Looking back over the expansive history of humanity, have the roles of men and women evolved? Not really. Women still work and watch over the house and such while the men go out to be breadwinners, but there’s still the underlying sexism that women are the ones who should be doing only the real woman’s work, raising the family, maintaining the house, etc. Men are still free to do as thy wish while no one bats an eye, whereas women are scrutinized for their non-conforming actions. This pushes females to morph, pressed by their situation, into more complex characters. A perfect example would be “The Odyssey” by Greek poet Homer. It’s very much an epic tale of male oriented heroic quests when, however, women play an incredibly large role as well. This epic tale revolves around Ulysses’ …show more content…
This legend told about how the strong womanly character Clymenestra was, very much like Penelope, dogged by suitors in her husband’s absence. However, the only difference being that Clymenestra gives into temptation by choosing one suitor in particular, with whom she plots to kill Agamemnon upon his grand return. The presentation of Clymenestra almost seems to echo Penelope’s situation as Ulysses hears the particular tale. “At first she would have nothing to do with his wicked scheme, for she was of a good natural disposition; moreover there was a bard with her, to whom Agamemnon had given strict orders on setting out for Troy, that he was to keep guard over his wife” (Book 3) but his lack of speedy reappearance to the palace to see his wife led to her treachery. Just like Penelope, Clymenestra went through an intense mourning period. The story creates a strong impression that even those women who seem the most motherly and devoted to their husbands, sons, nephews, and family, are always prone to falling into the seductress model of