Homer’s The Odyssey The story of Circe and Odysseus comes to us from Homer’s 3,0

Posted: January 9th, 2023

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Homer’s The Odyssey
The story of Circe and Odysseus comes to us from Homer’s 3,000-year-old epic poem The Odyssey. I’m sure some of you are familiar with the work but below is a video to get you up to speed:
Odysseus
Odysseus is seen as an ideal Greek hero. Just as Psyche can be seen as the archetype of the traditional woman, Odysseus can be seen as the epitome of what it means to be a man. He is strong, brave, clever, a good provider and protector, and a “ladies man.” After all, he is able to have sex with a goddess–Circe– while he has a faithful wife waiting for him at home. Odysseus is the traditional definition of manliness.
Circe
Speaking of the goddess in the story, Circe is a portrayed as a much different type of woman from Psyche. At first, Circe is seen as the traditional femme fatale: the woman who is similar to a black widow spider, who seduces men into her dangerous web and destroys them with her wily ways. After Odysseus subdues her with the help of Hermes/Mercury, she becomes much more Psyche-like as she becomes a domestic goddess, falling in love with Odysseus and showing extreme hospitality to him and his men. Unlike Psyche, however, she doesn’t get her man in the end, and Odysseus leaves to go back to his wife Penelope.
Circe’s character is an amazing figure, and if you are interested in exploring her further, I suggest the incredible novel Circe by Madeline Miller. I was blown away by it when I read it a while back, and it gives a fascinating look at Circe’s life from the perspective of the goddess herself.
As you participate in this discussion, consider these questions and choose THREE to discuss: (each part can be 100-125 words. so about 300-400 words total
1) . Odysseus can be seen as the epitome of what it means to be a man. Provide specific examples from the text that illustrate the traditional qualities men should possess. What message does this send to both women and men about men’s role in romance?
2. Consider Circe’s role: what makes her a “femme fatale” and how is she different from Psyche?
3. As we have seen with Psyche, the gods intervene to help Odysseus, too. How is Odysseus able to outsmart and overpower a goddess? How does this play into his traditional masculine characteristics?
4. Odysseus spends a year or so sharing Circe’s bed while his wife Penelope is faithfully waiting at home for him to return. The double-standard here is obvious: We admire Odysseus as he is our hero, and we admire Penelope for remaining true to her husband. While this tale is 3,000 years old, is the message similar today? Are men held to a different standard than women when it comes to sexual activity?

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