Villains in The Odyssey are villainous because they disrupt the Greek patriarchy by holding power over men. Most of the evil acts portrayed are women exercising control, such as Kirké’s spells, or Helen’s tantalizing beauty. This is a story of fiction and adventure, as much as it is a reflection of ancient Greek values. While being one of the greatest epics from history, Homer’s Odyssey is a product of society.
The most prominent female character could be Helen of Troy, whose beauty brought about the destruction of an empire. Her appearance allows her to “gaze at her husband and demand” (Homer, 4.148), showing what she holds over him. Helen is depicted as deceitful and powerful. She uses her appearance to get anything she wants, whether it be the love of a man, or escape from another. She is not submissive, which was scary to the ancient Greeks because their government, economics, and culture relied on the idea that women had their place.
This concept of villainy is further portrayed in Kirkê, a witch who exposes Odysseus and his men as pigs. The men arrive at her hall, and are immediately captivated by her “beguiling voice” (Homer, 10.244), her beauty is her “drug of evil” (Homer,…show more content… For example, every villain discussed has a male counterpart, who is glorified for the same actions. Odysseus uses force to seduce the women he encounters on his journey, just as Helen uses her beauty. Agamémnon uses his influence to turn kind men into murderers, such as Odysseus, just as Kirkê turned the crew into pigs. Finally, every hero from the Trojan War spoke highly of the days when they killed hundreds of innocents, while the Seirênês killed the men who failed to resist them. Vilifying these female characters furthers the story by allowing Odysseus to be a strong, relatable hero to powerful men. This enhances the idea of Odysseus venturing through a twisted world, in order for him to come back to his true version of
