Are woman the source of many difficulties for Odysseus in the Odyssey?

Are woman the source of many difficulties for Odysseus in the Odyssey?

Odysseus faces many difficulties during his journey home in The Odyssey, many of these are caused by woman but not all. Both men and women help and hinder Odysseus' journey but in many situations women seem to be the source.

Some women help Odysseus along in his journey for example, Nausicaa. Nausicaa was chosen by Athene to go and meet Odysseus at the water baths, this was done by Athene appearing in one of Nausicaa's dreams disguised to tell her to go and wash her families clothes at the baths. This dream had ulterior motives as it was mostly about the princess of Phaeacia going to met a man in trouble and in need of help. Once Nausicaa encountered Odysseus she was soon to help and gave him instructions straight away. Nausicaa was nothing but a help to Odysseus and didn't hinder him at all. As well as Nuasicaa, Athene also was a huge help in Odysseus' journey home to Ithaca. Without Athene there would be no journey home and at every point he got stuck or there was difficulties Athene would be there will a solution to his problems.

Athene was also a massive help to Odysseus and never a hindrance. Many goddess' where not the sources of Odysseus' problems, as Ino supplied the veil which helped Odysseus to safety after his ship broke in the storm. From these key women in the Odyssey i would disagree with the statement.

But, if we were to split Odysseus' journey into sections most of the long periods of time when he was stuck or being looked after were by women and from this I would agree with the statement that women source many difficulties for Odysseus in the Odyssey.

Calypso would be the main women to hinder Odysseus and source many difficulties for Odysseus as she captured him and kept him on her island for 7 years. Without Athene mentioning this to Odysseus there probably would not have been an epic poem. Calypso caused Odysseus many difficulties as he longed to go home and see his family leading him to act very un-heroicly. Calypso kept Odysseus on her island against his will and this would have caused great difficulty.

Another woman who caused difficulties for Odysseus would be Circe. Circe was a major help to Odysseus but to begin with she turned his whole crew into animals and originally set out to capture Odysseus to until she found out who she once. Once the had made an oath she kept all his crew and himself in her palace until they wanted to leave. This could be seen as a difficulty as their aim was to get home and the year they spent with her was prolonging their arrival home. She caused Odysseus a few difficulties and in the long run her advice killed the most people which would have been a huge hindrance in his journey.

Scylla and Charybdis also caused Odysseus great difficulty on his journey home as at this point he new he would loose quite a few men and so he did. This would have caused him difficulty when needing help on getting home as his crew is getting smaller and smaller as he progresses on to Ithaca.

Throughout the epic poem most additional characters were women meaning the only help and hindrance Odysseus received would have been from a woman meaning the whole poem is based around woman helping Odysseus on his journey back home. Along with some of the women causing him great difficulty came great success as after each bad encounter came a good one.

In my opinion without the women in the story he would have not got anywhere, with or without the difficulties he faced. The women all played huge parts in the success of his journey home showing that although they may have sourced the problem Odysseus always over came it. Which could also prove he was a great leader as nothing phased him and he always wanted the best throughout each problem. I would have to disagree with the statement as I believe all the women helped him, even if it was not in the easiest way possible for him.