Female Characters In The Odyssey – Helpers and Hindrances

The Odyssey portrayal of women is heavily patriarchal, as it presents women as subtly less and weaker than men in nearly every case. Even Athena, the proud warrior goddess, who is a champion to mothers and young women, is subject to fits of rage and poor judgment moments. Women were valued for what they were able to offer to the men of the story arc. Even the dead with whom Odysseus converses introduce themselves by speaking of their husbands and children and their sons’ exploits. Women’s value is clearly delineated by their relationships to and value offered to men.

While little is known of the day to day lives of the original readers of the epic, the poem gives some insight into the culture. There is a strict hierarchy of class and gender at all levels. Stepping outside of those lines was heavily frowned upon for either men or women. Anyone who refuses to fall in line with the roles laid out by society and the gods’ risks having fate treat them less than kindly.

Women Fighting Back

As Odysseus travels, he does meet some independent women. Circe, a witch, is clearly a hindrance to his travels and demands he remains with her for a year as her lover before releasing him to continue his journey. Calypso, a nymph, traps him and keeps him enslaved for seven years before finally agreeing to release him when persuaded by Hermes. In both cases, the women are independent of male influence. In their unguided and uncontrolled state, they are portrayed as “witches” and “nymphs,” creatures that possess undeniable power but little in the way of character or self-control. Their desire is entirely selfish. They show no caring for Odysseus or his mission or his crew. Circe wantonly converts his crewmen to pigs, while Calypso keeps him prisoner, preventing him from continuing his journey. 

Circe’s character provides a foil for the noble and clever Odysseus, who does not beat her with brute strength but rather uses her own weakness- her lust- against her. Calypso provides a contrast. While Odysseus longs for his home and expresses a natural feeling for his wife, she callously tries to lure him into remaining with her. Even her offer of immortality is not enough to sway him from his desire to return to his home.

Through the Needle’s Eye