Invisible Women Research Paper

The Power of Invisible Women
In almost all myths, women are overshadowed by men because they are portrayed to be weak, passive and powerless individuals. Women are also regarded as tools and possessions that are enslaved to men. Conversely, men are characterized as strong, decisive, and courageous. Furthermore, they are presumed to be the ones to save the world. Even though women play a secondary role in myths, they are the ones who empower men to rise on the occasion and become a heroic figure. Despite being relegated to an inferior role in many myths, women are crucial in the lives of men in Orpheus and Eurydice, Theseus and the Minotaur, and The Life of the Buddha because they are the ones who support and inspire them. Without women, men
To be supportive, not only women are in agreement with men’s desire, but also they are committed to providing physical assistance or emotional reassurance to men. In Theseus and the Minotaur, Theseus (the son of Poseidon) is the chosen one to kill the Minotaur. To assist Theseus, Ariadne gives him “a sword […], a wound ball of woollen twine, [and] the torch” (O’Rahilly 3). This demonstrates Ariadne’s physical assistance to Theseus, which exemplifies a type of support. With the support of Ariadne in acquiring the necessary tools, Theseus defeats the monster, Minotaur. Ultimately, Theseus completes his mission, and the people in the community are no longer living in fear. Likewise, in The Life of the Buddha, Siddhartha starves himself on the brink of death while sitting beneath the Bodhi tree, trying to gain enlightenment. Fortunately, Sujata, a young woman, arrives with “a rich meal of rice and milk, served on a golden dish.” This meal is crucial to Siddhartha because it is “the last food he would touch for seven weeks” (The Life of the Buddha 31). This emphasizes a support as Sujata provides both physical assistance and emotional reassurance to Siddhartha. In light of her support, Siddhartha is able to resist the temptations from god Mara and gain his enlightenment as well as wisdom. Ultimately, Siddhartha is able
To inspire is to instil the importance of confidence in others’ lives. In Theseus and the Minotaur, Theseus grows up without his father and does not know his identity. His mother, who is a princess, inspires Theseus by telling him that “only on the day that [he] can lift [the] rock, [she] will tell [him] who [his] father is” (O’Rahilly 1). As a result, Theseus is able to gain confidence in knowing that he has a purpose in life. It is only when his mother instils in him the power of confidence; Theseus is able to gain the stamina to begin his perilous journey and kills the Minotaur. Similarly, in Orpheus and Eurydice, Orpheus is content to stay in his palace and play music with his lyre. When Eurydice dies, her death inspires him to enter the underworld in the hope to save his wife. In fact, he ignores his dad’s warning: “Those who go to the Underworld can never return” and he “sets out [with] his lyre slung on his shoulder, his mind full only of Eurydice” (Gibson 32). Again, Orpheus’ courage stems from his grief over Eurydice’s death. His decision to risk his life to save his wife and his confidence in undertaking this perilous journey are inspired by Eurydice. Through women’s inspiration, men like Theseus and Orpheus are able to transform into adventurous and courageous individuals who become admirable