousness they deserve.nbsp; Homer characterizes the women in his poem as the real counterparts of men-they have real feelings, real plans and are able to accomplish them on their own. nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;