The Evolving Role of Women

While I agree with Aric that women in The Odyssey are valued for their cunning and good looks, the women in the Odyssey are portrayed similarly to women in other historical epics. As we contrasted the hero’s journey in Gilgamesh, The Ramayana and The Odyssey, it became apparent that women were very involved in the hero’s path. The role of women seems to have evolved since the Epic of Gilgamesh was written in 2000 B.C. In Gilgamesh, women were only seductresses (like Siduri and Enkidu’s prostitute) and subservient (like Utnapishtid’s wife). Women are responsible for the downfall of great men. As we move to India in the 5^th century B.C. when the first Sanskrit version of The Ramayana was written, women are still obstacles for men. Queen Kaikeyi is an example of a seductress, while her conniving handmaid Kooni is responsible for sending Rama into exile. However, in The Ramayana men begin to view women as an object of desire, such as Sita,the embodiment of piety and purity, who Rama goes to great lengths to save. In the Odyssey (the first version possibly told in 8^th century B.C.), women can play many versatile roles. Calypso plays the stereotypical seductress providing obstacles for our hero. For seven years, Odysseus was trapped on “Ogygia, lying far at sea, where…Calypso has her home, the seductive nymph with lovely braids-a danger too” (7.282-7.284). In the Odyssey, similarly to The Ramayana, the goal of our hero is to reach his wife. Odysseus tells Calypso that he longs to go to Penelope, “I pine all my days, to travel home and see the dawn of my return” (5.242-5.243). In the Odyssey, women begin to play the role of wise, beautiful and virtuous, whereas in the other epics, the only intelligent women were either hideous or conniving. Nausicaa is brave, beautiful and smart. Odysseus talks about Nausicaa, “she moved among [her maids] like a deathless goddess! I begged her for help and not once did her sense of tact desert her” (7.333-7.335). The role of women has evolved through our readings throughout the year. In Gilgamesh, women were seducing obstacles. In the Ramayana, women were mostly temptresses and conniving. The Ramayana’s positive females are all beautiful yet simple. In the Odyssey, women can be seducing obstacles but can also be pure, beautiful and intelligent.