Kings

The Role of Women in Oedipus the King and Odyssey of Homer Introduction This paper tries to distinguish the significant difference between the role of women portrayed in Oedipus the King and Homer 's Odyssey . The initial supposition that this paper suggests is that the aforementioned works have contrasting regards on the role women . It is to be noted that both works have been noble and famous since the Ancient Greece . The former is about a tragic hero fated to be the murderer of his own father while the latter is constituted of short stories which are described to happen after the ``Trojan War ' Nevertheless , this paper is focus on the characters and parts of women played in the two works . This paper is consists of three parts . The first part is on the presentation of character and parts of women portrayed in Oedipus the King and Odyssey of Homer . The second part is an evaluation or analysis of the information presented in the first part . The last part is the conclusion . First Part : On Jocasta of Oedipus the King and Penelope , Athena , Calypso and Helen of Homer 's Odyssey Jocasta was the queen of Thebes and wife of Laius . She was also the mother of the protagonist Oedipus . When she knew about the prophecy decreed by the Fate , she insisted the death of his own son . However , she did not succeed such attempt . The story ends with the tragic death of her husband and herself , and the exile of her son . In this work , Jocasta was the only distinct woman . She played her part as a queen , as a wife , and as a mother . She seemed to be strong and determined in the early part of the story but becomes vulnerable and weak in the end . On the other hand , Penelope , the goddess Athena , Calypso , and Helen of Troy were the embodiment of courage , power , strength and influence . Penelope was the wife of Odysseus , a Greek and notable hero of the ``Trojan War . When he was stranded , Penelope did not lose hope and remain faithful to his husband . Athena , was a virgin goddess who defined herself without any reference to man . She was indeed more powerful even the god of war himself . Calypso was an enchantress who was able to detain Odysseus with her powerful magic . Lastly , Helen was very famous for her participation in the ``Trojan War ' She was no less than the cause of the war . In Homer 's Odyssey , women played significant and major roles (like that of Athena as a goddess . They were attributed not only with grace and beauty but of power and strength . Second Part : Analysis on the Role of Women in Oedipus the King and Odyssey of Homer