Nausica The Role Of Women In Homer's Odyssey

Perhaps due to the time most of these books were written, women in classics always had passive roles. From Greek and Roman classics, to the bible, the role of women in such stories has always been secondary, sometimes even downplayed to props. Even if the woman is considered to be one of the story’s main characters, many times their plot revolves solely around men. One could point out a few examples of strong women in the classics, and although those exist, it is evident that in those times, most of the women served as accessories to the male hero’s narrative. Dido, queen of Carthage, from the Aeneid is the best example of such. After losing the Trojan war, Trojan prince Aeneas embarks on a journey to find a new home, in Italy. After a few mishaps, Aeneas and his men end up in Carthage, where Aeneas meets Dido. Dido recounts how her husband was murdered, and she had to flee from her home, and is now building an empire in Carthage. Through Venus’ interference, Dido falls intensely in love with Aeneas, and …show more content…
Nausicaa differs a bit from Tamar and Dido, for her encounter with the male hero does not result in death, but she is used the same way. After leaving Kalypso, Odysseus needs the Phaeacians’ hospitality. In order for that to happen, Athena, attempting to help Odysseus, manipulates the Phaeacian princess, Nausicaa. Unknowingly compelled by Athena, Nausicaa goes to a river to wash her clothes, and sees Odysseus for the first time. She helps him, clothes him, and tells him how to go to the city and approach the queen. Eventually, Nausicaa falls for Odysseus, telling her friend he resembles a god, and that she wished he was his husband. Nevertheless, like most male heroes in the classics, as soon as he had what he wanted (supplies granted by the Phaeacians), he left. Nausicaa is, however, only one example of when Odysseus used and then left women during the