Greek Culture And Culture Of The Odyssey - 1848 Words

Greek Life and Culture in The Odyssey Greek culture and life was very different during the time of The Odyssey compared today’s world. The Odyssey is believed to have been written around the Bronze Age, which was approximately 700 B.C.E. There are many aspects about Greek life and culture that can be observed throughout The Odyssey. Greek life and culture can consist of gender roles, religion, and social expectancies. There are some characteristics that can be seen to be common during this time frame. Some of the major values and characteristics that are portrayed in Homer’s epic poem are courage, strength, and cunningness. It is evident that in ancient Greek culture there were certain gender roles expectancies. Men were the providers†¦show more content†¦It is clear that men dominated in the Greek culture. â€Å"Women were expected to be faithful to their husbands, but the reverse was not the case as husbands could freely engage the services of prostitutes, live-in lovers, and courtesans† (Cartwright n.pag.). This issue can be perceived in The Odyssey. For example, Odysseus expected Penelope’s fidelity but his unfaithfulness to her is not an issue. Although he was gone for a long time and his real intention was to return to Penelope, his unfaithfulness cannot be ignored. During this time frame it was acceptable for the man to be unfaithful, but a woman could not do the same. Lynn Peppas states that for women in Greece, â€Å"It was her job to raise children, spin wool and flax, and weave it into bedding and clothes. She had to manage servants or slaves and care for them when the y were ill† (Daily Life in Greece,† n.pag). It is also made seen that women were expected not to intervene on anything regarding their life. The male had all the decisions in regards to the woman. Women had little say to anything. An instance where this is portrayed is when Telemachus states to Penelope, â€Å"You should go back upstairs and take care of your work, / Spinning and weaving, and have the maids to theirs. / Speaking is for men, for all men, but for me / Especially, since I am the master of this house† (376-379). In this statement Telemachus is being clear that a woman cannot make any decisions and only a male can. Religion isShow MoreRelatedExamples Of Archetypes In The Odyssey1291 Words   |  6 PagesArchetypes in The Odyssey All humans have ideals and patterns in common. Humans from a thousand years ago and humans in modern times have archetypes. Archetypes are characters, actions, or situations that are repeated in all human life. 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