This is a response to Aric’s “A Timeless Double Standard.
I feel that Odysseus does indeed have overall good intentions in the immoral demeanor of cheating on his wife with Calypso. Although in most cases, there are very little exceptions for this, I feel for Odysseus, a few other factors come into play in his defense. One of which is the fact that Odysseus was under Calypso’s control – it’s the land of Calypso, so Odysseus was the one in her turf. She was the one tending to not only Odysseus, but his crew of men as well. Also, do not forget that Calypso isn’t in fact a mortal like Odysseus and Penelope. So, perhaps Odysseus might feel that having cheated on Penelope with a nymph, doesn’t necessarily count. Also, Odysseus does not have a way of knowing that Penelope is staying faithful this whole time, considering there is no possible way to keep in touch, and to stay up-to-date with everything that is going on in his homeland.
I agree 100% with what you are saying:
” Ultimately, this only reiterates what we have seen; the relationship between man and woman has hierarchy, not reciprocity. While it is clear that Odysseus cares deeply for Penelope, the reader is allowed to take pity on him despite his actions, while Penelope, who still is innocent, is made to look like a seductress. That type of inconsistent judgment, though, is present in our society too.”
There is an ever-present abundance of men having hierarchy over women in today’s society. Just think of Human trafficking. Trafficking is taking over millions of women’s and children’s worlds. It’s all they know and it’s all the majority of them are going to know. Unbelievably sad, but more than true, and beyond real. Women’s being looked at as property has been socially “suitable” and talked about since 800 BC (supposed date of when the Odyssey was written) all the way to 2010 AD.
Part of the “reason” for the double standard historically is that paternity could not be proved: if a woman slept with another man she could bear a child that was not her husband’s child and that child would be his heir. Thus a woman’s infidelity would have consequences in the economic order and threaten male paternity. But Aric is right that Penelope’s virtue is assumed as much as it is admired; while Odysseus’ infidelity is forgiven and excused because of his wanderings. It is classically gendered: she stays home contained within her virtuous home while he wanders promiscuously! But one can at least say that he longs to get back to her.
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