Feminism and the Power Struggle of Women in Ancient Greece...

Feminism and the power struggle of women in Ancient Greece Women are a very prominent part of the Greek society. Their role has influenced and shaped the Greek society to a very large extent. Women have been shown in many different lights in the Greek works of Odyssey and Iliad which we have covered in our class. The works that I will be citing in this essay, namely Homer’s poems Odyssey and Iliad talk about many prominent women such as Helen of Troy, Penelope and also many other Goddesses. Homer’s poems talk about the various traits of Greek women and portray their characteristics by describing their traits and the events they were involved in. Through this essay, I would like to illustrate how women were treated as objects of desire for†¦show more content†¦179, The Odyssey: The Story of Odysseus). Penelope is informed by the Queen of Ithaca that she has to weave a shroud for her dead husband before she remarries. In order to escape remarrying, Penelope cleverly kept weaving the same shroud that she weaved during the day, at night as well, which made the weaving of the shroud a never-ending activity. Another such incident penned by Homer, is the famous bow-stringing incident. Penelope’s husband Odysseus had a unique way of stringing his bow. When Penelope was swarmed by suitors, she tested each one of them by asking them to string the bow the same way her husband would. She was very confident that no one would be able to do that and believed in her husband’s unique ability. I personally feel that Penelope’s story is a great example of what kind of loyalty and faithfulness a woman should have towards her husband. Human beings are social animals, and we all have weaknesses; but overcoming these weaknesses is what makes our character stronger, and this is the point of Penelope that I admire the most. Unfortunately for Penelope, Odysseus was not as faithful as she was. On his long journey back home, Odysseus comes in contact with the witch Calypso and the sea nymph Circe. Although Calypso and Circe are shown to be villainous, there is no excuse for Odysseus’s infidelity with them. Calypso and Circe have special powers due to which Odysseus comes underShow MoreRelatedFeminism in Lysistrata1781 Words   |  8 PagesInstructor Date of submission Feminism in Ancient Greek Culture from the Perspective of Lysistrata Lysistrata is portrayed as a hero by Aristophanes and just as Antigone had played a social role in politics, so is Lysistrata portrayed. Most ancient Greek writers were people who had established themselves in the society. They were people of class, and when they wrote about women, they mostly wrote about women from their own social class. Women were shown to participate only in the domesticRead MoreThe Fight For Equal Rights Essay1753 Words   |  8 Pagesfight for equal rights has always been an ongoing struggle for women. The first movement made by women, war for equal right to vote, also referred to as First-Wave Feminism, happened in the 19th century till early 20th century. Is it possible that there have been earlier accounts that could have supported women’s rights before the 19th century? Greek mythology has many views towards women and it can be interpreted that it was a stepping stone to feminism and the relevance to what is today, a modern womanRead MoreFemin ism in Antigone Essay728 Words   |  3 PagesFeminism in Antigone Although ancient Greece was a male-dominant society, Sophocles’ Antigone portrays women as being strong and capable of making wise decisions. Antigone, the tragic heroine, rejects the traditional role of women. As such, Sophocles punishes Ismene for embodying traditional attitude. Moreover, Creon is punished for misogyny. Sophocles, accordingly, uses characterization to promote feminist ideas. Sophocles introduces a female character in Antigone who is a strong believer andRead MoreAntigone and Girl Power1064 Words   |  5 Pages Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of social, political, and economic equality to men. Feminism plays a major role in hundreds of cultures, as it raises consideration to civil freedoms of women across the globe. Feminists generally seek to bring about change by fighting for what they believe in, and are often considered to have personal strength and integrity. In the play Antigone written by the Greek playwright Sophocles, the main character Antigone is a symbolRead MoreThe Conflict Between Women And Women1264 Words   |  6 Pages In ancient Greece, it is clear that certain stereotypes or societal norms were in place about the way that men and women should act. These issues can still be seen in present day society and still hold a problem. Women in ancient Greek culture were believed to be less-superior to men. Essentially, they were thought to be compliant to men’s actions towards them or possess the convention to â€Å"look pretty† for the men of society. This though wasn’t always the case and women could be seen deviatingRead MoreWomen Within The Grecian Culture1316 Words   |  6 PagesAncient Greece as a place and period time in our extensive history was a place of patriarchal power, controlled almost entirely by the masculine sphere and association with the Gods. It was a time in history that produced some of the most famous thinkers however they were all men. Women within the Grecian culture where very much the passive sex, confined to housework and almost never educated. It is i nteresting therefore that the characters that have emerged at the exposure of the phallic philosophicalRead MoreWomen s Oppression Of Women1657 Words   |  7 PagesThe oppression of women is best described as a steel cage, crafted over the centuries by the hands of patriarchal powers, enslaving flightless and chirp less birds. Birds may be benevolent and gentle, yet they embody a power most ferocious amongst all creatures. Though, it is of no fascination as to why women, in being similar to birds, transform from powerful peoples to frail figures. The molestation of power from these birds is done by the hindering cage encompassing them. The thick bars of oppressionRead More Feminism in Medea by Euripides Essay1000 Words   |  4 PagesFeminism in Medea by Euripides The play Medea by Euripides challenges the dominant views of femininity in the patriarchal society of the Greeks. While pursuing her ambition Medea disregards many of the feminine stereotypes/ characteristics of the patriarchal Greek society. She questions the inequality of women in a patriarchal society, contradicts Jason?s chauvinist beliefs, challenges the stereotype that women are weak and passive and completely disregards the feminine role of motherhoodRead MoreAnalysis Of Sophocles Play Antigone 1308 Words   |  6 Pages Throughout history, many cultures from around the world have set standards for women to follow. In ancient Greece, women had just about the same rights and freedom as slaves. A women would always live under the control of her father, husband, or any other male relative at the time. Women did not leave the household but instead they took care of it. Only wealthy women and that s not even half the amount of the ladies that didn’t have to work and just supervised slaves. The treatment of malesRead MoreWomen Role in Christianity and Islam996 Words   |  4 Pagesbeginning of the early Christian church, starting with Jesus, women were important members of the movement. The examples of the manner of Jesus reveal his attitudes toward women and show repeatedly how he liberated and affirmed women. Both complementarians and egalitarians see Jesus as treating women with compassion, grace and dignity.[2] The gospels of the New Testament, especially Luke, often mention Jesus speaking t o or helping women publicly and openly, contrary to the social norms of the time