Women with voices are, by definition, strong women. Indeed, a woman plays an influential responsibility in life. Women are important people in societies globally. Strong women know they have enough strength for a journey, believing that they will become stronger through this journey. For instance, they take the lead to help families adjust primarily to new challenges and realities in case of political and economic society change. They are vital to the world’s prosperity bearing in mind that they are pioneers in a nation. In this case, women deserve equal rights and opportunities to participate in society, politics, education and economics. Societies have always emphasized the relevance of women’s appearance, thus educating them to measure their self-worth based on their present image. Women have a significant role in society to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Therefore, the essay’s objective is to explore the functions of women in the respective stories and why men cannot effectively replace them.
Penelope was one of the most important women characters in Odyssey. She was Odysseus’ wife, king of Ithaca and a committed mother to Telemachus. Significantly, Penelope was a great leader in her personal and faithfulness strengths, especially when awaiting Odysseus to return home. She carried the kingdom during which she refused to give up her deep-set beliefs, thus representing a home. Individuals expected her to appear weak and helpless without her husband though she proved otherwise. Eumaios described her as waiting for Odyssey “with enduring heart” in the palace” (Homer 16.37). She provided the motivation, especially for Odysseus’s return whereby she eager she waited for her husband’s arrival. Penelope was a willing wife in the bedroom as the author states that they “gladly went together to bed, and their old ritual” (Homer 23.296). It proved that she did not get married again because of disinterest in sexual desires, but her faithfulness remained unshaken. More importantly, she was one of the reasons Odysseus returned to Ithaca and had desired to unite with the son after many years of living apart.
Penelope was important to this story because of her solid trait as a woman, considering that her personalities remain consistent throughout The Odyssey. Her significance was to develop and sustain the best reputation. As a wife, individuals expected women to preserve the reputations of their husbands’ families and maintain their household systems. Penelope symbolizes a woman who is faithful to her husband no matter the situations they undergo. She appeared a loyal and confident woman, whereby Minerva advises him, “unless you have the blood of Ulysses and of Penelope in your veins, I see no likelihood of your succeeding” (Homer 2.19). In this case, she represented an ideal loyal Greek wife in the story, considering she had become a role model for other people to emulate. She emerged as a complex yet virtuous and powerful character despite most people mocking and making scandalous gossip about her. She was a good wife because of standing firm, especially when suitors fought for her hand in marriage.
Penelope had a serious and dynamic character, a devoted mother and a wife. Though she lacks the zest and fascination for life that other women portray. This makes her a complicated woman with a destiny sense, especially one who weaves her plots as deftly as if weaving an argument. She had no power to remove the stubborn suitors from invading her house asking to marry her though she knew their ill intentions (Homer 4.49). However, she has proved that women always have a mother way of dealing with an issue. She revealed her cunning nature, indicating that she was a good wife to the wily husband. Therefore, she symbolized a woman’s clever tactics, proving that she could not easily be deceived or carried away by her emotions to marry someone blindly.
Similarly, Shamhat was also an important woman character in the Epic of Gilgamesh. She was a sacred temple prostitute whose task was to use her attractiveness mainly to attempt Enkidu from his wildness. She was asked to civilize him by making sacred love. In this case, she was taken to a certain water source to expose herself after Enkidu was spotted in that place. Therefore, she was an important character in the story because her sexuality was associated with civilization rather than nature. “This is Shamhat! Uncradle your blossom” (George 1.7 180). She represented a sensuous refinement of culture, primarily the sophisticated lovemaking pleasures, alcohol, food, agriculture, clothing and music. She is also an important character in the story, considering that she manages to entice Enkidu to have sex with her. She changes him from an almost animal to a human being. In this case, she plays her role well by taming Enkidu, the wild man, through sex. She persuades him to turn away from wild animals and follow her to a more civilized world.
