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Odyssey Response

Homer should be considered to be an early feminist because he has so many strong female characters. Circe is able to seduce Odysseus to sleep with her. She makes him promises that she keeps, but Circe tempts Odysseus in ways that a sexist writer wouldn’t create if he truly was a sexist. Another example is Queen Arete. Throughout the time Odysseus spends with the Phaeacians, she seems to be very powerful. Arete is the first one to ask who Odysseus is, even though the king usually talks to the guests.

Also, if Homer was a sexist, then wouldn’t he have a god helping Odysseus rather than a goddess? Athena is a huge role in Odysseus’ life. She tells the other gods and goddesses to let him leave Calypso’s island, and she helps him get to the Phaeacian King successfully. In the end of the book, Athena even helps Odysseus kill all of Penelope’s suitors.