The Power Of Women In Homer's The Odyssey

Clara Barton, she founded the American Red Cross which helps more than 100 million people a year. Harriet Tubman, she guided over 300 slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Marie Curie, she was the first woman to win the nobel prize; she also won it another time after. Throughout history, women have defied all odds and began or did something that was amazing. The Odyssey written by Homer has shown view points in his story that contrast greatly to the conventional way of thinking. One of his biggest differences is how he portrays the women in the Odyssey. Scylla shows control when dealing with the warriors and their cocky ways, Penelope demonstrates her astute behavior when dealing with the suitors after Odysseus disappears, and Circe shows her manipulation and enchantress power to control the men; these characteristics are valued in Ancient Greece but for men, not women.
Scylla diverges from the pathetic, needing men to protect her, the thinking that most men and even women have, and shows her power when her enemies come along. During the journey home, Odysseus came across the monster Scylla when they were traveling across the part of the sea she called her own. When they were going across “Scylla made her strike, whisking six of my best men from the ship” (Homer 683). Scylla shows how powerful she is the first time Odysseus and his men came in contact with her. She did not hold anything back, show any mercy, when she killed the six men. Scylla picked them out of the