Moreover, besides being a harlot, she teaches Enkidu various ways of being civilized, showing her motherly figure. In this story, women only hold a small role, but their duties are pivotal to the story. She is important in the story as her sexuality is utilized as a tool by a man to tame another man. “spread your clothes so he may lie on you do for the man the work of a woman!” (George 1.7.185). This means that women’s work was to take care of men without objection during that period. Therefore, she was vital in the story because she used to prepare Enkidu for the trials he would face ahead. Her motherly character symbolizes Mesopotamia women view as a child and bringers of life. In the same case, Shamhat plays a significant role as a woman. Although she was not a powerful god or the wisest or strongest of all human beings, she still had a key influence over other people around her. She cared for Enkidu by teaching her to eat bread and drink (George 2.95.14). She told him that food was essential to life and there was a lot more in the fields. When men were considered one of the wisest and most powerful gods and humans, she had the power to influence and change their personalities significantly. In this case, she was a sacred harlot, more than just an object primarily to be used by a man for pleasure. Although she was considered as a woman living a life of shame in the story, she portrays a woman’s kindness, wisdom and love.
In addition, Helen was a prime character in the Odyssey. She was married to Menelaus and a daughter to Leda and Zeus. During the period, the Trojan war began after she got abducted by Paris and after her husband went to retrieve her. Nonetheless, Helen is not a simple woman as she was an intelligent individual seeing things how they are and though the shoe is more reserved to wifey roles. Helen had a beautiful, romantic, hopeful, and weary personality in the ancient world whereby she had a kind heart to all (Homer 4.41). Moreover, she was bold enough to tell Paris that he was younger than her despite being in the same age group. Again, Helen was not afraid of dying, but she was always afraid of what tomorrow would bring. The importance of this character is that she was not limited by obeying what King Sparta ordered her to do.
Besides, just like anyone would love someone else, Helen leaves the king despite his powers after falling in love with a handsome young man, Paris. She is a vital character who proves that she was not anyone’s property even though she married when young, as Menelaus furiously thinks after she leaves. In addition, the three women shared similar heroism, particularly which differs mainly by societal expectations for every respective gender. In all three instances, women were presented as sources of wisdom and greater responsibilities. They play many roles, both evil and good roles in nature. The three women are very significant because they are not limited by the circumstances that they face in the stories.
Nonetheless, male characters in this could not have played similar functions like the three women. For instance, Odysseus’s main goal was to take the crew back home after the war. However, he might not have changed his goal though he failed many times and got distracted on the way home for over fifteen years. Penelope hoped that one of the fine days, her husband would return home. In this case, she failed to marry another man and remained cunning for many years. However, this was a role that Odyssey could not manage, especially after he cheated on her with multiple women. During his journey, Odyssey met with two women, Circe and Calypso. Circe was the first woman Odysseus slept with after reversing the spell that had made his crew swine. However, this was not a good justification for cheating his wife with another woman. Again, not only did he cheat with Calypso primarily in addition to Circe, but he comfortably stayed on her island for many years until the gods urged her to release him (Homer 5. 54). All that period, his wife waited faithfully for his comeback, refuting all suitors who came to marry her for the sake of a man who barely thought of a way to get back home.
Again, it is certain that Gilgamesh could not complete his task without the help of a woman, Shamhat. He sent her to seduce Enkidu, which she succeeded after staying with him for six days and seven nights. Besides, through this period, Enkidu proved no longer a wild beast living with animals but was taken to a civilized world and became of Gilgamesh’s best friends. In this case, through this woman, Enkidu lost his raw animal strength and gained an intellect and consciousness of a human being. Neither Gilgamesh nor Enkidu had a male friend before as Enkidu only recognized steppe animals, and Gilgamesh was an oppressive king. However, with the help of a woman, the two have a strong bond. Love motivated Gilgamesh from a bully to an exemplary king. Enkidu changed from a wild beast to a nobleman with the help of a woman. Since the two had lived without male friends, only a woman’s presence could help them overcome their human nature.
Lastly, individuals considered Hellen as one of the most beautiful women worldwide. Similarly, male characters could not have served the same function as her. She was married to Menelaus but was in life with Paris, Trojan prince. More importantly, her amazing sexual figure was irresistible. Male desires of a woman are mysterious, overwhelming and bewildering. The woman’s desire involves being deceptive and destructive. For instance, Hellen lived with her husband for many years, but he never realized he did not love her completely. In this case, this was a plot only a woman could succeed. Lastly, all the three character’s functions signify a role that can only best fit a woman. Women have a prime role in society, and just like men, they should be respected because they have a strong purpose that cannot be replaced with a man’s character.
Works Cited
George, Andrew. “The Epic of Gilgamesh. A New Translation.” (1999).
Homer, Homer. The odyssey. Xist Publishing, 2015.
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