Gender

The ancient Greece society in the Odyssey men dominated was the main factor in society. The women occupied a subservient position. Unlike the medieval Christian era in Dante inferno where adultery and fornication is the most exclusively in Christian text .The women were portrayed as destructive and yet powerful. The sort of masculine society in both the Odyssey and Dante’s Inferno the main themes here men were interested in war, empowerment and warrior. The women were not allowed to participate in actives other than domestic affairs. The epic of both these poems are the direct result of the society and environment during that era. Looking at both these era the women in the Odyssey was submissive they were seen as the beautiful and nurturing. In contrasts the women in Dante’s Inferno although beautiful were seen as sexual beings which was a sin. Hence they were placed in hell because of their sexual behavior, sexual wrongdoings by women during those periods given the culture where the Christianity was the law gives great prominence to women. The women in Odyssey contribute greatly to the development of the story: Arete, the wise queen Odyssey’s mother die of a broken heart, Circe and Calypso the goddess show confidence and intelligence when it was necessary though there helping Ulysses on his journey. The very wise and long suffering Penelope was devoted, faithful and loving wife and mother. In Penelope it shows what was expected of Greek wives during that era. This was a time of war husband were gone for years wives were expected take care of family and be devoted and faithful Penelope was the perfect of a Greek wife. These women were very intelligent, sophistication, independence and wise. Their virtues and courage granted limited were impressive in the competitive and war of the male dominated world. Family loyalty and devotion are some of the moral lessons that make this epic a human genre. The women in Dante’s Inferno had freedom there was however no devotion or loyalty to family. Francesca fell in love with her old and deformed husband's younger brother when her husband found out about the adultery he had him killed. Helen the unfaithful wife left her family and Cleopatra had illicit affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. For their sins of lust Dante equate them with Adam and Eve and the apple from the bible. They have committed the ultimate the original sin sexuality. They were placed second circle of Hell: the Realm of the Lustful “Watch them," he said. "When they pass by again, call to them in the name of love that brought them here, and they will not ignore you (CantoV: 70-142) We also have Thaïs the flatterer she was place in the eight circle with filth and decay “scratching herself with dungy nails, the strumpet who fidgets to her feet, then to a crouch” ( canto xviii. 129-130). She did not lust had no love, she was a con artist. For Dante women although powerful were evil. At the very beginning of the poem Dante encountered a she wolf. The way he describes the wolf in this case is clearly a depiction of women I think at their worse. “She tracks down all, kills all and knows no glut, but, feeding she grows hungrier than she was. She mates with any beast “(CantoV: 70-142) I here he was describing women’s lust and their devious act. This foreshadows the sexual sins the women in the circle of lust posses while they walk the earth and the different women he saw in the circle of lust. Although most of the women were portrayed as evil there was Beatrice his long lost love she posses wisdom and loyalty her guidance help get him out of the inferno/hell. “It is I Beatrice, who send you to him I come from the blessed height for which I yearn. Love called me here.”(Canto 2 70-73) Women in the Odyssey came from different background there portrayal in my mind correspond with the era these women has a certain appeal. They were loyal and care for family. At the same time they had wisdom and intelligence. Throughout both poem the women although distractive at times were protrude in accordance to the era. In Dante’s Inferno infidelity even today from a Christian and moralist point of view is wrong. Feminine was respected by both poets, it is clear from Dante’s treatment of Beatrice the love he had for her. Also although some of the women committed murders where they were place in second circle of Hell: the Realm of the Lustful for their punishment shows their respect. The men in both poems were place in authority over women. Ulysses and Dante were place in position where they needed the help of women for their survival Penelope and Beatrice were both very strong will loyal women. Reference Alightier, Dante: Inferno: Retrieved from 10/27/12 http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/index2.html Butler, S. (1994). The odyssey. (Homer, 800 BCE). Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/index.html